EU-FIPSE Exchange Program

Renewable Resources and Clean Technologies

Jan 2006 Krieger-Brockett, UW, IP Gent,BE

The UW Campus

Jan 2006 Krieger-Brockett, UW, IP Gent,BE

U Washington, Quick Facts

http://www.washington.edu

http://www.washington.edu/newsroom/profile/quickfacts.html

• • • • •

EU students qualify for “visiting” Graduate student status if in 3rd or more year at University UW 3 campuses, Seattle Campus: 250 hectare, 218 buildings Instructional Faculty Faculty and Staff

6,100 27,600 42,974 • •

2005 Autumn Student Enrollment

(39,251 on Seattle campus)
 • Undergraduate students: • Graduate and professional students: • Nonmatriculated students: 25,469
 11,763
 2,019

Extension Enrollment

26,444 Jan 2006 Krieger-Brockett, UW, IP Gent,BE

UW information for foreign students

• All application information, good usability at – UW Office of International Programs and Exchanges (IPE) http://www.ipe.washington.edu/ particularly Ms Tina Wong IPE sponsors local Foundation for International Understanding Through Students (FIUTS) http://www.fiuts.washington.edu/ source for home stays, lodging, activities, etc Jan 2006 Krieger-Brockett, UW, IP Gent,BE

Seattle, WA

Jan 2006 Krieger-Brockett, UW, IP Gent,BE

Study possibilities?

• UW has quarter system (3 months/quarter) – approx 15 Sep-15 Dec (Autumn Quarter) ± 3 d – approx 3 Jan - 15 Mar (Winter Qtr) ± 3 d – approx 15 Mar - 12 June (Spring Qtr) ± 3 d • Courses descriptions, learning materials available on the web at http://www.washington.edu

– course offerings change all the time, instructors change – therefore, have a secondary plan • Research projects taken as courses (1 quarter is short…) – supervisory professors are usually flexible to accommodate students in the their research Jan 2006 Krieger-Brockett, UW, IP Gent,BE

Prof. William McKean

Paper Science and Engineering, Chemical Engineering Jan 2006 Krieger-Brockett, UW, IP Gent,BE

Example - Pulping of non-wood renewable crops and residues (Autumn 2005) - Gent student • Make and measure pulp from wheat straw, giant reed, recycled papers • Work on lab to pilot scale processes Jan 2006 Krieger-Brockett, UW, IP Gent,BE

Prof. Sharon Doty College of Forestry, Plant Genetics Jan 2006 Krieger-Brockett, UW, IP Gent,BE

• Genetic modification of non-food plants to reduce lignin content

Arundo Donax pulp to paper

Jan 2006 Krieger-Brockett, UW, IP Gent,BE

Develop analysis and removal methods for ferulic,coumaric acids from annual plant residues to improve pulping Jan 2006 Krieger-Brockett, UW, IP Gent,BE

Road application of lignosulfonates (LS) for road dust supression (K. Vervisch) • How much LS irreversibly absorbed to the adjacent soil?

• How fast are the LS degraded? What chemicals are formed?

• How fast are the LS degraded?

• What chemicals are formed?

Jan 2006 Krieger-Brockett, UW, IP Gent,BE

Student (K. Vervisch) Conclusions • LS and Humic acids interact at acidic pH.

Higher amounts of LS leached out in alkaline zone than in acid zone.

• Humic acids soluble in acid solutions and insoluble in alkaline solutions • LS leached out 8.4% - 12.7% is in conflict with previous research where 70% LS were leached out.

Jan 2006 Krieger-Brockett, UW, IP Gent,BE

Prof. Francois Baneyx see www.washington.edu

• Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering • Molecular Biology • Bioreactors • Student Camille Romanik, France Jan 2006 Krieger-Brockett, UW, IP Gent,BE

Genetic Modification of protein to obtain flourescence when conjugated (Romanik) • MalE -- maltose binding protein designed to contain a silver binding peptide at its C-terminus.

• Work realised: genetically engineer this protein so be able to be conjugated to a fluorescent dye.

– An amino acid, placed as far as possible of the silver binding peptide will be replaced by a cysteine residue (MalE doesn ’ t have any naturally occurring cysteine residue) to which the fluorescent dye will be conjugated. • Outcome: create hybrid molecules with enhanced one photon emission and and two photon cross section for optically limiting applications.

• Methods used: – Techniques of cell culture; Design of primers; mutagenesis – Purification of plasmid DNA by alkaline lysis; PCR – Electrophoresis analysis; Purification of the protein on amylose resin column • Seven mutants designed. Two of them have now been conjugated to the dye and will be analysed (Raman).

Jan 2006 Krieger-Brockett, UW, IP Gent,BE

Projects have in common

• lab activities, some small scale, some larger scale equipment • report writing • presentation to lab group and faculty • graded Jan 2006 Krieger-Brockett, UW, IP Gent,BE

Practical stay considerations

University of Washington, Seattle • Students said better to go for longer time • Students found rooms for $400-500/month • Ate at restaurants rather than prepare food so food was somewhat expensive • FIUTS, Homestays very helpful • Learning agreement in advance may have to be modified by actual course enrollment, instructor changes • Bus pass, intermural athletics very appreciated Jan 2006 Krieger-Brockett, UW, IP Gent,BE

EU - US Exchange Contact persons

• Prof. Krieger-Brockett is UW Contact regarding information on program, who is doing what research at UW • emails (use both) – – [email protected]

[email protected]

• VISA, UW application requirements handled by www.ipe.washington.edu

• Graz contact: Huber Jan 2006 Krieger-Brockett, UW, IP Gent,BE

Pacific Northwest

Jan 2006 Krieger-Brockett, UW, IP Gent,BE