Impacting our world and saving lives—they are daily pursuits for UH researchers. Research is a hallmark of the university, every day our researchers are discovering new knowledge and developing outstanding future scientists who will change our world.
Here’s just a glimpse into our dedication to science for life.
Conducting SUPER Science
Did you know that a high-temperature superconductor could be an essential component for a handheld tool used by surgeons for staging and treating various cancers, including breast cancer? The result: a more accurate, cost-effective, and safer instrument. This is just one of many ways researchers at the Texas Center for Superconductivity at the University of Houston (TcSUH) are making an impact.
Now in its twenty-fifth year, TcSUH represents the largest multidisciplinary university superconductivity and advanced materials research effort in the United States. The program elevated UH into the national and international spotlight when Paul Chu, T.L.L. Temple Chair of Science and professor of physics, led the breakthrough discovery of superconductivity above liquid nitrogen temperature.
TcSUH boasts roughly 200 faculty, postdoctoral fellows, and students from chemistry, physics, and engineering. And
what do they do? They collaborate to search for new high-temperature superconductors and then apply these discoveries to the nation’s electrical, medical, transportation, and communication needs.
But it’s not all about research. TcSUH also is about community. Its K-12 educational programs are designed to inspire and train the next generation of scientists and engineers. The center’s extensive education and outreach activities support science education at elementary and secondary schools through programs that encourage students to pursue science and engineering careers.
No Big Bang
We dread seeing it on the evening news—another chemical plant explosion. So, what could prevent these plants from possibly having chemical leaks or explosions? Simple, about forty years of research, of course.
Dan Luss’ research over the years helped propel the Department of Chemical Engineering in the 1980s to a top-10 national ranking—one of the first for UH.
The Cullen Professor of Engineering, who served two decades as department chair, focuses on developing operation and control policies to prevent a “runaway”—a rapid, uncontrollable temperature increase leading to an explosion. In response, Luss developed a novel approach to studying the behavior of these reactors, particularly packed-bed reactors—the major ones used by the chemical and petrochemical industry.
His research greatly contributed to understanding the causes of various safety problems. For example, a major safety problem in the operation of large-diameter packed-bed reactors is the formation of small “hot zones” next to the reactor walls. These hot zones can weaken the wall strength and lead to cracks through which chemicals leak. These leaks may result in explosions. His recent research centers on the highly undesired shut-down of olefin polymerization reactors due to the local overheating of some of the growing polymer particles.
Luss’ research has enabled—a more environmentally friendly, efficient, and safe chemical plant that’s not making headlines on the five
o’clock news.
Biological Bonding
Molecular recognition isn’t a love story by scientific standards. Instead, its bond is what ultimately creates and helps with disease detection and prevention as well as drug discovery.
B. Montgomery Pettitt (’75, Ph.D. ’80), the Hugh Roy and Lillie Cranz Cullen Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and professor of computer science, biochemistry and physics, hopes to help create a technology using biological molecules with high-tech chips. Led by Pettitt, the Institute for Molecular Design (IMD) is leading the national effort to harness the power of advanced super computers for the discovery of medicines, agrochemicals, and other useful materials in bionanotechnology.
Representing two colleges and seven academic departments, IMD scientists are developing medications for use in the treatment of cancer, heart disease, hypertension, polio, AIDS, diabetes, Alzheimer’s disease, and leukemia.
IMD, the oldest U.S. center of its kind, also is developing biosensors for use in disease identification; designing new materials for use in bionano devices; and harnessing the power of genetics to improve agrichemicals for crop yields. |
