Rethinking Chemical Product Design Education

Professor Warren Seider, alongside design instructors from around the world, co-authored an article calling attention to a critical gap in traditional chemical engineering design courses: the emphasis on manufacturing processes over innovative product design.

The authors argue that students should be taught how to create new, consumer-driven products using the latest research—an approach that could also help reverse declining enrollments in the field.

As Dr. Jeffrey Cohen (Johnson & Johnson) notes, chemical engineers are uniquely positioned to design high-value, sustainable products using cutting-edge methods and technologies.

Interested in how design education can evolve? Read the full article and explore how to teach modern product design courses in the Supplemental Material.

Professor Diamond to receive AHA ATVB Special Recognition Award in Thrombosis!

The American Heart Association’s Council on Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis, and Vascular Biology (ATVB) has selected Professor Diamond to be the recipient of the ATVB Special Recognition Award in Thrombosis. Professor Diamond has pioneered the use of microfluidics, high throughput experimentation, machine learning, and multi-scale systems biology to understand mechanisms of thrombosis in hemodynamic settings. This prestigious award will be presented during the 2025 Scientific Sessions of the American Heart Association.

Professor Discher Elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences!

Congratulations to Professor Discher on being elected to the American Academy of Arts and Sciences, one of the nation’s most prestigious honorary societies.

Election to the Academy is a significant honor, recognizing individuals whose exceptional achievements in academia, science, public affairs, business, and the arts have advanced the public good.

Since its founding in 1780, the Academy has served as a convening body of thought leaders dedicated to fostering knowledge, promoting collaboration across disciplines, and addressing some of society’s most pressing challenges.

Read the full announcement here.

Professor Radhakrishnan Named AIChE Fellow!

The American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) has elected Professor Ravi Radhakrishnan, Herman P. Schwan Department Chair of Bioengineering and Professor in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, as an AIChE Fellow.

This honor recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to the chemical engineering profession and exemplify leadership, research, and service.

Prof. Radhakrishnan’s pioneering research integrates computational modeling, AI, and nanomedicine to develop next-generation cancer therapies. As a Fellow, he will continue to contribute his expertise to AIChE’s mission, providing mentorship and leadership in the fields of bioengineering and computational science.

Click here to read more about his work and achievements.

Exciting Advances in Gene Therapy!

Professor Gao and her team have developed mvGPT, a groundbreaking tool that combines gene editing, activation, and repression into one powerful system. This technology opens up new possibilities for simultaneously treating multiple genetic diseases and understanding the complexities of our DNA.

Click here to learn more about gene editing, and be sure to check out Penn Today to learn more about Professor Gao’s work.