University of Iowa chemical and biochemical engineering students earned honors at the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) annual conference. 

Students from the United States and abroad presented in a variety of categories at the event, which occurred Nov. 13-18 in Phoenix, Ariz. The UI award recipients included a mix of undergraduate and graduate students, as well as group honors and recognition. 

• Chris Ruben won 1st place in the poster competition for the materials engineering and science division for “Protein Resistant Polymer Coatings for Gold Nanoparticle and Surfaces.” 

• Riannon Smith won 1st place in the poster competition for the food, pharmaceutical and bioengineering division for “Sprayable, Antimicrobial Hydrogels to Improve Wound Infection Treatment."

• Parham Parnian won both the 3rd Place and Competitor's Choice awards in the organization’s inaugural Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition for “Treating Implant Infections: No Surgeries Needed, Just Chill!” 

• UI’s ChemE team earned 2nd place in the jeopardy competition. The team Lucy in the Sky is comprised of Marie Ohlinger, Nolan Burson, Anthony Shirazi, and Kevin Dial. In the 12 years of the competition, UI has won the event four times (2013, 2014, 2020, and 2021) and finished second four times (2012, 2015, 2019, and 2022). No other university has won this competition more than once. 

• Anthony Wagner was recognized as a winner of the 2022-23 Donald F. & Mildred Topp Othmer National Scholarship Award. UI students have won this scholarship 25 times over the last 31 years.

• UI won the Outstanding Student Chapter Award. This is the 18th consecutive year UI has won this award, which is the longest active streak in the United States, and is the 29th year winning the award in the last 30 years.

• Seven UI students presented in the undergraduate student poster competition.

• UI presented a workshop about our industrial and student-run mentorship programs.