ChE Student Receives International Award

September 18, 2007

The ChE Department congratulates Shiju Thomas for winning the Best Student Oral Presentation Award while attending the 21st International Symposium on Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds (ISPAC21). The presentation was entitled, “Identification of Methylene-Bridged Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons from the Pyrolysis of Catechol.” This study is part of Thomas’ thesis research on the formation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from the pyrolysis of catechol, a model compound representative of structural units in solid fuels. The project is funded by a grant from Philip Morris USA.

The ISPAC21 took place in Trondheim, Norway, August 5-10, 2007. From 35 presentations, two students were given awards:  one for the best oral presentation and one for the best poster presentation. The plenary speakers at the symposium decided the award winners. Thomas said of the experience, “This study is part of my thesis research, funded by Philip Morris USA, on the formation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons from the pyrolysis of catechol, a model compound representative of structural units in solid fuels like coal and biomass. It was nice to be able to go to Norway and present at the symposium. Since my research is on PAC and the ISPAC symposium is the only symposium that deals exclusively with PAC, it feels great to have presented in front of the PAC community and to have won the best student presentation award. I would like to thank my advisor, Prof. M. J. Wornat, for her guidance and support throughout my research at LSU and for giving me an opportunity to present at the ISPAC21 symposium. I would also like to thank the Graduate School for the Coates Travel Award.”

Thomas is a Ph.D. research assistant in the research group of Judy Wornat. While in his last year of residence in the program, Thomas is in the final stage of preparations on his Ph.D. dissertation. He has presented his research at numerous national and international conferences over the past few years.

"The award of this international prize is an indication of the quality of research conducted in the department by Prof. Judy Wornat and Mr. Shiju Thomas on combustion related problems.  It highlights the kind of cutting edge research that our faculty and graduate students are involved in and the international recognition that we are receiving,” explained Kalliat T. Valsaraj, Department Chair, Charles and Hilda Roddey Distinguished Professor in Chemical Engineering, Cain Department of Chemical Engineering.Article

by Melanie McCandless, College of Engineering, 225-578-3242, mmonce@lsu.edu

- 30 –