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Research update: Innovative work underway at Iowa State

Research using Iowa State University's Local Electrode Atom Probe microscope is led by, left to right, Krishna Rajan, Sriram Sundararajan, Balaji Narasimhan and Andrew Hillier. The atom probe microscope is behind the researchers. Photo by Bob Elbert.

July 23, 2007 11:26 AM
Category: CoE Feature

 

The College of Engineering continues its long tradition of groundbreaking accomplishments with discoveries and achievements that inspire and enhance the lives of people worldwide. In the most recent fiscal year, the College invested nearly $65 million in research programs. Following are three examples of how that funding supports innovative work.

Balaji Narasimhan and Surya Mallapragada, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering (CBE), are dedicated to discovering new technologies that will enable earlier detection of lethal human diseases such as pancreatic cancer. Currently, this kind of cancer is usually diagnosed at advanced stages, making recovery difficult. The two researchers are also developing innovative release strategies to deliver drugs to specific targets within the body.

A team of researchers from three departments received a large grant to bring an atom probe microscope to Iowa State. This instrument is capable of characterizing a wide variety of materials, atom by atom. It is the most advanced analytical tool available to researchers for the study of materials at the atomic scale. This new resource will be used with current instruments and future acquisitions to make the college a leader in materials characterization. Faculty working on the project include Andrew Hillier and Balaji Narasimhan, CBE; Krishna Rajan, Materials Science and Engineering; and Sriram Sundararajan, Mechanical Engineering.

Researchers in the Office of Biorenewable Products (OBP) are involved in work ranging from the efficient and effective production of biofuels and bio-based chemicals to the understanding of the global impacts of the bioeconomy. Directed by Robert Brown, OBP is affiliated with more than 140 faculty members who contribute to the Bioeconomy Initiative with over $37 million in cumulative sponsored research funding from industry and federal agencies ranging from the Department of Agriculture to the National Science Foundation.

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