News of the Week

APRIL 6, 2026

CBE News

Congratulations to Max Bobbin for receiving the Graduate Student Service Award.
Congratulations to Arkita Mays for receiving the COE Staff Award for Excellence

cbe Seminars/Events

CBE Seminar Series
9:00 AM in 102 CLB (*unless otherwise noted)
- APR. 17, 2026 | Robert L. Pigford Memorial Lecture
  Enrico Tronconi, Politecnico di Milano
  On Structured Catalysts and Reactors
- APR. 24, 2026
  Pushkar Lele, Texas A&M University
  Bacterial Transport Under Confinement: New Paradigms in Microbial Competition and Host Response
- MAY 1, 2026
  Haro Hartounian, Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics
  Engineering, Entrepreneurship, and the Business of Modern Therapeutics: From Molecules to Cells, with a Case Study in Intelligent Cell Therapy Manufacturing Platforms

OTHER DEPARTMENT’S SEMINAR/EVENTS

CAS Arnold M. Clark Memorial Lecture
April 7, 2026 at 4:00 PM in Gore Recital Hall in the Roselle Center for the Arts
Michael T. Laub, Salvador E. Luria Professor, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
Finding and characterizing anti-phage defense systems
MSEG-CRiSP Seminar
April 8, 2026 starting at 10:00 AM in 322 ISE
Dr. Herdeline (Digs) Ardona, UC Irvine
Precision Engineering of Macromolecular Systems as Transducer Biomaterials
COE Inaugural Lecture Series
April 8, 2026 at 4:00 PM in MTH
Bingqing Wei, George W. Laird Professor of Mechanical Engineering
Developing an integrated nanotechnology platform that enables sustainable energy systems
Reception to follow in Du Pont Hall Lobby
AIM-EFRC Webinar Series
April 20, 2026 on Zoom
Somnath Ghosh, Ph.D., John Hopkins University
Modeling Damage in Piezocomposites: A Digital Twin Approach
7th Annual 3M RISE Symposium
The 7th annual 3M RISE Symposium (Raising Influence in Science and Engineering) is accepting applications! The purpose of the symposium is to introduce emerging doctoral students in science and engineering to the wide range of rewarding careers in research and development at 3M. This is a virtual event that will be hosted August 17th-19th, 2026 and is a great way for future STEM leaders to get introduced to the corporate world. Ideal applicants are expected to complete their graduate degree appointment within 24 months of the RISE event. We will accept applicants from any STEM field. HERE is a flyer describing the symposium. The RISE Symposium application deadline is May 1st, 2026

Other Events

ACS BIOT
April 17, 2026 at University of Pennsylvania starting at 4:30 PM
The Master’s Association of Bioengineers (MAB) E-Board and the ACS Biochemical Technology Division Mid Atlantic Chapter (ACS BIOT) are excited to host a Biotech and Pharma Career Panel Event– an evening designed to connect current graduate students with industry representatives. Registration required.
PoWER Conference
May 21-22, 2026 at University of Toronto
Polymer Women Empowerment & Research (PoWER) Conference
PoWER will foster community, share cutting-edge scientific results, highlight women’s contributions and voices, and address issues pertinent to women and gender minorities in polymer science. We have an excellent schedule of impactful speakers and workshops lined up. Poster submission is also open.
100th ACS Colloid & Surface Science Symposium
June 21-24, 2026 at University of Delaware
Location: Audion on STAR Campus, Gore Hall, and Winterthur Museum & Gardens
Description: The meeting will feature integrated, thematic programming across core and emerging areas of colloid and interface science, including rheology, neutron scattering, environmental and sustainability challenges, and application-driven topics such as paints, coatings, membranes, and materials. Abstract Submission is open until Friday, March 27th, 2026.
Florida State University
2026 Future Faculty Workshop in Soft Materials
Applications are now open for the 2026 Future Faculty Workshop in Soft Materials, hosted at Florida State University on July 14-16, 2026! This highly interactive workshop is designed for senior graduate students and postdoctoral researchers who aspire to become academic faculty in the U.S. in soft matter-related fields, including chemistry, chemical engineering, materials science, and bioengineering.
ACS I&EC Division Graduate Student Award Symposium
This symposium will be featured at the ACS Fall National Meeting, in Chicago, August 23-27, 2026. Call for papers deadline for abstract submission is March 31, 2025. The symposium will be held in person.

TIDBIT

MS Publisher no longer supported
In October 2026, Microsoft Publisher will reach its end of life. After that time, it will no longer be included in Microsoft 365 and existing on-premises suites will no longer be supported. Microsoft 365 subscribers will no longer be able to open or edit Publisher files in Publisher.

Jobs/Recruiting

University of Fribourg
- Position: PROFESSOR (OPEN RANK) IN SOFT MATTER PHYSICS AND TECHNOLOGY
  The Faculty of Science and Medicine is inviting applications for the position of Professor of Soft Matter Physics and Technology at the Adolphe Merkle Institute (AMI). The AMI is a scientifically independent institute supported by a private foundation and integrated into the Faculty of Science and Medicine of the University of Fribourg.
- Position: PROFESSOR (OPEN RANK) IN POLYMER CHEMISTRY AND TECHNOLOGY
  The Faculty of Science and Medicine is inviting applications for the position of Professor of Polymer Chemistry and Technology at the Adolphe Merkle Institute (AMI). The AMI is a scientifically independent institute supported by a private foundation and integrated into the Faculty of Science and Medicine of the University of Fribourg. The successful candidate will have an exceptional track record of international research excellence in polymer chemistry and technology, appropriate to their career stage. Their research programme should encompass the design, synthesis, processing, and application of novel (nano)materials and systems. The Adolphe Merkle Institute’s research strategy emphasises soft nanomaterials, bioinspiration, and the integration of fundamental and application-oriented research to enable the development of new technologies. Preferred application fields include ‘Health and Food’, ‘Sustainable and Circular Materials’, and ‘Materials with Emerging Functions’.
- Position: PROFESSOR (OPEN RANK) IN DATA-DRIVEN MATERIALS DISCOVERY
  The Faculty of Science and Medicine is inviting applications for the position of Professor of Data-Driven Materials Discovery at the Adolphe Merkle Institute (AMI). The AMI is a scientifically independent institute supported by a private foundation and integrated into the Faculty of Science and Medicine of the University of Fribourg. The successful candidate will have an exceptional track record of international research excellence in data-driven materials discovery, appropriate to their career stage. Their research programme should encompass artificial intelligence, machine learning and data-driven discovery methods applied to materials such as polymers, colloids, self-assembled systems, biomaterials and living materials.