(May 11, 2022) - CISTAR congratulates Ricem Diaz Arroyo and Sopuruchukwu (Sopuru) A. Ezenwa, CISTAR Graduate Fellows at Purdue University, as they have each been selected for a fellowship for the 2021-2022 academic year from CISTAR. CISTAR awards two fellowships annually – both of which are funded by Purdue Chemical Engineering alumni: The Dick Reitz CISTAR Fellowship, funded by Mr. Reitz (class of 1963) and the Bill Murray CISTAR Fellowship funded by Mr. Murray (class of 1961). The fellows are nominated by CISTAR faculty members based on their academic performance and research accomplishments.

Ricem Diaz Arroyo, 2021-2022 Dick Reitz CISTAR Fellow

Ricem Diaz Arroyo, 2021-2022 Dick Reitz CISTAR Fellow is co-advised by Professors  Rajamani Gounder and Fabio Ribeiro. Diaz Arroyo’s research on the synthesis and characterization of relevant zeolites and molecular sieved-based catalysts that have potential to promote the production of liquid fuel and chemicals from hydrocarbons resources. Additionally, Diaz Arroyo works with Dr. Gounder to develop new techniques to characterize the active site properties of the zeolite and correlate the influence of these zeolite properties to the hydrocarbon transformation rates, product distribution and catalyst deactivation.

Diaz Arroyo has served as a mentor to CISTAR research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)/Research Experience and Mentoring (REM) researchers in 2021. She was in charge of organizing K-12 STEM outreach activities within CISTAR as an Education and Outreach Coordinator on CISTAR Student Leadership Council (SLC). Currently, she serves as Co-chair of CISTAR SLC. Furthermore, Diaz Arroyo was awarded Honorable Mention by the National Science Foundation (NSF) in 2021.

“I am honored to be selected for this award and I appreciate the support to continue developing catalysis research to propel innovative alternatives for fuel technologies.” Ricem said in her award acceptance.

Sopuruchukwu (Sopuru) A. Ezenwa, 2021-2022 Bill Murray CISTAR Fellow

Sopuru  Ezenwa, 2021-2022 Bill Murray CISTAR Fellow is co-advised by Professors Rajamani Gounder and Fabio Ribeiro. Ezenwa’s research with Dr. Ribeiro (and Dr. Ray Mentzer; Purdue Process Safety & Assurance Center, P2SAC) investigates safety practices in academic and industrial laboratories to obtain insights and develop tools that promote safer cultures and mitigate the occurrence or severity of lab safety incidents. In addition, Ezenwa works with Dr. Gounder on (post)synthetic, kinetic and mechanistic studies to elucidate the influence of zeolite structural and active site properties on arene transformation rates, selectivity and catalyst deactivation.

Ezenwa has served as a mentor to CISTAR Research Experiences for Undergraduates (REU)/ Research Experience and Mentoring (REM) researchers in 2019-2022. He has also been involved in various K-12 STEM Outreach programs within and outside CISTAR. Furthermore, Ezenwa received the 2021 Best Poster Award in Catalysis and Reaction Engineering at ChE GSO Symposium at Purdue.

“I am grateful to be selected for this fellowship which will go a long way in supporting my research that contributes to developing predictive synthesis-structure-function relationships that guide more effective and safer design of catalysts for sustainable chemical and energy production,” Sopuru said in his award acceptance.