Jagannadh Satyavolu, PhD
Dr. Satyavolu is the Theme Leader for Biofuels & Biomass Conversion at the Conn Center. His research focus is in developing cost-effective process technologies for biomass processing, novel separations for C5 and C6 sugars from biomass, synthetic pathways to convert the sugars to values added bioproducts, and integrated biorefineries. His research interests also include technologies dealing with the production of biogas, biohydrogen, and drop-in biocoal products. At Conn Center is to develop technologies and in such a way that the cost of biofuel production is comparable to costs from synthetic sources. To this extent, he identifies the most suitable biomasses, promotes business and commercial relationships among biomass growers and biofuel producers and develops integrated processes to produce C5, C6, and lignin - platform of biofuels and biochemical intermediates.
Dr. Satyavolu has 30 years of experience in commercial business leadership roles, operations and capital project management, product and process technology development, industrial application research, and academia. His research and commercial implementation projects included lignocellulosic biomass conversion for energy, chemicals, paper and other industrial markets; waste to energy conversion technologies; process integration and economics; water treatment and recycle; and new product/process development for chemical, food, and biotechnology industries. Prior to joining Conn Center, he worked at Cargill, Georgia Institute of Technology, Battelle Labs, and the Ohio State University.
Dr. Satyavolu received his PhD (1989) and MS (1984) in Chemical Engineering from The Ohio State University and a BTech (1982) in Chemical Engineering from Andhra University in India. He had several publications and holds 20 US and international patents. He has lead multiple projects from concept to commercialization. He joined the Conn Center in 2011.
Sachin Handa, PhD
Assistant Professor
Dept of Chemistry
2320 S Brook St.
University of Louisville
Louisville KY 40292
Phone: (502) 852-5977
Email: s0hand02@louisville.edu
Education:
Postdoctoral Associate, University of California, 2013-2016
Ph.D. Chemistry, Oklahoma State University, 2009-2013
Research interests:
(1) Sustainable nano-catalysis and material chemistry
(2) Ligand design for asymmetric catalysis
(3) Medicinal chemistry
Paul Himes, PhD
Assistant Professor
Dept of Biology
139 Life Sciences Bldg.
University of Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky 40292
Phone: (502) 852-6771
Fax: (502) 852-0725
Email: paul.himes@louisville.edu
Education:
Ph. D., Michigan State University, 2009
Research interests:
Microbiology, molecular genetics
Kunal Kate, PhD
Assistant Professor
Dept of Chemistry
John Shumaker Research Bldg., Room 247
University of Louisville
Louisville KY 40292
Phone: (502) 852-0684
Email: kunal.kate@louisville.edu
Education:
Ph.D., Materials Science, 2015, Oregon State University
M.S., Materials Science, 2012, Oregon State University
B. E., Chemical Engineering 2009, Pune University, Pune, Maharashtra, India
Research interests:
Developing biodegradable polymer composite scaffolds for tissue engineering and bone fabrications, and sustainable polymer-plant fiber composites for structural applications. In this work Dr. Kate is studying the material-structure-property relations and interrelationships between material composition and process conditions on FDM 3D printing. Additionally, Dr. Kate is working on developing materials and design structures out of polymer elastomers and graphite/grapheme-based composites for wear resistances and energy applications. This work builds from his experience in testing fabricated design structures for mechanical wear and strengths along with modeling material properties and testing design structures with FEA analysis.
Mike Nantz, PhD
Professor
Dept of Chemistry
Chemistry building, Room 138B
University of Louisville
Louisville KY 40292
Phone: (502) 852-8069
Fax: (502) 852-8149
Email: michael.nantz@louisville.edu
Education:
1981 B.S. Western Kentucky University
1987 Ph.D. Purdue University
1987-1989 MIT
1989-2006 UC Davis
Research interests:
(1) Vectors for non-viral gene therapy
(2) Drug delivery
(3) Functionalized nanoparticles
(4) Synthetic methodology
Mark Running, PhD
Associate Professor
Dept of Biology
139 Life Sciences Bldg.
University of Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky 40292
Phone: (502) 852-6771
Fax: (502) 852-0725
Email: mprunn01@Louisville.edu
Education:
Postdoctoral research, 1997-2002, University of California Berkeley
Ph.D. Genetics, 1997, California Institute of Technology
B.A. Summacumlaude, Biology, 1990, Pomona College
Research interests:
(1) Meristem maintenance and pattern formation
(2) Cell fate determination
(3) Drought tolerance
(4) Biofuels
Noppadon Sathitsuksanoh, PhD
Assistant Professor
Dept of Chemical Engineering
Ernst Hall, Room 216
University of Louisville
Louisville KY 40292
Phone: (502) 852-6737
Email: n0sath01@louisville.edu
Education:
Ph.D., BioSystems Eng., 2011, Virginia Tech, VA
M.S., Chem. Eng. & Applied Econ., 2007, Auburn University, AL
M.S., Mechanical Eng., 2003, Southern Illinois University – Carbondale, IL
B.S. Chemical Eng., 1999, Thammasat University, Thailand
Research interests:
(1) Renewable advanced fuels (diesel & jet) and fine chemicals from biomass
(2) Novel catalysts including bio-inspired materials, MOFs, mesoporous, and water-tolerant Lewis acids
(3) Adsorption/conversion of CO2 to C1-C2 building blocks
David Schultz, PhD
Associate Professor
Dept of Biology
139 Life Sciences Bldg.
University of Louisville
Louisville, KY 40292
Phone: (502) 852-6771
Fax: (502) 852-0725
Education:
2007 - present Associate Professor of Biology, University of Louisville
2001 - 2006 Assistant Professor of Biology, University of Louisville
1996 - 2001 Postdoctoral research associate, Michigan State University (Dr. John Ohlrogge’s Lab)
1992-1996 Ph.D. – Genetics, The Pennsylvania State University, (Graduate mentors: Drs. Richard Craig, June Medford and Ralph Mumma)
1990-1992 M.S. – Plant and Soil Sciences, The University of Delaware
1986-1990 B.S. (honors) Horticulture, The Pennsylvania State University
Research interests:
(1) Molecular genetics, biotechnology, and biochemistry
(2) production of unusual lipids and secondary metabolites in plants
(3) trichome mediated pest resistance in Pelargonium xhortorum (geranium)
Gamini Sumanasekera, PhD
Professor
Department of Physics and Astronomy
Ernst Hall, Room 314
University of Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky 40292
Email: gamini.sumanasekera@louisville.edu
Phone: (502)-852-1558
Fax: (502)-852-0742
Education:
Ph.D., Physics, 1995, Indiana University
Post-Doctoral Researcher, University of Kentucky (1995-1999)
Senior Research Associate, Pennsylvania State University (1999-2002).
Research interests:
Experimental Condensed Matter
Zhihui Sun, PhD
Professor
Dept of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Acting Chair
W.S. Speed Bldg., Room 112
University of Louisville
Louisville KY 40292
Phone: (502) 852-4583
Email: z0sun002@louisville.edu
Education:
Ph.D., Northwestern University, Civil Engineering, 2005
M.E., National University of Singapore, Civil Engineering, 2001
B.S., Tongji University, Civil Engineering, 1995
Research interests:
Dr. Sun's research interests focus on construction materials, early-age properties of concrete, nondestructive testing, microstructure, and numerical simulation. She studies hydration kinetics of cementitious materials for concrete; material characterizing on nano/micro-structural level for concrete during setting; micro-structure and mechanical properties of recycled aggregate concrete; testing and health monitoring of concrete at early age.