Andrew Myers, Ph.D., Executive Director of BTI and KPRC
Dr. Andrew Myers is the Executive Director of the Business and Technology Institute (BTI) and the Kansas Polymer Research Center (KPRC). Originally from Indianapolis, IN, he received his Bachelor of Science in chemistry degree from Purdue University in 1990. Masters and doctoral degrees (also in chemistry) followed from the University of Rochester (Rochester, NY). He was a post-doctoral associate at the University of Washington in Seattle. Dr. Myers' industrial experience includes both large (Union Carbide) and small (TDA Research) research companies. Immediately before joining Pittsburg State University, he spent over ten years as a Sr. Chemist and Primary Investigator at TDA Research, a chemistry and engineering research company outside Denver, CO. At TDA, he managed a nanocomposite materials research program by securing federal funding through the Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) program. He has been recognized by EPA and NASA for his SBIR work, and has been an invited speaker at national and international conferences. He has published ten technical papers, one book chapter, and has three patents. Special interests include nanotechnology, bio-based and biodegradable polymers, smart materials, and technology transfer. He is a member of the American Chemical Society, was a past councilor and alternate councilor for the Colorado ACS local section, and belongs to the BioEnvironmental Polymer Society (BEPS).
Sara Riddle, Director of Administration, B.S.
Ms. Riddle graduated from Pittsburg State University in 1981 with her bachelor's degree in Information Systems with a minor in Business Administration. Since 1988, she has served in various capacities in the Business and Technology Institute to her current position as Director of Administration. Ms. Riddle's primary responsibilities include budgeting, financial reporting, intellectual property management, proposal writing and grant coordination.
Zoran Petrovic, Ph.D.
Dr. Zoran Petrovic received his Bachelor of Engineering degree at Faculty of Technology, Belgrade University, Yugoslavia in 1964, and his doctorate at Strathclyde University, Glasgow, United Kingdom in 1974. He worked in the electrical industry for twelve years, specializing in problems with application of polymers in electrical insulation. From the electrical industry, he moved to the Faculty of Technology, University of Novi Sad, Yugoslavia, where he taught Physical Chemistry of Polymers. He spent three years at the Polymer Science and Engineering Department, University of Massachusetts at Amherst, working on various research projects. Dr. Petrovic is currently the Research Director at the Kansas Polymer Research Center and a Professor of Polymer Science in the Department of Chemistry at Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, Kansas. He has published over 120 papers, three books, and has 11 U.S. patents. His special interests are polyurethanes, networks and gels, and polymer characterization. His major accomplishments include the development of soy-based polyols currently produced by Cargill, the organization of KPRC, co-awardee of the 2007 Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award, and he received the American Oil Chemists Society Award from the United Soybean Board for industrial uses of soybean oil. He has been on staff with BTI since 1993.
Ivan Javni, Ph.D.
Dr. Ivan Javni received his Bachelor of Engineering and Master of Science degrees at the Faculty of Technology, Tuzla, and his doctorate at University of Novi Sad, Yugoslavia. He held a teaching position at the Faculty of Technology, Tuzla, from 1971-1981. In 1981, he joined Soda-So Co., a major producer of urethane components and systems in Yugoslavia, and was the Head of the Polyurethane Institute. He was also elected as an UNESCO expert for polyurethanes. He is currently Research Manager and Senior Research Scientist at the Kansas Polymer Research Center at Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, Kansas. He has published about 40 papers and over 10 patents and patent applications. His special interests are polyurethanes and elastomers in general. He was a co-awardee of the 2007 Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award and received the American Chemists Society Regional Award.
Mihail Ionescu, Ph.D.
Dr. Mihail Ionescu received his Master of Science degree and doctorate at Faculty of Industrial Chemistry, Polytechnic Institute, Bucharest, Romania. He has 35 years experience in chemical research in the field of polymer synthesis, especially synthesis of polyols for polyurethanes at the Institute of Chemical Research, Bucharest, Romania. He was Chief of the Polymer Synthesis Department (1991-1997), Scientific Director (1997-2003), and President of The Scientific Council (1996-2003). In 2004, he took his current position as Senior Research Scientist at the Kansas Polymer Research Center at Pittsburg State University, Pittsburg, Kansas. He holds 70 Romanian patents in the field of polyether polyols for polyurethanes, alkoxylation, ring opening polymerization, polyphenylene-oxide, phosphorus polyols, and chemical recovery of polyurethane foam wastes. The industry of polyether polyols of Romania is based exclusively on the technologies developed by Dr. Mihail Ionescu and his research team from institute of chemical research, Bucharest, Romania. He has over 80 publications in international journals (Journal of Macromolecular Science, Die Makromoleculare Chemie- Germany, Cellular Polymers- England, Journal of the American Oil Chemists Society, Journal on Polymers and the Environment-USA, etc) and has published three textbooks on polymers. His last book is entitled Chemistry and Technology of Polyols for Polyurethanes, edited by RAPRA in England in November 2005. His book is the first monograph dedicated exclusively to polyols for polyurethanes. Dr. Ionescu is a member of the New York Academy of Science (1996) Member of: American Chemical Society, American Oil Chemists Society, and the Bio Environmental Polymer Society and has received international recognition in the area of polyols for polyurethanes. His special interests are bio-based polymeric materials, especially polyols and polyurethanes based on vegetable oils.
Omprakash Yemul, Ph.D
Dr. Omprakash Yemul received his Bachelor degree in 1991 and his Masters degree in 1993 for Organic Chemistry from Shivaji University in Kolhapur India; he then received his Doctorate at National Chemical Laboratory in Pune, India in 1998. Dr. Yemul went to work as a Research Associate at NCL Pune for two years, and was a visiting scholar at Clemson University in the United States for one year, then he was Postdoc Fellow at Nagoya University in Japan for three years. He also worked as a Team leader in TFL Quinn India Pvt Ltd., Hyderabad, India. Dr. Yemul has published over twenty papers (Macrmol. Rapid Commun, Biomacromolecules, Polymer Journal, Journal of Surface Science and Technology, Journal of Applied Polymer Science, etc.), and has fifteen patents. He is currently a Research Associate at the Kansas Polymer Research Center at Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas. His special interests are dendrimers, polymer synthesis and characterization of various applications.
Quing Luo, Ph.D
Dr. Qiang Luo received his Bachelor of polymer science and engineering at South China University of Technology, Guangzhou China in 1998. In 2001, he received his Master degree of polymer science and engineering at South China University of Technology, studying polyurethane materials. In 2006, he received his doctorate at the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa in Chemical Engineering, studying high temperature polyethersulfone for aerospace application. After that, he worked at the University of Connecticut as postdoctoral scientist for 2 years, specializing in problems with application of high temperature polyimide in membrane technology for fuel cell. In November 2008, he joined the KPRC as a Research Associate. Dr. Luo has published 2 papers and is holding 2 US patents with another patent in submission. His current interests are high temperature polymer materials for polymeric solar cell and flexible display application, and fuel cell membrane for proton exchange.
Aisa Zlatanic, M.Sc.
Alisa Zlatanic received her Bachelor of Engineering degree in 1993 and Master of Science degree in 1997, in Organic Chemical Technology and Polymer Engineering from the Faculty of Technology and Metallurgy, from the University of Belgrade. She worked six years as a teaching and research assistant there before her appointment as Research Associate in the Kansas Polymer Research Center in 1999. She specializes in polymer synthesis and characterization. Her special interests are polymer networks and rheology. Her major accomplishments include development of biobased polyol for flexible polyurethane foams and more than 15 scientific papers. She was a co-awardee of the 2007 Presidential Green Chemistry Challenge Award.
Xianmei Wan, M.Sc.
Ms. Xianmei Wan received her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Southwest Petroleum Institute, Nanchong, Sichuan, China, and her Master of Science degree in Chemistry from the University of Quebec, Montreal, Canada. For over six years, she was an Assistant Professor in the Department of Applied Chemistry in the Southwest Petroleum University. She also had five years experience working in private industry as a research chemist before her appointment as a Research Associate at the Kansas Polymer Research Center. She has published six papers. Her special research interests are; polymer/polyurethane characterization and molecular weight measurements by light scattering, Gel Permeation Chromatography (GPC) and Vapor Pressure Osmometer (VPO).
Doo Pyo Hong, M. Sc.
Doo Pyo Hong received his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry in 1999 and his Master of Science degree in 2001 in Organic Chemistry at MyongJi University in Yongin, Korea. While earning his Master in Science degree, he was a research associate in the Regional Research Center, Yongin, Korea for instrumental analysis. Then he worked as a senior research scientist in BIONAST, Korea for three and a half years studying medicinal chemistry. In 2006 he received his M. Sc. in Chemistry at Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas. He has eight publications. From 2004 to 2006, he was a Research Assistant at the Kansas Polymer Research Center at Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas. In 2006, he became a Research Associate with the Kansas Polymer Research Center. His field of research includes synthesis and analysis of bio-based polymers, polyurethanes by non-isocyanate route, hydroformylation of soybean oil, and more.
Ivana Cvetkovic, B. Eng.
Ivana Cvetkovic received her Bachelors degree in Chemical Engineering from the Faculty of Technology, University of Novi Sad, Serbia. Before her appointment as a Research Associate and Safety Officer at the Kansas Polymer Research Center, she worked as a teaching assistant at Faculty of Technology, Serbia. She has published six papers. Her special interests are synthesis and characterization of vegetable oil-based polyols and preparing and testing of polyurethane cast resins, and foams. She has been working at KPRC since December of 2005.
Jelena Milic, B. Eng.
Jelena Milic received her Bachelor of Engineering degree in Polymeric Material Engineering from the Faculty of Technology, University of Novi Sad, Serbia. Before her appointment as a Research Associate at the Kansas Polymer Research Center she worked first as a Controller for adhesives and then as a Technical Assistant to the plant manager at Henkel Merima Doo, Building Adhesives Plant in Indjija, Serbia. She has published one paper. Her special interests are preparing and analytic/instrumental characterization of vegetable oil-based polymers. She has been working at KPRC since September of 2008.