Jan 2006Krieger-Brockett, UW, IP Gent,BE EU-FIPSE Exchange Program Renewable Resources and Clean Technologies

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

EU-FIPSE Exchange Program Renewable Resources and Clean

Technologies


The UW Campus


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 6,100

• Faculty and Staff 27,600

• 2005 Autumn Student Enrollment 42,974

• (39,251 on Seattle campus)

• Undergraduate students: 25,469

• Graduate and professional students: 11,763

• Nonmatriculated students: 2,019

• Extension Enrollment 26,444


http://www.ipe.washington.edu/

UW information for foreign students• All application information, good usability at

– UW Office of International Programs and Exchanges (IPE)

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

http://www.fiuts.washington.edu/


Seattle, WA


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


Prof. William McKeanPaper Science and Engineering, Chemical Engineering


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


Prof. Sharon DotyCollege of Forestry, Plant Genetics


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

• Arundo Donax pulp to paper


Develop analysis and removal methods for ferulic,coumaric acids from annual plant

residues to improve pulping


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?


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.


Prof. Francois Baneyxsee www.washington.edu

• Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering• Molecular Biology • Bioreactors • Student Camille Romanik, France


• 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).

Genetic Modification of protein to obtain flourescence when conjugated (Romanik)


Projects have in common

• lab activities, some small scale, some larger scale equipment

• report writing

• presentation to lab group and faculty

• graded


Practical stay considerationsUniversity 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


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

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.ipe.washington.edu/


Pacific Northwest

Documents

Jan 2006Krieger-Brockett, UW, IP Gent,BE EU-FIPSE Exchange Program Renewable Resources and Clean Technologies