News & Events

Department Events

Events

• Oct

  12

  ChBE Alumni Lecture: Rodney Priestley, Princeton University

  McCormick-Chemical and Biological Engineering (ChBE)

  9:30 AM 1421, Frances Searle Building

  EVENT DETAILS

  The Chemical and Biological Engineering Department is pleased to present an Alumni Lecture by Rodney Priestley from Princeton University as part of our ChBE Seminar Series.

  Rodney D. Priestley will present a seminar titled "Hydrogels for Solar-Driven Water Purification.”

  ABSTRACT: Providing access to safe water is a major global challenge due to expansion of industrialization, growth of the global population, and contamination of freshwater resources. According to the United Nations, in the last century, global water requirements grew at a rate more than twice that of the population growth rate. In the United State alone, the Environmental Protection Agency has identified over 70,000 water bodies in the United States alone that are impaired by pollution. The health issues associated with consuming contaminated water are well-known: waterborne disease outbreaks, leading to gastrointestinal illness, reproductive complications, and neurological disorders, amongst others. More than 1.5 million people die each year from diarrhea caused by the intake of unsafe drinking water. Therefore, developing advanced water purification technologies that provide access to safe water to more of the global population remains an enduring challenge.

  Hydrogels have emerged as promising soft materials for sustainable and off-grid water purification and harvesting. However, the low water production rate well below daily human demand is a current impediment to technology translation. To make progress towards addressing this challenge, we present work on the development of a rapid-response solar absorber gel membrane capable of producing potable water from various contaminated sources at a rate of ~ 26 kg m-2 h-1, which is sufficient to meet daily water demand. The membrane—produced at room temperature via aqueous-based processing using an ethylene glycol (EG)-water mixture—uniquely integrates the attributes of poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) (PNIPAm), polydopamine, and poly (sulfobetaine methacrylate) to enable off-grid water purification with enhanced photothermal response and the capacity to prevent oil- and bio-fouling. The use of the EG-water mixture was critical to forming the loofah-like structure with enhanced water transport. Remarkably, under various sunlight irradiations of 1 and 0.5 sun, LSAG required only 10 to 20 min to release ~ 70 % of its stored liquid water, respectively. Equally important, we demonstrate the ability of the membrane to purify water from various harmful sources, including those containing small molecules, oils, metals, and microplastics.

  Rodney D. Priestley is the Dean of the Graduate School at Princeton University. He is the Pomeroy Betty Perry Smith Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering and the Co-Director of the NSF I-Corps Hub. He is the former inaugural Vice Dean for Innovation at Princeton. He obtained his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Northwestern University in 2008. His research involves describing and developing complex materials, especially nanoparticles, thin polymer films, and nanocomposites, focusing on material properties at small length scales. From designing next-generation biocompatible surfactants to creating ultra-stable polymer films resistant to properties changes upon heating, his work impacts industries ranging from personal care to aerospace. His recent interests include the use of polymers in sustainability and their implications on the environment. He has been recognized with several awards for his research and commitment to teaching and mentorship.

  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, October 12, 2023 at 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM

  LOCATION 1421, Frances Searle Building    map it

  ADD TO CALENDAR

  CONTACT Olivia Wise    olivia.wise@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR McCormick-Chemical and Biological Engineering (ChBE)

• Jun

  4

  BTP Seminar Series: Sean Kevlahan, Nanite

  McCormick-Chemical and Biological Engineering (ChBE)

  12:00 PM LR4, Technological Institute

  EVENT DETAILSmore info

  Polymer, Platform, Partner: Lessons from Two Biotech Startups

  Sean Kevlahan’s entrepreneurial journey began with the cofounding of Quad Technologies, a startup focused on cell separation and activation technologies to enable scalable cell
  therapy manufacturing. As CEO, Sean guided Quad from concept to commercialization, ultimately leading to its acquisition by Bio-Techne. At Bio-Techne, he transitioned into a leadership role where he launched and scaled the Cell and Gene Therapy business unit, spearheading strategic initiatives that expanded the company’s footprint in advanced therapeutics. Driven by a continued passion for genetic medicine and delivery innovation,
  Sean went on to co-found Nanite—a next-generation non-viral gene delivery company. At Nanite, Sean is now leading the development of programmable polymer nanoparticles designed to unlock targeted, durable expression of therapeutic proteins and peptides via DNA delivery. His journey reflects a deep commitment to building platform technologies at the intersection of chemistry, engineering, and medicine, with the goal of transforming how genetic medicines are delivered and developed.

  Sean Kevlahan is the CEO and co-founder of Nanite, a biotechnology company pioneering the design of programmable polymer nanoparticles for non-viral gene delivery. He holds a
  B.S. in Biochemistry from Hofstra University and a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Northeastern University. Throughout his career, Sean has worked at the intersection of materials science and genetic medicine. Prior to founding Nanite, he cofounded Quad Technologies, which was acquired by Bio-Techne. Following the acquisition, Sean went on to nucleate Bio-Techne’s Cell and Gene Therapy business unit, where he led all strategic initiatives in the CGT space.

  more less

  TIME Wednesday, June 4, 2025 at 12:00 PM - 2:00 PM

  LOCATION LR4, Technological Institute    map it

  ADD TO CALENDAR

  CONTACT Will Chaussee    william.chaussee@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR McCormick-Chemical and Biological Engineering (ChBE)

• Jun

  5

  ChBE Seminar Series: TBA

  McCormick-Chemical and Biological Engineering (ChBE)

  9:30 AM LR5, Technological Institute

  EVENT DETAILS

  More details to come.

  more less

  TIME Thursday, June 5, 2025 at 9:30 AM - 11:00 AM

  LOCATION LR5, Technological Institute    map it

  ADD TO CALENDAR

  CONTACT Olivia Wise    olivia.wise@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR McCormick-Chemical and Biological Engineering (ChBE)

• Jun

  15

  2024-2025 Commencement Ceremony

  University Academic Calendar

  All Day

  EVENT DETAILSmore info

  2024-2025 Commencement Ceremony

  more less

  TIME Sunday, June 15, 2025

  ADD TO CALENDAR

  CONTACT Office of the Registrar    nu-registrar@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR University Academic Calendar

• Jun

  16

  Northwestern Engineering PhD Hooding and Master's Degree Recognition Ceremony

  McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science

  9:00 AM 2705 Ashland Ave

  EVENT DETAILS

  McCormick School of Engineering PhD Hooding and Master's Degree Recognition Ceremony. The most up to date information can be found on our graduation webpage.

  more less

  TIME Monday, June 16, 2025 at 9:00 AM - 11:00 AM

  LOCATION 2705 Ashland Ave   

  ADD TO CALENDAR

  CONTACT Northwestern Engineering Events    northwestern-engineering-events@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science

• Jun

  16

  Northwestern Engineering Undergraduate Convocation

  McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science

  2:00 PM 2705 Ashland Ave

  EVENT DETAILSmore info

  McCormick School of Engineering Undergraduate Convocation. The most up to date information can be found on our graduation webpage.

  more less

  TIME Monday, June 16, 2025 at 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM

  LOCATION 2705 Ashland Ave   

  ADD TO CALENDAR

  CONTACT Northwestern Engineering Events    northwestern-engineering-events@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR McCormick School of Engineering and Applied Science

• Jun

  23

  Summer classes begin

  University Academic Calendar

  All Day

  EVENT DETAILS

  Summer classes begin

  more less

  TIME Monday, June 23, 2025

  ADD TO CALENDAR

  CONTACT Office of the Registrar    nu-registrar@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR University Academic Calendar

• Sep

  16

  Fall 2025 Classes Begin

  University Academic Calendar

  All Day

  EVENT DETAILS

  Fall 2025 Classes Begin

  more less

  TIME Tuesday, September 16, 2025

  ADD TO CALENDAR

  CONTACT Office of the Registrar    nu-registrar@northwestern.edu EMAIL

  CALENDAR University Academic Calendar