Huiyong L.

Advisor: Marcus B. Foston, PhD • To correlate the mechanics, structure and chemistry of plant cell walls at nanoscale for Arabidopsis directional growth and cell wall mutant studies • To synthesize functional cellulose nanocrystals (CNCs) and CNC-reinforced protein nanocomposite materials for advanced biomedical and food packaging applications • To model the lignin extraction and depolymerization kinetics for understanding the biomass recalcitrance during thermochemical processes using nanoscopic chemical imaging techniques • To lead the awarded CEMB pilot grant to understand the mechanochemical changes in the extracellular matrices of hepatic stellar cells in response to the stiffness of synthetic scaffolds

• Communicated with the department for filling out surveys • Facilitated the 2020 EECE Graduate Student Mentorship Program • Recorded notes for the executive board meetings • Helped develop social and professional events for the EECE department

Advisor: Xinde Chen, PhD • Designed fermentation experiments of R. C. yeast to produce biooil from bagassee hydrolysate • Quantified the oil yield and components using GC-MS/FID • Visualized the cell morphology under SEM, TEM and optical microscopes

• Provided services for overseas program applications • Served as a consultant for overseas study • Revised writing materials for graduate program applications

• Taught math for GRE tests

Advisor: Jefferson W. Tester, PhD • Conducted kinetic modeling of cellulose and biomass conversion under hydrothermal conditions • Quantified water-soluble sugars using HPLC • Designed hydrothermal reactors for supercritical processing

Advisor: Yee C. Chiew, PhD • Simulated the dynamics of oxygen molecules in coarse grained model under supercritical conditions • Validated the simulated thermodynamic and physiochemical properties of supercritical oxygen with NIST experimental data • Provided novel evidence for Widom Line using supercritical oxygen as a potential rocket fuel

• Compiled office documents for review • Organized documentation of geographical information of residents for population survey • Inquired local business operations via team work

Thesis based

Graduated with the highest honors