Page 33 - The Peorian, Vol 3 Issue 2

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thePeorian.com The Present
Dr. Frank Momany, a research
chemist whose 50 year science
career has included professorship
and building/leading his own
company, focuses on computer
modeling of starch and cellulose
structures.
Dr. Victoria Finkenstadt,
research chemist, studies the
way biobased materials function,
such as mechanical properties,
durability and degradation.
Together they work to
determine how changes in
structure create changes
in function and vice versa.
Their research generates the
understanding of materials
needed to develop new biobased
products, such as food and
electronics packaging and
absorbents that control erosion
and the release of agricultural
chemicals.
“In my early career, chemistry
and basketball were both big
parts of my life and twice I
chose to follow chemistry rather
than basketball as a career.
When opportunities for playing
and coaching basketball at the
professional level were available,
choosing chemistry was based
on the recognition that basketball
could be a part-time aspect of my
life but it would be a lot harder
to be a part-time chemist. Now,
I use science and creativity to
garden in my spare-time and my
urban garden has won a regional
award for environmental
innovation. Who would have
known?” ~ Vicki
“I don’t think I was all that
bright, but I was persistent. I
liked to solve problems and
figure things out and that’s what
science is. My first structure and
modeling project required that I
travel to Iowa to use a computer
the size of this lab wing. Later,
our university got one that was
as small as my office – it was
heaven!
“We used to literally put
ourselves through contortions
to create physical structure
models out of metal rods and
cut aluminum – after I left
teaching I started a company that
developed the first software to
do it all on a computer. We could
never have envisioned then what
we are able to do now with the
(very high powered) computer
that sits on my desk and I’ve
liked it all. Things change enough
that there is always something
new. But at 77 years of age, I’m
beginning to think the new thing
I might like to try next is sleeping
in until 8 a.m.”~ Frank
Reinforcing particles: Carbon
black is a petroleum-based
product and the dominant
particles used in rubber
products to improve properties
such as strength. Replacing it
with renewable agricultural
byproducts and feedstocks
would contribute to using less
petroleum. Dr. Steve Peterson,
NCAUR research chemist, is
currently focused on replacing
carbon black with renewable
agricultural byproducts and
feedstocks that would contribute
to using less petroleum.
Continued on page 34
Dr. Mila Hojilla-Evangelista, left, a research chemist, works on applying a
plywood glue that uses corn germ protein.