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Research Overview
Foster Agblevor of Biological Systems Engineering concentrates on thermo-chemical biomass conversion
and rapid characterization of biomass feed stocks. He has provided leadership to the bioprocess engineering
group in BSE, and due to his leadership, Virginia Tech is considered to be one of the leading institutions
in the world in this field. His recent research efforts include development of pyrolysis process to convert
poultry litter to bio-fuel or slow release fertilizer, and low temperature catalytic biomass gasification
process to produce green diesel. Recently, he received $1.3 million in funding from the National Fish and
Wildlife Federation and Farm Pilots Projects Corporation and $1.2 million from Virginia Tobacco Commission.
Dr. Agblevor was also instrumental in the establishment of the Center for Biodesign Bioprocessing Center.
The Center was awarded $950,000 from Congress in 2007 and a similar amount is expected over the next 2-3 years.
Percival Zhang
of Biological Systems Engineering. He joined Virginia Tech in 2005 and within his short tenure, he has
received the Air Force Young Investigator Award, the Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award from
Oak Ridge Associated University, and was named a Sun Grant Fellow. He was recognized with a first place
faculty award for his presentation at the Dean's Forum on Environment. He was featured among the Best
and Brightest of Esquire Magazine in 2007. Dr. Zhang has received an impressive amount of
$1.7 million in external funding over the past two years in support of his research program.
Dr Zhang has published 13 peer-reviewed publications, three book chapters, and has filed for five patent
disclosures. He serves on the editorial boards of prestigious journals of Process Biochemistry and
Biotechnology for Biofuels. He has already experimentally validated the biological feasibility of
consolidated bioprocess method for lowest-cost cellulosic ethanol production.
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