News & Events

Department Events

Events

• Nov

  28

  14th Annual Mah Lecture: Pablo Debenedetti

  McCormick-Chemical and Biological Engineering

  5:00 PM L211, Technological Institute

  EVENT DETAILS

  Pablo Debenedetti of Princeton University joins us as our 14th Annual Mah Lecturer

  Title:
  Cold Water
  
  Abstract:
  Water affects every aspect of our lives, from agriculture to climate, and from health to geopolitics. It is a key participant in the physical and chemical processes that sustain life as we know it. Its ubiquity and importance notwithstanding, there remain major open questions about water’s physical properties, which are anomalous by comparison to those of most other liquids. Examples include the fact that the liquid, if sufficiently cold, expands when cooled and becomes less viscous when compressed. Water’s oddities become more pronounced at low temperatures, especially in the supercooled regime, where the liquid is metastable with respect to crystallization. After introducing some of supercooled water’s remarkable properties and their practical implications, I will review some the hypotheses that have been proposed to explain experimental observations. Computer simulations have played an important role in research on supercooled water, in large part because they are not subject to the limitations that make experimental probing of deeply metastable states so challenging. I will illustrate the advantages and limitations of computational investigations of supercooled water, focusing on the intriguing possibility of the existence of a liquid-liquid phase transition.

  Bio:
  Pablo Debenedetti is the Class of 1950 Professor in Engineering and Applied Science, Professor of Chemical and Biological Engineering, and Dean for Research at Princeton University. He received his undergraduate education at the University of Buenos Aires, and his graduate education at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he obtained MS (1981) and PhD (1985) degrees in Chemical Engineering. Since 1985 he has been a faculty member at Princeton University. Prior to becoming Dean for Research, he served as Chair of the Chemical Engineering department (1996-2004), and Vice Dean of the School of Engineering and Applied Science (2008-2013).

  His research interests include the thermodynamics and statistical mechanics of liquids and glasses; water and aqueous solutions; protein thermodynamics; nucleation; metastability; and the origin of biological homochirality. Research in Debenedetti’s group has helped define the current state of basic knowledge on the properties of metastable liquids and glasses, and brought this vast field to the mainstream of chemical engineering thermodynamics. He is the author of one book, Metastable Liquids, and more than 260 scientific articles. Debenedetti’s professional honors include the National Science Foundation’s Presidential Young Investigator Award (1987), the Camille and Henry Dreyfus Teacher-Scholar Award (1989), a Guggenheim Memorial Foundation Fellowship (1991), the Professional Progress (1997), Walker (2008) and Institute Lecture (2013) Awards from the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, the John M. Prausnitz Award in Applied Chemical Thermodynamics (2001), the Joel Henry Hildebrand Award in the Theoretical and Experimental Chemistry of Liquids from the American Chemical Society (2008), and the Guggenheim Medal from the Institution of Chemical Engineers (2017). He received the Distinguished Teacher Award from Princeton’s School of Engineering (2008), and the President’s Award for Distinguished Teaching (2008), Princeton’s highest distinction for teaching. In 2008 Debenedetti was named one of 100 Chemical Engineers of the Modern Era by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering, the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, and the National Academy of Sciences, and is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers and the American Physical Society.

  more less

  TIME Wednesday, November 28, 2018 at 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM

  LOCATION L211, Technological Institute    map it

  ADD TO CALENDAR

  CONTACT Elizabeth Rentfro    elizabeth.rentfro@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR McCormick-Chemical and Biological Engineering

• Jan

  8

  ChBE Seminar Series - Willa Brenneis and Kush Patel, Student Seminars – January 8th @9:30am in Tech L361

  McCormick-Chemical and Biological Engineering (ChBE)

  9:30 AM L361, Technological Institute

  EVENT DETAILS

  Dear ChBE Department and affiliates,

  Please join us Thursday, January 8th at 9:30am in Tech L361 for student seminars by Willa Brenneis and Kush Patel.

  Willa Brenneis will present a seminar titled, "Structure-Performance Relationships in Lithium-Ion Battery Composite Cathodes toward advancing Manufacturing Sustainability & Energy Density".

  Kush Patel will present a seminar titled, "Revealing the Complex Microstructure and Dynamics of pH-Responsive Core-Shell Colloids using Small Angle Scattering Techniques".

  Bagels and coffee will be provided at 9:30am, and the seminar will start at 9:40am. Please plan to arrive on time to grab a bagel and mingle!

  *Please note that there will be no Zoom option for seminars this quarter.

  more less

  TIME Thursday, January 8, 2026 at 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM

  LOCATION L361, Technological Institute    map it

  ADD TO CALENDAR

  CONTACT Jennifer Young    jennifer.young@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR McCormick-Chemical and Biological Engineering (ChBE)

• Jan

  15

  ChBE Seminar Series - Sarah Wilson, Guest Seminar – January 15th @9:30am in Tech L361

  McCormick-Chemical and Biological Engineering (ChBE)

  9:30 AM L361, Technological Institute

  EVENT DETAILS

  Dear ChBE Department and affiliates,

  Please join us Thursday, January 15th at 9:30am in Tech L361 for a guest seminar by Sarah Wilson.

  Sarah Wilson will present a seminar titled, "Performance, Pressure, and Persistence: Understanding Mental Health Help-Seeking in Engineering".

  Bagels and coffee will be provided at 9:30am, and the seminar will start at 9:40am. Please plan to arrive on time to grab a bagel and mingle!

  *Please note that there will be no Zoom option for seminars this quarter.

  more less

  TIME Thursday, January 15, 2026 at 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM

  LOCATION L361, Technological Institute    map it

  ADD TO CALENDAR

  CONTACT Jennifer Young    jennifer.young@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR McCormick-Chemical and Biological Engineering (ChBE)

• Jan

  22

  ChBE Seminar Series - Ludmilla Aristilde, Guest Seminar – January 22nd @9:30am in Tech L361

  McCormick-Chemical and Biological Engineering (ChBE)

  9:30 AM L361, Technological Institute

  EVENT DETAILS

  Dear ChBE Department and affiliates,

  Please join us Thursday, January 22nd at 9:30am in Tech L361 for a guest seminar by Ludmilla Aristilde.

  TBD will present a seminar titled, "TBD".

  Bagels and coffee will be provided at 9:30am, and the seminar will start at 9:40am. Please plan to arrive on time to grab a bagel and mingle!

  *Please note that there will be no Zoom option for seminars this year.

  more less

  TIME Thursday, January 22, 2026 at 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM

  LOCATION L361, Technological Institute    map it

  ADD TO CALENDAR

  CONTACT Jennifer Young    jennifer.young@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR McCormick-Chemical and Biological Engineering (ChBE)

• Jan

  29

  ChBE Seminar Series - Yi Tang, Guest Seminar – January 29th @9:30am in Tech L361

  McCormick-Chemical and Biological Engineering (ChBE)

  9:30 AM L361

  EVENT DETAILS

  Dear ChBE Department and affiliates,

  Please join us Thursday, January 29th at 9:30am in Tech L361 for a guest seminar by Yi Ting.

  Yi Ting will present a seminar titled, "TBD".

  Bagels and coffee will be provided at 9:30am, and the seminar will start at 9:40am. Please plan to arrive on time to grab a bagel and mingle!

  *Please note that there will be no Zoom option for seminars this year.

  more less

  TIME Thursday, January 29, 2026 at 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM

  LOCATION L361    map it

  ADD TO CALENDAR

  CONTACT Jennifer Young    jennifer.young@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR McCormick-Chemical and Biological Engineering (ChBE)

• Feb

  5

  ChBE Seminar Series - Philip Savage, Guest Seminar – February 5th @9:30am in Tech L361

  McCormick-Chemical and Biological Engineering (ChBE)

  9:30 AM Technological Institute

  EVENT DETAILS

  Dear ChBE Department and affiliates,

  Please join us Thursday, February 5th at 9:30am in Tech L361 for a guest seminar by Philip Savage.

  Philip Savage will present a seminar titled, "Hydrothermal Reactions of Biopolymers and Synthetic Polymers – Toward Renewable Fuels and a more Circular Economy".

  Bagels and coffee will be provided at 9:30am, and the seminar will start at 9:40am. Please plan to arrive on time to grab a bagel and mingle!

  *Please note that there will be no Zoom option for seminars this year.

  more less

  TIME Thursday, February 5, 2026 at 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM

  LOCATION Technological Institute    map it

  ADD TO CALENDAR

  CONTACT Jennifer Young    jennifer.young@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR McCormick-Chemical and Biological Engineering (ChBE)

• Feb

  12

  ChBE Seminar Series - Xiaojing Gao, Guest Seminar – February 12th @9:30am in Tech L361

  McCormick-Chemical and Biological Engineering (ChBE)

  9:30 AM L361, Technological Institute

  EVENT DETAILS

  Dear ChBE Department and affiliates,

  Please join us Thursday, February 12th at 9:30am in Tech L361 for a guest seminar by Xiaojing Gao.

  Ella King will present a seminar titled, "TBD".

  Bagels and coffee will be provided at 9:30am, and the seminar will start at 9:40am. Please plan to arrive on time to grab a bagel and mingle!

  *Please note that there will be no Zoom option for seminars this year.

  more less

  TIME Thursday, February 12, 2026 at 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM

  LOCATION L361, Technological Institute    map it

  ADD TO CALENDAR

  CONTACT Jennifer Young    jennifer.young@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR McCormick-Chemical and Biological Engineering (ChBE)

• Feb

  19

  ChBE Seminar Series - Daniel de Castro Assumpcao and Elizabeth Johnson, Student Seminars – February 19th @9:30am in Tech L361

  McCormick-Chemical and Biological Engineering (ChBE)

  9:30 AM L361, Technological Institute

  EVENT DETAILS

  Dear ChBE Department and affiliates,

  Please join us Thursday, February 19th at 9:30am in Tech L361 for student seminars by Daniel de Castro Assumpcao and Elizabeth Johnson.

  Daniel de Castro Assumpcao will present a seminar titled, "Reaching the Liver, and the Liver only: A Targeted Nanodelivery Strategy".

  Elizabeth Johnson will present a seminar titled, "TBD".

  Bagels and coffee will be provided at 9:30am, and the seminar will start at 9:40am. Please plan to arrive on time to grab a bagel and mingle!

  *Please note that there will be no Zoom option for seminars this year.

  more less

  TIME Thursday, February 19, 2026 at 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM

  LOCATION L361, Technological Institute    map it

  ADD TO CALENDAR

  CONTACT Jennifer Young    jennifer.young@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR McCormick-Chemical and Biological Engineering (ChBE)

• Feb

  26

  ChBE Seminar Series - Michelle Calabrese, Guest Seminar – February 26th @9:30am in Tech L361

  McCormick-Chemical and Biological Engineering (ChBE)

  9:30 AM L361, Technological Institute

  EVENT DETAILS

  Dear ChBE Department and affiliates,

  Please join us Thursday, February 26th at 9:30am in Tech L361 for a guest seminar by Michelle Calabrese.

  Michelle Calabrese will present a seminar titled, "TBD".

  Bagels and coffee will be provided at 9:30am, and the seminar will start at 9:40am. Please plan to arrive on time to grab a bagel and mingle!

  *Please note that there will be no Zoom option for seminars this year.

  more less

  TIME Thursday, February 26, 2026 at 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM

  LOCATION L361, Technological Institute    map it

  ADD TO CALENDAR

  CONTACT Jennifer Young    jennifer.young@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR McCormick-Chemical and Biological Engineering (ChBE)

• Mar

  5

  ChBE Seminar Series - Nitash Balsara, Guest Seminar – March 5th @9:30am in Tech L361

  McCormick-Chemical and Biological Engineering (ChBE)

  9:30 AM L361, Technological Institute

  EVENT DETAILS

  Dear ChBE Department and affiliates,

  Please join us Thursday, March 5th at 9:30am in Tech L361 for a guest seminar by Nitash Balsara.

  Nitash Balsara will present a seminar titled, "Movement of Polymer Molecules under Electric Fields and Relevance to Rechargeable Batteries".

  Bagels and coffee will be provided at 9:30am, and the seminar will start at 9:40am. Please plan to arrive on time to grab a bagel and mingle!

  *Please note that there will be no Zoom option for seminars this year.

  more less

  TIME Thursday, March 5, 2026 at 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM

  LOCATION L361, Technological Institute    map it

  ADD TO CALENDAR

  CONTACT Jennifer Young    jennifer.young@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR McCormick-Chemical and Biological Engineering (ChBE)

• Mar

  12

  ChBE Seminar Series - Alex Best and Shivani Kozarekar, Student Seminars – March 12th @9:30am in Tech L361

  McCormick-Chemical and Biological Engineering (ChBE)

  9:30 AM L361, Technological Institute

  EVENT DETAILS

  Dear ChBE Department and affiliates,

  Please join us Thursday, March 12th at 9:30am in Tech L361 for student seminars by Alex Best and Shivani Kozarekar.

  Alex Best will present a seminar titled, "Modeling the Thermal Degradation of Vinyl-Alcohol Containing Polymers".

  Shivani Kozarekar will present a seminar titled, "Computational approaches to circular polymer design".

  Bagels and coffee will be provided at 9:30am, and the seminar will start at 9:40am. Please plan to arrive on time to grab a bagel and mingle!

  *Please note that there will be no Zoom option for seminars this year.

  more less

  TIME Thursday, March 12, 2026 at 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM

  LOCATION L361, Technological Institute    map it

  ADD TO CALENDAR

  CONTACT Jennifer Young    jennifer.young@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR McCormick-Chemical and Biological Engineering (ChBE)