Members of Auburn University’s American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) student chapter received top honors at the 2012 AIChE Southern Regional Conference, held in Clemson, S.C., last month, earning the most awards by a student chapter. They are advised by Robert Chambers, faculty member in chemical engineering. 

James Kaczmarek, junior  in chemical engineering, won both the overall conference third place in the regional paper and podium competition and section first place for his research project, “Therapeutic Silicon Hydrogel Lenses: Engineering Extended and Controlled Release.” He is advised by Mark Byrne, Daniel F. and Josephine Breeden associate professor in chemical engineering.

Seniors Amanda Paine and Phillip Higginbotham were also awarded section prizes for their research presentations. Paine, who is advised by Byrne, was awarded section first place in the regional paper and podium competition for her project, “Dual Comfort Contact Lenses for Allergies.” Higginbotham was awarded section third place in the regional paper and podium competition for his paper, “Characterization of Bucky Papers Using Capillary Flow Porometry.” He is advised by Virginia Davis, Mary and John H. Sanders associate professor in chemical engineering.

The Auburn chemical engineering car team, led by juniors Benjamin Todd and Andrew Jones, won the award for most creative design among 17 teams from across the Southeast. The team is advised by Bill Josephson and Brian Schwieker.