Ellison Awarded DuPont Young Professor Award
Professor Christopher Ellison has been recognized with the 2012 DuPont Young Professor Award for his work in production of nanofibers and bio-renewable fibers for use in applications like regenerative medicine, filtration systems and protective clothing.
Ellison is one of only nine researchers world-wide to receive the three-year grant totaling $75,000. His research team developed the first green method for making fine fibers by eliminating the use of harmful solvents and large amounts of heat energy used in leading fiber manufacturing processes. Their method also reduces processing costs because of these simplifications.
“This grant will help fund the next phase of our research to produce bio-renewable fibers using naturally derived starting materials, such as soybean oil,” said Ellison. “Bio-renewable sourced fibers reduce the dependence of fiber manufacturing on petroleum based feedstocks and could significantly impact the allocation of finite resources. These materials could be used in many nonwoven fiber products that people use and rely on every day.”
DuPont Young Professor Awards fund highly original research early in a professor’s research career. Professors are nominated by a DuPont technical staff member, and the nominator serves as the liaison between the company and the faculty member. During the three-year award, each grant recipient is invited to present a seminar on his or her work to the DuPont research community.
“This program is an excellent way for DuPont to create lasting relationships with emerging research leaders around the world who are addressing some of the world’s greatest challenges,” said DuPont Senior Vice President and Chief Science & Technology Officer Douglas Muzyka.
Ellison received a B.S. in chemical engineering from Iowa State University in 2000 and a Ph.D. in chemical engineering from Northwestern University in 2005. He has 35 peer-reviewed papers, 11 patents/patent applications and mentors 12 Ph.D. students and 3 postdoctoral fellows.
About DuPont
DuPont has been bringing world-class science and engineering to the global marketplace in the form of innovative products, materials, and services since 1802. The company believes that by collaborating with customers, governments, NGOs, and thought leaders we can help find solutions to such global challenges as providing enough healthy food for people everywhere, decreasing dependence on fossil fuels, and protecting life and the environment.
Since the inception of the DuPont Professor Award in 1967, some 557 young professors from the United States, Europe, Asia, South America, Canada and Africa have received nearly $49 million in grants.
Tags: award, bio-renewable fibers, chemical engineering, Christopher Ellison, DuPont Young Professor Award, filtration systems, nanofibers, protective clothing, regenerative medicine, research, The University of Texas at Austin, UT