Chemical Engineering Diversity Committee
The University of Florida Chemical Engineering Diversity Committee serves to support efforts to promote a united departmental culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion. We identify related issues that need to be addressed, propose activities and practices that will improve the department culture, and work in collaboration with relevant groups in the department, college, and university. Our membership includes representation from faculty, staff, doctoral students, master’s students, and undergraduate students. Our committee is supported by an associated working group comprised of members of our industrial advisory board.
Inclusive Excellence is the active process of including and respecting everyone as we strive for excellence and equitable outcomes in all we do at the University of Florida. Daily actions toward Inclusive Excellence are the responsibility of every one of us.
ABCs of fostering Inclusive Excellence at UF:
- Advocate for everyone’s success.
- Be an ally to others as you partner with your colleagues on DEI work.
- Celebrate your successes!
COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Faculty
- Mark E. Orazem – Chair
- Lilu Funkenbusch
- Tony Ladd
- Whitney Stoppel
Staff
- Janice Harris
Students
- Maaz Saeed Ahmed
- Zoharia B. Dreyfuss
- Ambar Velázquez
Alumni
Anthony Ladd
ProfessorBiography
OUR RESEARCH FOCUSES ON DYNAMICS at scales that are small macroscopically (μm to mm), but are large compared to molecular sizes. The research combines statistical mechanics and fluid dynamics with advanced computing to elucidate the key physical processes that underlie laboratory observations and measurements. Current applications include:
REACTIVE TRANSPORT IN POROUS MEDIA Flow and transport in porous media are usually modeled at the Darcy scale, where the system is described locally by average properties, such as porosity, permeability, dispersion coefficients, and reactive surface area. Although this allows large volumes to be simulated efficiently, there are serious difficulties in developing suitable models for the properties of the individual elements. Pore-scale modeling overcomes many of the limitations of Darcy-scale models, replacing unknown functions with well-defined parameters. Nevertheless, it is not yet clear that a single set of parameters – fluid viscosity, ion diffusion coefficients, and surface reaction rates – can consistently describe the dissolution of samples with different pore structures. The goal of our DOE sponsored project is to investigate the dissolution of idealized samples both numerically and experimentally to prove (or disprove) the correctness of the underlying equations.
MIGRATION OF DNA IN COMBINED FLOW AND ELECTRIC FIELDS This project (in collaboration with Dr. Jason Butler) aims to investigate both the fundamental physics and potential biotechnological applications of the effect of a combination of hydrodynamic shear and electric field. From a fundamental point of view, the interest is to better understand the novel mechanism by which a charged polymer (like DNA) can be manipulated in directions perpendicular to the field lines. In a simple microfluidic device this can cause a rapid accumulation and trapping of the DNA, with implications for both biosensing and DNA extraction applications.
Education
Ph.D., 1978, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, England
Research Areas
Complex Fluids
Soft Matter
Transport phenomena
Awards & Distinctions
- American Institute of Chemical Engineers Thomas Baron Award
- American Physical Society Fellow
- Humboldt Research Award
Publications
- A. J. C. Ladd and P. Szymczak. /Comment on “Validity of using large-density asymptotics for studying reaction-infiltration instability in fluid-saturated rocks”./ J. Hydrol., 564:414-415, 2018. <http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1016/j.jhydrol.2018.07.029>
- A. J. C. Ladd. /Electrophoresis of sheared polyelectrolytes./ Mol. Phys., In Press, 2018. <http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1080/00268976.2018.1460498>
- V. Starchenko and A. J. C. Ladd. /The development of wormholes in laboratory scale fractures: perspectives from three-dimensional simulations./ Water Resources Res., In Press, 2018. <http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1029/2018WR022948>
- P. Kondratiuk, H. Tredak, V. Upadhyay, A. J. C. Ladd, P. Szymczak./Instabilities and finger formation in replacement fronts driven by an oversaturated solution./ J. Geophys. Res., 122:5972-5991, 2017. <http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1002/2017jb014169>
- A. J. C. Ladd and P. Szymczak. /Use and misuse of large-density asymptotics in the reaction-infiltration instability./ Water Resources Res., 53:2419-2430, 2017.<http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1002/2016WR019263>
- V. Starchenko, C. J. Marra and A. J. C. Ladd. /Three-dimensional simulations of fracture dissolution./ J. Geophys. Res. Solid Earth, 121:6421-6444, 2016. <http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1002/2016JB013321>
- I. A. Kent, P. S. Rane, R. B. Dickinson, A. J. C. Ladd, and T. P. Lele. /Transient Pinning and Pulling: A Mechanism for Bending Microtubules./ PLOS ONE, 11:e0151322, 2016. <http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0151322>
- M. Arca, A. J. C. Ladd, and J. E. Butler. /Electro-hydrodynamic concentration of genomic length DNA./ Soft Matter, 12:6975-6984, 2016. <http://dx.doi.org/doi:10.1039/c6sm01022a>
COLLEGE Diversity Statement
The Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering (HWCOE) values a diverse and inclusive community. It is integral to success in every area of our college. Therefore, the College is committed to non-discrimination with respect to all areas of human differences, including but not limited to national and ethnic origin, race, age, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity and expression, beliefs and opinions, religion and faiths, culture, socio-economic background, level of physical or mental ability, and veteran’s status. This commitment applies in all areas–to students, faculty, and staff and intends to reflect the College’s belief that educational and employment decisions and access to University activities should be based on an individual’s abilities and qualifications.
The HWCOE values broad diversity within our community and is committed to individual and group empowerment, inclusion, and the elimination of discrimination. We aspire to educate students to become future leaders capable of creating diverse and inclusive work cultures wherever their careers may take them.
Resources
It is imperative that we take care of ourselves, our children, and others. We have listed below recommended links for information and opportunities.