ChBE Illinois
@chbeillinois.bsky.social
The official account of the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
chbe.illinois.edu
chbe.illinois.edu
Researchers from @uofigrainger.bsky.social and LAS have developed a "smart" material capable of removing nitrate from wastewater. The team's findings have been published in Nature Communications, where ChBE prof Xiao Su is senior corresponding author of the paper.
chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
Illinois researchers demonstrate electrochemical method for nitrate removal
Illinois researchers demonstrate electrochemical method for nitrate removal
chbe.illinois.edu
January 14, 2026 at 3:08 PM
Researchers from @uofigrainger.bsky.social and LAS have developed a "smart" material capable of removing nitrate from wastewater. The team's findings have been published in Nature Communications, where ChBE prof Xiao Su is senior corresponding author of the paper.
chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
Adam Ferrari (BS 05) didn’t transfer into ChBE with a perfect academic record, but with the support of his family and a strong work ethic, he graduated magna cum laude. Two decades later, he founded Phoenix Energy, a successful private oil and gas company.
chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
Legacy in the Making: How Adam Ferrari turned family support and personal grit into a thriving energy company
Legacy in the Making: How Adam Ferrari turned family support and personal grit into a thriving energy company
chbe.illinois.edu
December 17, 2025 at 5:12 PM
Adam Ferrari (BS 05) didn’t transfer into ChBE with a perfect academic record, but with the support of his family and a strong work ethic, he graduated magna cum laude. Two decades later, he founded Phoenix Energy, a successful private oil and gas company.
chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
ChBE prof Hyunjoon Kong led a team of researchers who uncovered a new crystallization and microgel technology: the CROSS system provides a simple and versatile method for creating improved drug delivery carriers that can be tailored for various biological products.
chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
New crystallization and microgel technology advances biohybrid brain research
CROSS system stabilizes antioxidant delivery, enabling the reliable production of potent extracellular vesicles and stronger neural networks.
chbe.illinois.edu
December 16, 2025 at 5:08 PM
ChBE prof Hyunjoon Kong led a team of researchers who uncovered a new crystallization and microgel technology: the CROSS system provides a simple and versatile method for creating improved drug delivery carriers that can be tailored for various biological products.
chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
Reposted by ChBE Illinois
Lithium is great at storing and releasing energy, which is why it's at the core of most rechargeable battery systems. 🔋
A ChBE Illinois team has created a process that uses organic solvent and a special electrode that recaptures only lithium from a solution of disassembled spent batteries.
A ChBE Illinois team has created a process that uses organic solvent and a special electrode that recaptures only lithium from a solution of disassembled spent batteries.
New tech pulls lithium from dead batteries cheaper than you can buy it
While lithium extraction technologies generally focus on ways to get the essential metal out of the ground, there's another source to mine: existing batteries that no longer work. A new technique could now make that process economically viable.
newatlas.com
December 5, 2025 at 5:17 PM
Lithium is great at storing and releasing energy, which is why it's at the core of most rechargeable battery systems. 🔋
A ChBE Illinois team has created a process that uses organic solvent and a special electrode that recaptures only lithium from a solution of disassembled spent batteries.
A ChBE Illinois team has created a process that uses organic solvent and a special electrode that recaptures only lithium from a solution of disassembled spent batteries.
In a new study, ChBE professor Diwaker Shukla shows how deep learning and large-scale computer simulations can help lead the search for safe synthetic cannabinoid-based pharmaceuticals.
chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
New computer simulation could light the way to safer cannabinoid-based pharmaceuticals
Illinois researcher Diwaker Shukla shows how deep learning and large-scale computer simulations can help lead the search for safe synthetic cannabinoid-based pharmaceuticals.
chbe.illinois.edu
December 10, 2025 at 5:36 PM
In a new study, ChBE professor Diwaker Shukla shows how deep learning and large-scale computer simulations can help lead the search for safe synthetic cannabinoid-based pharmaceuticals.
chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
ChBE professor Ying Diao led a multi-institutional study that positions synthetic polymers as a potential alternative to expensive, unsustainable minerals for use in semiconductors and other electronic devices.
chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
Study finds that tweaked synthetic polymers boost conductivity
Study finds that tweaked synthetic polymers boost conductivity
chbe.illinois.edu
December 3, 2025 at 2:22 PM
ChBE professor Ying Diao led a multi-institutional study that positions synthetic polymers as a potential alternative to expensive, unsustainable minerals for use in semiconductors and other electronic devices.
chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
ChBE Illinois is pleased to welcome Elizabeth Bickel Rogers to the department as an assistant professor in chemical and biomolecular engineering! Read more about our newest faculty member: chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
ChBE welcomes Bickel Rogers to faculty
ChBE welcomes Bickel Rogers to faculty
chbe.illinois.edu
November 18, 2025 at 6:06 PM
ChBE Illinois is pleased to welcome Elizabeth Bickel Rogers to the department as an assistant professor in chemical and biomolecular engineering! Read more about our newest faculty member: chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign unveil a new modeling approach that could transform how scientists predict energies of chemical reactions, offering faster, more affordable quantum calculations without sacrificing precision.
chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
New theory promises faster, more accurate predictions of chemical reaction energetics
Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign unveil a new modeling approach that could transform how scientists predict energies of chemical reactions, offering faster, more affordable q...
chbe.illinois.edu
November 17, 2025 at 2:26 PM
Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign unveil a new modeling approach that could transform how scientists predict energies of chemical reactions, offering faster, more affordable quantum calculations without sacrificing precision.
chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
ChBE prof Huimin Zhao was named to the 2025 Clarivate Analytics Highly Cited Researchers list, which recognizes scientists who have demonstrated exceptional influence, as reflected through multiple papers frequently cited by their peers during the last decade. chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
Zhao one of twelve Illinois scientists ranked among the world’s most influential
Zhao one of twelve Illinois scientists ranked among the world’s most influential
chbe.illinois.edu
November 14, 2025 at 5:56 PM
ChBE prof Huimin Zhao was named to the 2025 Clarivate Analytics Highly Cited Researchers list, which recognizes scientists who have demonstrated exceptional influence, as reflected through multiple papers frequently cited by their peers during the last decade. chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
A new study led by ChBE professor Xiao Su demonstrates a commercially viable method for extracting lithium from used battery waste, using an electrochemically driven recovery process.
news.illinois.edu/study-shows-...
news.illinois.edu/study-shows-...
Study shows new hope for commercially attractive lithium extraction from spent batteries – News Bureau
news.illinois.edu
November 13, 2025 at 4:34 PM
A new study led by ChBE professor Xiao Su demonstrates a commercially viable method for extracting lithium from used battery waste, using an electrochemically driven recovery process.
news.illinois.edu/study-shows-...
news.illinois.edu/study-shows-...
Join us on Monday, November 17, at 3 pm in 217 Noyes for an alumni lecture presented by John Bartels. Bartels earned his BS from the department in 1989 and joined BP following his graduation. After 35 years with BP, he went on to launch Potential Energy LLC, his own consulting and coaching company.
November 12, 2025 at 2:27 PM
Join us on Monday, November 17, at 3 pm in 217 Noyes for an alumni lecture presented by John Bartels. Bartels earned his BS from the department in 1989 and joined BP following his graduation. After 35 years with BP, he went on to launch Potential Energy LLC, his own consulting and coaching company.
In this Q&A, ChBE assistant professor Theresa Schoetz discusses her research, a published article that has been recently recognized as the most cited in Electrochimica Acta and the challenges that she has faced in the field.
chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
Q&A with assistant professor Theresa Schoetz
Q&A with assistant professor Theresa Schoetz
chbe.illinois.edu
November 10, 2025 at 3:19 PM
In this Q&A, ChBE assistant professor Theresa Schoetz discusses her research, a published article that has been recently recognized as the most cited in Electrochimica Acta and the challenges that she has faced in the field.
chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
A new AI-powered tool called EZSpecificity combines enzyme-substrate docking data and a machine learning algorithm to predict the best pairing for making a desired product, with up to 91.7% accuracy. ChBE professor Huimin Zhao led the study.
chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
New AI tool helps match enzymes to substrates
New AI tool helps match enzymes to substrates
chbe.illinois.edu
October 16, 2025 at 2:06 PM
A new AI-powered tool called EZSpecificity combines enzyme-substrate docking data and a machine learning algorithm to predict the best pairing for making a desired product, with up to 91.7% accuracy. ChBE professor Huimin Zhao led the study.
chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
Meet LassoESM, a lasso peptide-tailored protein language model developed by a team from the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology. ChBE professor Diwakar Shukla, project co-leader, has provided valuable insights into machine learning knowledge.
chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
Learning the language of lasso peptides to improve peptide engineering
Learning the language of lasso peptides to improve peptide engineering
chbe.illinois.edu
October 8, 2025 at 1:29 PM
Meet LassoESM, a lasso peptide-tailored protein language model developed by a team from the Carl R. Woese Institute for Genomic Biology. ChBE professor Diwakar Shukla, project co-leader, has provided valuable insights into machine learning knowledge.
chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
Illinois researchers Alexa Kuenstler, Simon Rogers, Damien Guironnet and Antonia Statt are part of a four-year project selected for funding by the NSF DMREF program, to design polymers critical for next-gen computer chips.
NSF funds DMREF project to design polymers critical for next-gen computer chips
NSF funds DMREF project to design polymers critical for next-gen computer chips
chbe.illinois.edu
October 2, 2025 at 7:39 PM
Illinois researchers Alexa Kuenstler, Simon Rogers, Damien Guironnet and Antonia Statt are part of a four-year project selected for funding by the NSF DMREF program, to design polymers critical for next-gen computer chips.
Professors Charles Sing (ChBE) and Cecilia Lea (MatSE) are part of a multi-institutional team working to create new, biological-based membranes that can be made without the use of toxins.
chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
Team awarded $2 million to develop new separation membranes inspired by biological cells
Team awarded $2 million to develop new separation membranes inspired by biological cells
chbe.illinois.edu
September 25, 2025 at 3:28 PM
Professors Charles Sing (ChBE) and Cecilia Lea (MatSE) are part of a multi-institutional team working to create new, biological-based membranes that can be made without the use of toxins.
chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
ChBE professor Deborah Leckband has been named a 2026 Fellow of the Biophysical Society for her "pathbreaking research in biophysics that has transformed our understanding of fundamental mechanisms of biomolecular mechanics and force transduction". Congratulations!
chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
Leckband named 2026 Fellow of the Biophysical Society
Leckband named 2026 Fellow of the Biophysical Society
chbe.illinois.edu
September 25, 2025 at 1:38 PM
ChBE professor Deborah Leckband has been named a 2026 Fellow of the Biophysical Society for her "pathbreaking research in biophysics that has transformed our understanding of fundamental mechanisms of biomolecular mechanics and force transduction". Congratulations!
chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
Congratulations to ChBE grad student Afia Subhani and Chemistry grad student Micah Robinson, recipients of the Gender Equity in the Chemical Sciences Inclusive Leadership Award. We couldn't be prouder of these students for modeling inclusive excellence on campus!
September 17, 2025 at 2:02 PM
Congratulations to ChBE grad student Afia Subhani and Chemistry grad student Micah Robinson, recipients of the Gender Equity in the Chemical Sciences Inclusive Leadership Award. We couldn't be prouder of these students for modeling inclusive excellence on campus!
ChBE professor Ying Diao will lead a team of researchers who have received a $2M grant to revolutionize electronic and energy materials by advancing knowledge in the fields of semiconducting polymers, chirality-induced spin selectivity and electrocatalysis. chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
Inspired by nature: researchers receive $2M grant to develop chiral electronics
Inspired by nature: researchers receive $2M grant to develop chiral electronics
chbe.illinois.edu
September 12, 2025 at 12:41 PM
ChBE professor Ying Diao will lead a team of researchers who have received a $2M grant to revolutionize electronic and energy materials by advancing knowledge in the fields of semiconducting polymers, chirality-induced spin selectivity and electrocatalysis. chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
ChBE professor Alexa Kuenstler has been recognized by the College of LAS as a Lincoln Excellence for Assistant Professors (LEAP) Scholar for her contributions in research and teaching. She is one of six professors who received the honor. Congratulations!
chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
Kuenstler named LEAP scholar for contributions in teaching and research
Kuenstler named LEAP scholar for contributions in teaching and research
chbe.illinois.edu
September 10, 2025 at 2:06 PM
ChBE professor Alexa Kuenstler has been recognized by the College of LAS as a Lincoln Excellence for Assistant Professors (LEAP) Scholar for her contributions in research and teaching. She is one of six professors who received the honor. Congratulations!
chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
Reposted by ChBE Illinois
New Opinion out today in @chicagotribune.com
"The Bio10 is an academic powerhouse."
"The health of our society depends on generations of young students equipped to embrace, and succeed in the face of, uncertainty."
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/02/o...
"The Bio10 is an academic powerhouse."
"The health of our society depends on generations of young students equipped to embrace, and succeed in the face of, uncertainty."
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/02/o...
September 2, 2025 at 1:15 PM
New Opinion out today in @chicagotribune.com
"The Bio10 is an academic powerhouse."
"The health of our society depends on generations of young students equipped to embrace, and succeed in the face of, uncertainty."
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/02/o...
"The Bio10 is an academic powerhouse."
"The health of our society depends on generations of young students equipped to embrace, and succeed in the face of, uncertainty."
www.chicagotribune.com/2025/09/02/o...
ChBE Illinois researchers have unveiled a new framework for understanding and controlling the behavior of granular hydrogels — microscopic gel particles that mimic living tissue — paving the way for designing better biomaterials.
chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
Illinois researchers unlock new insights into granular hydrogels for biomedical applications
Illinois researchers unlock new insights into granular hydrogels for biomedical applications
chbe.illinois.edu
August 29, 2025 at 9:10 PM
ChBE Illinois researchers have unveiled a new framework for understanding and controlling the behavior of granular hydrogels — microscopic gel particles that mimic living tissue — paving the way for designing better biomaterials.
chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
ChBE Illinois is seeking an Office Support Associate to assist in the department's business and student services offices and provide backup to other positions. Come join our friendly, dedicated team! Deadline to apply: September 10, 2025.
illinois.csod.com/ux/ats/caree...
illinois.csod.com/ux/ats/caree...
August 28, 2025 at 1:53 PM
ChBE Illinois is seeking an Office Support Associate to assist in the department's business and student services offices and provide backup to other positions. Come join our friendly, dedicated team! Deadline to apply: September 10, 2025.
illinois.csod.com/ux/ats/caree...
illinois.csod.com/ux/ats/caree...
NSF has awarded $20M in Phase 2 funding to the Center for Single-Entity Nanochemistry and Nanocrystal Design. As part of the project, ChBE prof. Paul Kenis will help with experiments that highlight how individual nanocrystals behave.
chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
NSF funds Phase 2 of multi-institutional nanocrystal research center
NSF funds Phase 2 of multi-institutional nanocrystal research center
chbe.illinois.edu
August 19, 2025 at 2:30 PM
NSF has awarded $20M in Phase 2 funding to the Center for Single-Entity Nanochemistry and Nanocrystal Design. As part of the project, ChBE prof. Paul Kenis will help with experiments that highlight how individual nanocrystals behave.
chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
With a new five-year, $15M award, the NSF has renewed its support of the Molecule Maker Lab Institute, which develops AI tools for discovery and synthesis of molecules for uses in medicine, energy, industry and more. chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
@moleculemaker.bsky.social
@moleculemaker.bsky.social
NSF reinvests in Molecule Maker Lab Institute, AI tools to solve chemistry’s challenges
NSF reinvests in Molecule Maker Lab Institute, AI tools to solve chemistry’s challenges
chbe.illinois.edu
July 29, 2025 at 4:10 PM
With a new five-year, $15M award, the NSF has renewed its support of the Molecule Maker Lab Institute, which develops AI tools for discovery and synthesis of molecules for uses in medicine, energy, industry and more. chbe.illinois.edu/news/stories...
@moleculemaker.bsky.social
@moleculemaker.bsky.social