Faculty   Patricia A. Darcy, Assistant Professor. Ph.D., University of Iowa. Teaching areas: thermodynamics, biotechnology, unit operations, and transport laboratory. Research areas: biochemical engineering, bioseparations, and complex fluids.. Biography James K. Ferri, Associate Professor. Ph.D., Johns HopkinsUniversity. Teaching areas: transport phenomena, mass transfer and separations, laboratory applications. Research interests: mechanics of nanomaterials, interfacial phenomena, and polymer physical chemistry. Recipient of Alexander von Humboldt Fellowship. Visiting scientist Max Planck Institute for Colloids and Interfaces, Germany. Biography J. Ronald Martin, Professor. Ph.D., Princeton University; P.E., Pennsylvania. Teaching areas: introductory engineering course, material and energy balances, introductory thermodynamics, materials science, polymers. Research interests: materials and their properties, polymer processing and use, flammability of polymers. Recipient of the Lindback Distinguished Teaching Award (1983), Marquis Distinguished Teaching Award (2004). Biography Lauren Sefcik, Assistant Professor. Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering Department Polly R. Piergiovanni, Associate Professor and Head. Ph.D., University of Houston. Teaching areas: introductory engineering course, material and energy balances, unit operations, process control, biochemical engineering. Research interests: biochemical processes, system dynamics and control. Biography James P. Schaffer, Professor and Acting Director of Institutional Research. Ph.D., Duke University. Teaching areas: engineering ethics, materials science, and transport properties. Research interests: physical and electronic structure of materials, spectroscopy. Recipient of Jones Faculty Lecture Award, Student Government Superior Teaching Award, Marquis Distinguished Teaching Award, and Lindback Distinguished Teaching Award. Biography Javad Tavakoli, Professor. Ph.D., New Jersey Institute of Technology; P.E., Pennsylvania. Teaching areas: kinetics and reactor design, chemical engineering laboratories, environmental engineering, alternative energy sources. Research interests: renewable energy sources, catalysis, industrial wastewater treatment, hazardous waste treatment. Biography Staff Thomas DeFazio, Coordinator of Chemical and Environmental Labs AEC 210 (610) 330-5422 Serena Ashmore, Secretary AEC 230 (610) 330-5435     Student and Faculty News Michelle Mendoza '11 Studies the Geologic History of Hawaii Chemical engineering major writes about the three weeks she spent studying lava flows and waterfalls on a faculty-led winter course New Team-Taught Course Will Probe Intersection of Natural Sciences and Engineering Steven Mylon, assistant professor of chemistry, and James Ferri, associate professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, will share the classroom In Pursuit of a Ph.D. Jessica Jenkins ’07 writes about studying for a career in healing environmental damage Students Will Study Engineering and Spanish Culture in New Faculty-led Semester in Madrid James Ferri, associate professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, will host the program’s first trip in spring 2010 Professors James Ferri and Lauren Sefcik Receive $357,000 National Science Foundation Grant New equipment will enhance teaching and undergraduate research in the chemical and biomolecular engineering department Women in Engineering: Lafayette is a Leader The College ranks No. 9 nationally in percentage of women engineering grads, reports the American Society for Engineering Education Students Teach Fourth Graders the Basics of Engineering Members of Lafayette's Society of Women Engineers worked with students at Forks Elementary School in Easton Caroline Szczepanski '09 Looks at the Effects of Organic Catalysts in Chemical Reactions Chemical engineering major writes about her honors project under the guidance of Patricia Darcy, assistant professor of chemical engineering Nathaniel M. Newman '09 Explores Green Design Chemical engineering major is performing an independent study with Javad Tavakoli, professor of chemical engineering The Best of Both Worlds Studying engineering at Lafayette provides an added dimension of excellence. Strong programs in the liberal arts allow engineering majors greater breadth and flexibility in their course of study