nEWS

FALL 2024

A new project, titled “Bioprinted Tissue Scaffolds with Schwann Cell Density Gradients and Electrical Conductivity for Peripheral Nerve Regeneration” funded through the Engineering of Biomedical Systems (EBMS) program of NSF CBET division, will focus on better understanding how to help the body repair damaged peripheral nerves through the use of tissue scaffolds. This is a collaboration with Dr. Liqun Ning (PI)’s lab in the department of mechanical engineering at CSU, our lab (Co-PI), and Cleveland Clinic neurosurgeon Dr. Megan Jack (Co-PI).

SUMMER 2024

A new project, titled “Assessment and Development of Surface Coatings for Multifunctional Shape Memory Alloys (SMAs)”, funded by the NASA’s Science Mission Directorate Bridge Program Seed Funding will focus on the development of novel coatings and mentoring the next generation of scientists. This is a collaboration with Dr. Josiah Owusu-Danquah (PI)’s lab in the department of civil and environmental engineering at CSU and our lab (co-investigator).

SPRING 2024

Dr. Ao receives the prestigious Humboldt Research Fellowship from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation, Germany. This fellowship will enable Dr. Ao to collaborate with top researchers in Germany and elevate our research program. Specifically, Dr. Ao will be researching the assemblies of photonic liquid crystals and their optical properties alongside Prof. Dr. Ralph Krupke and Dr. Benjamin Flavel of the Institute of Nanotechnology at Karlsruhe Institute of Technology. Thank you Humboldt Foundation for this honor!
Congratulations to Brandon Heppe for being selected for the Outstanding Teaching Assistant Award in the Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering.

FALL 2023

Dr. Ao presented an invited talk on Carbon Nanotubes for Profiling Carbohydrate-Protein Recognition at the Distinguished Seminar Series of Department of Chemical Engineering, Auburn University, Auburn, AL.

SUMMER 2023

Dr. Ao presented a plenary invited talk on our lab research involving ‘carbohydrate-complexed carbon nanotubes and solvent isotope effects on aryl diazonium chemistry of carbon nanotubes’ at the prestigious NT’23 conference in Arcachon, France.

SPRING 2023

Congratulations to Sumaiya Ahmed (M.S.) on her graduation.
Congratulations to Brandon Heppe for being selected for the Graduate Student Leadership Award in the Department of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering.
Congratulations to Dr. Geyou Ao for being selected for the Distinguished Faculty Award for Research in the Washkewicz College of Engineering.

SUMMER 2022

Congratulations to Sara Groetsch being selected for the 2022 Wen H. Ko Summer Internship Program, Advanced Platform Technology Center, U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs.

SPRING 2022

Congratulations to Nina Dzombic selected to receive the Bob Lyczkowski Doctoral Fellowship for the Excellence in Research in Chemical and Biomedical Engineering.
Congratulations to Brandon Heppe who won the first place of the Student Technical Presentation Competition at the 2022 American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) North Central Regional Conference.
Thank you NSF for supporting our new project on elucidating the synergistic nanoscale and carbohydrate interactions of glyconanomaterials with bacterial proteins, toxins, and cells through an NSF CAREER award. As stated by NSF, it is the National Science Foundation’s most prestigious award in support of early-career faculty who have the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education and to lead advances in the mission of their organization.

SUMMER 2021

A new NSF award will support our lab’s research on Establishing Liquid Crystals of Boron Nitride Nanotubes for Aligned Assemblies.

SPRING 2021

Congratulations to Joe Khoury for being selected for the Graduate Student Leadership Award in the Department of Chemical and Biomedical engineering.
Congratulations to Tanner Larson being selected for the NASA/Ohio Space Grant Consortium Undergraduate STEM Scholarship for 2021/2022 academic year.
Congratulations to Venkateswara Rao Kode (PhD) on his graduation.
Congratulations to Ana DiLillo (M.S.) on her graduation.
Congratulations to Joe Khoury (M.S.) on his graduation.
Congratulations to Jacob Vitale (B.S.) on his graduation and being selected as the Cleveland State University Valedictorian.
Congratulations to Jack Lombardo (B.S.) on his graduation.

FALL 2020

Congratulations to Ka Keung Chan who won the third place in an international competition at the Carbon Nanomaterials Graduate Student Award (GSA) session within the Nanoscale Science and Engineering Forum (NSEF) of the 2020 American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) Annual Meeting. Ka Keung Chan presented a recently published work in Langmuir, titled “Carbohydrate- and Chain Length-Controlled Complexation of Carbon Nanotubes by Glycopolymers”. This is a collaborative work with Dr. Xue-Long Sun’ lab in the department of chemistry.
Congratulations to Jacob Vitale being selected for the NASA/Ohio Space Grant Consortium Undergraduate (Senior) STEM Scholarship for 2020/2021 academic year.
Congratulations to Brandon Heppe being selected for the NASA/Ohio Space Grant Consortium Undergraduate (Junior) STEM Scholarship for 2020/2021 academic year.

SUMMER 2020

Congratulations to Fjorela Xhyliu (MS) on her graduation.

SPRING 2020

Congratulations to Ana Dilillo (BS) on her graduation.
Congratulations to Jamil Jamal (BS) on his graduation.
Congratulations to Michael Cantwell (MS) on his graduation.
Congratulations to Venkateswara Rao Kode selected to receive the Bob Lyczkowski Doctoral Fellowship for the Excellence in Research in Chemical and Biomedical Engineering.
Congratulations to Ana DiLillo selected to receive the NASA/Ohio Space Grant Consortium Master’s Fellowship for 2020-2021 in Chemical Engineering.
Congratulations to Jacob Vitale for his 2020 Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) (Declined due to COVID-19).
Congratulations to Venkateswara Rao Kode selected to receive Graduate Student Research Award for Liquid Phase Processing and Rheology of Aqueous Dispersions of DNA-Stabilized Boron Nitride Nanotubes.
CSU Faculty Research Development (FRD) Award for Aligned Boron Nitride Nanotube Films for Thermal Management Applications.
Congratulations to Fjorela Xhyliu selected to receive the Graduate Student Leadership Award in Chemical and Biomedical Engineering.
Congratulations to Jacob Vitale selected to receive the Academic Excellence Award in Chemical and Biomedical Engineering.
I-Corps@Ohio Commercialization Funding on the processing of hexagonal boron nitride nanosheets.
The TeCK Fund for developing new sunscreen.

FALL 2019

Congratulations to Venkateswara Rao Kode selected to receive Cleveland State University Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Award in a Category of Research in Natural Sciences, Engineering, and Mathematics.
Congratulations to Fjorela Xhyliu selected to represent Cleveland State University at Global Grand Challenges Summit in London in September 2019.

SUMMER 2019

Congratulations to Michael Cantwell, Venkateswara Rao Kode (Entrepreneurial Leads), Dr. Wei Fan (Executive Mentor), and Dr. Ao (PI) for successfully completing the I-Corps@Ohio Technology Commercialization Program.
NSF Award for Engineered Organic Color Centers for Profiling Protein-Carbohydrate Recognition.

SPRING 2019

Congratulations to Fjorela Xhyliu (BS) on her graduation.
Congratulations to Venkateswara Kode for completing his doctoral candidacy examination.
Congratulations to Fjorela Xhyliu for her Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship (SURF) at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST).
I-Corps@Ohio Commercialization Funding.
I-Corps@Ohio Grant.
Nanomaterials & Soft Materials featured video.

SUMMER 2017

NSF REU at Physics Department for Synthesis, Assembly and Characterization of Soft Matter.
NSF REU at Physics Department Participating Faculty.

SPRING 2017

CSU Faculty Research Development (FRD) Award for Rheology of Lyotropic Boron Nitride Nanotube Dispersions.