Chemical and biomolecular engineering students shine at American Institute of Chemical Engineers conference

Virginia Parparcén earned first place in the Separations II category. Working with Dr. Lindsay Soh, associate professor and department head of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, she’s investigating green solvents that can alternate between hydrophobic and hydrophilic states. These solvents offer a sustainable solution to reduce toxic waste in the chemical industry. Parparcén’s passion for environmental sustainability stems from her first-year engineering course, where she created biodiesel from cooking oil.

An international student from Panama and Venezuela, she credits Lafayette’s liberal arts setting for allowing her to explore her interests with courses in engineering, sculpture, and philosophy while also spending a semester in Germany. In addition to her research, Parparcén is a member of the International Students Association, American Institute of Chemical Engineers, an honors thesis student, and she enjoys baking. 

Parparcén plans to pursue a PhD in Environmental Engineering, focusing on engineering microbes to solve environmental problems. “Being passionate about your research is key—it shines through in your presentation.”

Finlay Smith, dual major in Chemical Engineering and Mathematics, earned third place in Materials Science and Engineering. Working with Associate Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering Melissa Gordon, his research focuses on hydrogels, materials that swell when exposed to water. His work explores how to tailor hydrogels’ properties through compositional changes, with potential applications in drug delivery for diabetic foot ulcers and other material science innovations.

“I’m interested in creating new materials that no one has made before,” said Smith, whose research also informs his honors thesis on double-network hydrogels. Finlay appreciates Lafayette’s opportunities to engage in research and interdisciplinary courses. “I chose Lafayette for the chance to do research and take non-engineering classes alongside my engineering courses.”

Smith is a president of Engineers Without Borders, president of Lafayette’s American Institute of Chemical Engineers chapter, and  a member of Chi Phi fraternity. Looking ahead, he hopes to work in the pharmaceutical industry, developing new drugs and manufacturing processes.

Iain Colquhoun earned third place in the Catalysis and Reaction Engineering category for his research on methane combustion, converting atmospheric methane into cleaner carbon dioxide. Conducted at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, his work addresses climate change by exploring cutting-edge solutions in atmospheric science and terraforming.

“Lafayette’s small but well-resourced engineering division was a major draw for me,” said  Colquhoun. He credits his focus on developing communications skills in and out of class with his conference success.

Colquhoun is on the executive board of the Refugee Action Club. He hopes to continue exploring interesting engineering topics after college.

For the past decade, Lafayette students have consistently earned top poster session awards each year at the American Institute of Chemical Engineers Annual Meeting. Many attribute their success to Lafayette’s distinctive blend of technical engineering excellence and the skills cultivated through a liberal arts education, as well as the close mentoring relationships they build with faculty. These accomplishments highlight the transformative impact of interdisciplinary learning in preparing engineers to address complex global challenges.

“The students are being judged on the quality of the research as well as their presentation and communication skills, Soh said. “The fact that our students are consistently doing so well is a testament to the hard work that the students are committing to their research projects and their communication skills. It also points to the high level research experiences and mentorship that our faculty are able to provide.”