EDUCATION
Postdoctoral Fellow 2012-current
Georgia Institute of Technology, Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Atlanta, GA.
Postdoctoral Fellow 2011-2012
Auburn University, Department of Chemical Engineering, Auburn, AL.
Doctor of Philosophy Chemical Engineering 2011
Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Clemson University, Clemson, SC.
- Dissertation: Cellulose Nanocrystal Properties and Applications in Renewable Nanocomposites.
Bachelor of Science. Chemical Engineering 2006
School of Chemical Engineering, University of Costa Rica, SJ, Costa Rica.
- Thesis Project: Synthesis and Characterization of an Environmentally Friendly Solvent from Waste Cooking Oil
CURRENT RESEARCH INTERESTS
- Smart solvents for specialty chemicals manufacturing (switchable solvents, gas expanded liquids, reversible ionic liquids etc.).
- Green Chemistry and Engineering.
- Nanomaterials processing and applications.
- Advanced biobased materials.
PREVIOUS RESEARCH EXPERIENCE
Postdoctoral Fellow 2011-2012
Auburn University, Department of Chemical Engineering, Auburn, AL.
- Surface chemical modification of carbon nanotubes (CNT)
- Dispersion of CNT in thermoset nanocomposite materials.
- Rheological characterization of thermoset nanocomposite resins.
- Simulataneous light scattering and rheological measurements.
Graduate Research Assistant 2007-2011
Clemson University, Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, Clemson, SC.
- Microstructure-properties relationships in nanocomposite materials.
- Cellulose nanocrystals isolation, processing and chemical modification.
- Nanoparticle characterization by microscopy and scattering techniques.
- Processing and characterization of nanocomposite fibers.
- Rheology of isotropic and liquid crystalline nanoparticle suspensions.
Undergraduate Research 2006-2007
University of Costa Rica, School of Chemical Engineering, San José, Costa Rica.
- Synthesis of ethyl esters via high pressure transesterification of triglycerides with ethanol and CO2 as a co-solvent.
- Solvent properties of the ethyl esters mixture compared to common petroleum derived solvents.
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
Teaching Assistant. 2006-2008
Clemson University, Department of Chemical Engineering & Biomolecular Engineering, Clemson, SC.
Mentoring for undergraduate students. 2006-2010
Clemson University, Creative Inquiry Program, Clemson, SC.
Teaching Assistant. 2004-2005
University of Costa Rica, School of Chemistry, San José, Costa Rica.
Teaching Assistant. 2005
University of Costa Rica, School of Chemical Engineering, San José, Costa Rica.
PUBLICATIONS
- Ureña-Benavides, E.E.; Kitchens C.L. Static Light Scattering of Triaxial Nanoparticle Suspensions in the Rayleigh-Gans-Debye Regime: Application to Cellulose Nanocrystals RSC Advances 2012, 2, 1096 – 1105.
- Ureña-Benavides, E.E.; Kitchens C.L. Cellulose Nanocrystal Reinforced Alginate Fibers—Biomimicry Meets Polymer Processing Mol. Cryst. Liq. Cryst., 2012, 556, 275-287.
- Ureña-Benavides, E.E.; Ao G.; Davis, V.A.; Kitchens C.L. Rheology and Phase Behavior of Lyotropic Cellulose Nanocrystal Aqueous Suspensions Macromolecules, 2011, 44, 8990 – 8998.
- Ureña-Benavides, E.E.; Kitchens C.L. Wide Angle X-Ray Diffraction of Cellulose Nanocrystal-Alginate Nanocomposite Fibers. Macromolecules 2011,44, 3478 - 3484.
- Ureña-Benavides, E.E.; Brown, P.J.; Kitchens C.L. Effect of Jet Stretch and Particle Load on Cellulose Nanocrystal-Alginate Nanocomposite Fibers. Langmuir 2010, 26, 14263-14270.
SELECTED PRESENTATIONS, POSTERS & ABSTRACTS
*Denotes speaker
- *Ureña-Benavides, Esteban E.; Kayatin, Matthew J. and Davis, Virginia A. “Dispersion of Single-walled and Multi-walled Carbon Nanotubes in Unsaturated Polyester Resin” Society of Plastics Engineers ANTEC, Orlando, F.L. April, 2012.
- Ureña-Benavides, Esteban E.; Geyou, Ao; Kitchens, Christopher L. and Davis, *Virginia A. “Rheology and Assembly of Cellulose Nanocrystal Lyotropic Suspensions” Directed Self Assembly of Materials Workshop, Nashville, T.N. September, 2011. Poster presentation.
- *Ureña-Benavides, E. E.; Brown, P. J.; Kitchens, C. L. “Effect of Nanofiller Orientation On the Mechanical Properties of Cellulose Nanocrystal – Alginate Nanocomposite Fibers” AIChE Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, U.T., November, 2010.
- *Ureña-Benavides, E. E.; Ao, G.; Davis, V.A.; Kitchens, C. L. “Cellulose Nanocrystals Liquid Crystalline Suspensions: Rheology and Phase Behavior” AIChE Annual Meeting, Salt Lake City, U.T., November, 2010. Poster presentation.
- *Orellana, J. L.; Ureña-Benavides, E. E.; Kitchens, C. L. “Polylactic Acid-Cellulose Nanocrystals Composites Films” Presented at the 2010 SACNAS National Conference, Anaheim, C.A., October, 2010. Awarded Outstanding Contribution and Research Presentation.
- *Ureña-Benavides, E. E.; Brown, P. J.; Kitchens, C. L. “Structure and Mechanical Properties of Cellulose Nanocrystal – Alginate Nanocomposite Fibers” Presented at the 14th Annual Green Chemistry and Engineering Conference, Washington, D.C., June, 2010.
- *Ureña-Benavides, E. E.; Brown, P. J.; Kitchens, C. L. “Effect of Jet Stretch and Particles Load on Cellulose Nanocrystals – Alginate Nanocomposite Fibers” Presented at the 2009 AIChE Annual Meeting, Nashville, T.N., November, 2009.
- *Ureña-Benavides, E. E.; Kitchens, C. L. “Rheological Analysis of Cellulose Nanocrystals Aqueous Suspensions and Phase Behavior” Presented at the 2008 AIChE Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, P.A., November, 2008.
- *Ureña-Benavides, E. E.; Kitchens, C. L. “Phase Behavior and Rheological Analysis of Cellulose Nanocrystal Aqueous Suspensions” Presented at the 12th Annual Green Chemistry and Engineering Conference, Washington, D.C., June, 2008.
- *Ureña-Benavides, E. E. ; Kitchens, C. L. “Isolation of Cellulose Nanocrystals” NSF Pan-American Advanced Studies Institute on Sustainability and Green Chemistry, Mexico City, Mexico, June, 2007. Poster presentation.
FELLOWSHIP & SCHOLARSHIP
Fellowship 2008-2011
Public Service and Agriculture Next Generation Graduate Fellowship (PSA-NGGF).
The Graduate School at Clemson University, Clemson, SC
Honor Scholarship 2005-2007
University of Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica.
RECENT AWARDS
Professional Enrichment Grant, 2010 Annual AIChE Meeting, Salt Lake October, 2010
City, U.T.
Sponsored by Clemson University Graduate Student Government.
NSF Scholars Travel Award, 14th Annual Green Chemistry and June, 2010
Engineering Conference, Washington, D.C.
Sponsored by ACS through a grant from NSF
NSF Scholars Travel Award,12th Annual Green Chemistry and June, 2008
Engineering Conference, Washington, D.C.
Sponsored by ACS through a grant from NSF
Selected to participate in the NSF Pan-American Advanced Studies May, 2007
Institute (PASI) on Sustainability and Green Chemistry, Mexico City,
D.F., Mexico.
Sponsored by ACS through a grant from NSF and funds from ExxonMobil.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Materials Research Society (MRS) 2011-Current
American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) 2008-Current
Society for Advancement of Chicanos/Latinos and Native Americans in 2008-Current
Science (SACNAS). Founding member and Secretary of Clemson University
Chapter (2008-2009)
Other Activities
National Scholars Honor Society 2008-Current
Chemical Engineering Graduate Student Organization (CEGSO), Vice- 2006-2011
president (2008-2009), Clemson University, Clemson, S.C.
Hispanic Students Association (HSA), Logistics coordinator (2007-2008) 2006-2011
Clemson University, Clemson, S.C.
Chemical Engineering Students Association (AEIQ), Vice-president (2004- 2001-2006
2005), University of Costa Rica, San José, Costa Rica
Organization Committee, XI Latin American Congress of Chemical 2004-2005
Engineering Students, San José, Costa Rica
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