Designed for innovators

The stunning facility in the heart of Ohio State’s engineering and science district is one of the very few in the country specifically designed to promote an innovative, collaborative research environment. 

Ohio State’s Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Chemistry Building (CBEC) sets a new precedent for interdisciplinary collaboration at the university, with two powerhouse departments from different colleges coming together for the first time: the William G. Lowrie Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from the College of Engineering, and the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry from the College of Arts and Sciences.

“The disciplines of chemistry and chemical and biomolecular engineering are very close,” said Andre Palmer, interim chair and professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering. “They have a solid basis in chemistry, mathematics and physics.”

Existing collaborations between researchers from both departments show the synergy that comes from combining complementary expertise.

Jessica Winter, associate professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering; Josh Goldberger, assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry, and Ezekiel Johnston-Halperin, associate professor of physics, are evaluating interfaces between two-dimensional materials such as graphene and one-dimensional materials such as semiconductor quantum dots. Funded through Ohio State’s Center for Emergent Materials, their foundational research is expanding the understanding of fundamental physics at the nanoscale.

Winter and Goldberg are also working on a project to combine his peptide amphiphiles—basically small pieces of a protein—with the nanoparticles her group creates for use in imaging and drug delivery. If successful, the amalgamation would eliminate a conjugation step in Winter’s manufacturing process and could ultimately help her team improve imaging techniques for detection and personalized treatment of cancer.

The research of W.S. Winston Ho, distinguished university professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, and Prabir Dutta, distinguished university professor of chemistry and biochemistry, could have impacts on the global race for clean energy. They have developed a novel and cost-effective inorganic and polymer composite membrane that captures carbon dioxide from flue gas. The project that secured $3 million from the Department of Energy for potential use in coal-fired power plants and other factories producing carbon dioxide.

Now that CBEC’s 400 faculty and researchers share doors and floors, the number of research collaborations between the two disciplines is only expected to climb.

Consider the teamwork between Nick Brunelli, assistant professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering, and Anita Mattson, assistant professor of chemistry. They’re working to create next-generation immobilized organocatalysts, which are metal-free and made with renewable resources. Applying organocatalysts to new methodologies shows great promise, especially in areas like synthesizing pharmaceuticals and fine chemicals. 

“To be honest, it was a little difficult to collaborate when we were in two separate buildings,” Brunelli said, “because you don’t see the other person.”

Now that both have established labs and offices in CBEC, their work is continuing with renewed enthusiasm. 

“[Being in CBEC] reinvigorates everyone,” Mattson explained. “Everyone is a little more excited about research now that we’re over here.”

The research collaborations that CBEC aims to promote aren’t just a nice bonus. They’re critical to advancing the field, Mattson said.

“You outpace your training after a few years,” Brunelli explained. “So to bring in new skill sets and new ideas, you really need to bring in someone to have those ideas and discussions. That way you can actually do new things.”

The cooperation between chemical engineers and chemists could also provide enhanced training opportunities for graduate students. It’s not just a case of learning different terminology, said Brunelli, the two disciplines also have a different basis for understanding processes.

“If a student could gain the perspective [of each field] it would make them that much more marketable as well as successful,” said Mattson. “Especially if a PhD student had a collaborative project with an engineer and an organic chemist, they would be able to work on the bridge of the two fields. You can imagine that would lead to a lot of new ideas and new research opportunities.”

The collaborative environment also extends to the physical laboratory space itself. Every floor includes open communal areas, or laboratory neighborhoods, that provide research space. Core facilities like cold rooms and autoclaves are readily available, making the process of conducting research more efficient. 

“I think this is a top-notch facility” said Barbara Wyslouzil, a professor who embodies CBEC’s interdisciplinary commitment with appointments in both chemical and biomolecular engineering and chemistry and biochemistry. “When they planned this building they went out and surveyed to find out what is state-of-the-art and they brought that here to Ohio State.”

Researchers also share laboratory space, which leads to increased interaction.

“By putting everybody together in these group lab neighborhoods, I definitely see my neighbors a lot more than I did when we all had separate labs,” said Andy Maxson, a graduate student in chemical and biomolecular engineering. “So we can share tools, equipment and advice. It’s great to work together.”

The new 237,000-square-foot building also provides the modern infrastructure necessary to support research. The 20-foot floor-to-ceiling laboratory wing supports massive, state-of-the-art instrumentation, including the highest quality nuclear magnetic resonance equipment. 

Infrastructure issues such as a working and consistent HVAC system to provide even-temperature control, adequate power and utilities, and sufficient fume hood capacity are no longer impediments to research in the new space. 

“Going to a modern facility just makes a huge difference,” said Winter. “It’s kind of like moving from your garage into a real company.” 

Thanks to its innovative, interdisciplinary design, CBEC is poised to accelerate discovery and give Ohio State the edge in playing a leadership role in important scientific advancements for decades to come.