Chemical Engineering Professor Awarded Humboldt Fellowship

Dr. Edward P. Gatzke, associate professor and associate chair of chemical engineering, has received a three-year Research Fellowship for Experienced Researchers from the Alexander von Humboldt Foundation which will support his research project, "Design and Control of Power Systems Using Advanced Optimation Methods" in Germany. Gatzke will be working with Professors Frank Allgöwer and Ulrich Nieken at the University of Stuttgart and the group of Christopher Hebling at the Fraunhofer ISE in Freiburg.

The Humboldt Foundation grants fellowships and awards to highly qualified scholars and scientists of all nationalities, enabling them to conduct research in Germany, as well as fellowships to German scholars for research abroad. A fellowship from the foundation includes a cultural tour of Germany, conference and travel allowances, and an annual meeting highlighted by a reception given by the president of the Federal Republic of Germany.

In addition to the Humbolt Fellowship, Gatzke has support from a National Science Foundation CAREER award supplement from the International Research and Education in Engineering (IREE) program. This award will allow two students to be sent to Germany for the summer to work with Gatkze: Caitlin Molloy and Alexis Rivera-Montalvo. Molloy, currently a junior working on her undergraduate chemical engineering degree, is president of the Carolina chapter of the Society of Women Engineers. Rivera-Montalvo's research focuses on "Analysis and Modeling of Dynamic Biological Systems"; his Ph.D. is expected to be awarded in 2010.

Gatzke received his bachelor's degree in chemical engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 1995 and his Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the University of Delaware in 2000. He is the recipient of the College of Engineering and Computing's Young Investigator Award (2007), the Mortar Board Excellence in Teach Award (2004), and is a faculty advisor for Carolina's AIChE undergraduate student chapter, OXE CHE Honor Society, APO Service Fraternity, and USC Cycling Club.

Gatzke, wife Andi, along with children Drew and Ellie, will be in Germany from May 12, 2008 to August 1, 2009.

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3/11/08