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Ph.D. University of Kentucky, 2004
M.S. University of Kentucky, 2001
B.S. (Chemical Engineering) University of Nevada, Reno, 1998
B.S. (Chemistry) University of Nevada, Reno, 1998
Dr. Bothun joined URI in July 2006 after a Discovery Corps Postdoctoral Fellowship sponsored by the National Science Foundation (NSF). In this role, Bothun partnered with the NSF Science & Technology Center for Environmentally Responsible Solvents & Processes (CERSP) where he conducted research in the areas of non-aqueous membrane separations and enzyme catalysis, and established an undergraduate research and development program at North Carolina A&T State University, a historically black university. The goal of this program is to advance education and diversity in science and engineering. As a graduate student, Bothun's research was multidisciplinary in nature, merging the fields of high-pressure bioprocessing, interfacial and colloidal phenomena, and thermodynamics. Before attending graduate school he was a Process Engineer with Geobiotics Inc., a mining technology company specializing in biooxidation.
- Biomembrane thermodynamics and transport
- Hybrid lipid/nanomaterial assemblies
- Biomolecular response to inorganic nanomaterials
- Cell and enzyme bioprocesses
- Surface and transport phenomena in nanoporous membranes
Our research lies at the interface between biology and chemical engineering, utilizing engineering principles to capitalize on the selectivity of biological systems and enhance our understanding of biological processes. The research is experimental in nature, and utilizes advanced techniques in spectroscopy, microscopy, and calorimetry with an emphasis on elucidating mechanisms governing, for example, biomolecular activity, self-assembly, and destabilization. Specific areas of interest include pollutant bioaccumulation, biocompatible nanotechnologies, bio/nanomaterials, and drug delivery.
We are also interested in designing and evaluating non-aqueous, liquid-phase membrane separations using nanoporous inorganic materials. Focus has been given to characterizing transport behavior in native (hydrophilic) and surface-modified (hydrophobic) ceramic membranes. This is a critical area as solvent-dependent interactions with high-energy ceramic surfaces greatly influence fluid thermodynamic and transport properties in submicron pores. We envision that this work could lead to new separation strategies in pharmaceutical formulation, flavors and fragrances, semiconductor cleaning, and food processing. This research is in collaboration with Professor Shamsuddin Ilias at NC A&T and CERSP.
| CHE 349 |
Transport Processes III |
(Fall) |
Significant emphasis is placed on student development in our research group and in the classroom. This includes professional and personal development, in addition to technical and laboratory training. The goal is to provide students with a skill-set that will make them highly qualified and well positioned for successful careers in industry, government, and academia. This skill-set is developed through training in areas such as communication, leadership, team-building, collaboration, management, and innovation. All students in the Bothun lab actively participate in development training, student mentoring, strategic research planning, and team-based problem solving. Focus is given to preparing students for multidisciplinary collaboration, which is the cornerstone of many emerging technologies.
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