With support from the AIChE Foundation, AIChE and its Young Professional Committee (YPC) are honoring 35 notable young professionals under the age of 35 based on achievements in seven categories: bioengineering, chemicals, energy, innovation, educations, leadership, and safety. You can learn more about the award here.
The winners in all seven categories were announced in the August 2017 issue of CEP Magazine. Here on ChEnected, we’re featuring interviews with winners conducted by YPC. This week, we'll be featuring winners in the category of energy. Winners are presented below in alphabetical order, by last name. You can click on individual names in the list below to go directly to their interview. Be sure to congratulate the winners by sharing on social media with the hashtag #AIChE35Under35.
Beth Carter, 33:
Solving tough energy technology problems
Beth Carter is a lead development specialist in the Refining Development Group at UOP Honeywell. She leads R&D teams to develop novel process, equipment, and/or catalyst technology solutions in the area of petroleum refining. Beth's awards include the McCormack Award for Outstanding Chemical Engineering Student.
AIChE YPC: Tell us about your current and past involvement in AIChE.
Beth Carter: I am currently in my second year serving as the vice chair of programming for the Chicago Local Section. I was also the president of the Northwestern Student Chapter. Through my early career, I was very involved with student outreach through AIChE and was an active member of the Chicago YPC.
AIChE YPC: What inspired you to pursue chemical engineering?
BC: I started college wanting to become a doctor, however, I had the opportunity to be an intern at UOP after my freshman year of college. That summer, I met some of the best engineers and scientists in the world working on solving hard energy technology problems. I then decided that being a chemical engineer would give me the opportunity to help transform how energy is used and produced by future generations.
AIChE YPC: What professional achievement are you most proud of?
BC: I'm proud that I have already had an impact on energy technology development. Since joining the R&D organization at UOP, I have worked on technologies that convert LPG to aromatics or high value fuels, significantly increase the production efficiency of para-xylene in a petrochemical complex, continuously regenerate catalysts used in olefin production, treat chloride from vent gas streams, and produce motor fuel by alkylation using an ionic liquid catalyst. These projects are all addressing real customer needs in existing technologies or developing next generation technologies.
AIChE YPC: What is the most challenging part of your job?
BC: Technical competency is not actually the most challenging part of being a good engineer. To me, the most challenging part of my job is communicating and collaborating well with the diverse teams of scientists, engineers, business specialists, and managers I work with.
AIChE YPC: What is the hardest decision you have had to make?
BC: UOP encourages new graduates to take assignments in the Field Services group, traveling 100% of the time to advise customers during new unit startups, turnarounds, and catalyst loadings. It was a hard decision to take this job because I love being in Chicago with my friends and family. I'm glad I did, not only for the opportunity to live in places like China, Turkey, and Brazil, but because the assignments forced me to become a problem-solving engineer who has seen process technology working (and not working!).
AIChE YPC: What do you enjoy most about your job?
BC: I like to tell college students that I get to do chemical engineering senior design as a career — my job is to design refining and petrochemical processes by applying the principles of unit operations, kinetics, thermodynamics, and economics. The exciting thing is that processes that I help develop actually get used by customers!
AIChE YPC: What are your goals for the future?
BC: I want to invent and develop energy technology that is clean, reliable, affordable, and sustainable. I also want to inspire girls to pursue careers in science, technology, engineering, and math fields.
Fun facts about Beth
Who do you admire most?
My mom!
I want to invent and develop energy technology that is clean, reliable, affordable, and sustainable.
Learn more about Beth in CEP Magazine
Bihter Padak, 33:
Living her dream
Bihter Padak is an assistant professor at University of South Carolina. Her research interests are in the field of combustion, reaction kinetics, and emissions control technologies. Bihter's research group aims to reduce the environmental impacts of generating electricity from fossil fuels, with a focus on the emissions of carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur oxides, and trace metals. Areas of application include oxy-combustion of coal, chemical looping combustion, and high hydrogen content fuel combustion in gas turbines.
AIChE YPC: What inspired you to pursue chemical engineering?
Bihter Padak: My high school chemistry teacher inspired me and I wanted to do something related to chemistry. I attended a chemistry camp in high school. That was the first time I learned about the laws of thermodynamics.
AIChE YPC: Chemical engineering is a diverse field. How did you get involved in your speciality?
BP: After taking chemical reaction engineering as an undergrad, I decided to work on a topic related to chemical kinetics. During my PhD I got into combustion kinetics.
AIChE YPC: What professional achievement are you most proud of?
BP: This award!
AIChE YPC: What personal achievement are you most proud of?
BP: Being a professor. I have always wanted to be a professor since I was a kid.
AIChE YPC: What do you enjoy most about your job?
BP: I really enjoy doing research and interacting with students. The best part of teaching is to see the success of my students; it is very rewarding.
AIChE YPC: What are your goals for the future?
BP: I would like to be recognized both nationally and internationally for my contributions to the field.
Fun facts about Bihter
What is the last online purchase you made?
I purchased Iron Maiden concert tickets
The best part of teaching is to see the success of my students; it is very rewarding.
Learn more about Bihter in CEP Magazine
Camille Petit, 32
Enjoying career diversity
AIChE YPC: What inspired you to pursue chemical engineering?
Camille Petit: People: I have had exceptional mentors who have successfully conveyed their passion for chemical engineering!
AIChE YPC: Chemical engineering is a diverse field. How did you get involved in your speciality?
CP: A mix of chance and choice; as an undergraduate student, I knew I wanted to work on something related to sustainability. I also cherished the prospect of teaching and working with students. With this in mind, as a Master's student, I decided to do a year-long research project. The project was related to materials development for environmental remediation. After that, I knew I liked research and I knew I liked making materials!
AIChE YPC: What is the most challenging part of your job?
CP: The diversity of things I do (teaching, research, admin work...) but this is one of the most exciting aspects too!
CP: Working with talented researchers.
AIChE YPC: What lesson do you wish you would have learned sooner?
CP: One has to learn to be patient sometimes...
AIChE YPC: What are your goals for the future?
CP: Ensuring that my group members get the successful careers they deserve , and expanding our current research work on multifunctional materials as a way to integrate multiple processes and enhance sustainability.
Fun facts about Camille
What was the first concert you attended?
Red Hot Chili Peppers
The diversity of things I do (teaching, research, admin work...) but this is one of the most exciting aspects too!
Learn more about Camille in CEP Magazine
Doing a World of Good
This award is proudly supported by the AIChE Foundation. Learn more about the Doing a World of Good campaign and how you can be a part.
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