Course Overview
New for 2023!
In Dr. Ted Walker’s lab, we make catalysts for renewable energy applications. Catalysts are materials (usually metals) that make chemical reactions happen faster. These materials are everywhere: man-made catalysts clean the exhaust from our cars; while our bodies make their own catalysts (enzymes) to digest food. In this course, you will learn how (and why) we are making a new generation of catalysts to convert wood, unrecyclable plastic waste, and other materials into renewable fuels. You will work in our lab alongside graduate students from all over the world to make catalysts called zeolites. You will explore what makes these zeolites work by shooting x rays at them; and testing their performance in chemical reactors. The Walker Lab is a high-energy, friendly, and welcoming place where we assign a high value to mutual respect, scientific rigor, and self-guided learning. We look forward to having you join us on the beautiful Syracuse University campus this summer!
Learning Objectives
- Be able to explain what percentage of US energy demand comes from major sources (coal, oil, natural gas, etc.), and what fraction of that demand could be met with biofuels in the near future
- Be able to explain what a zeolite is, and how it functions as a solid acid
- Be able to synthesize one common zeolite, and confirm its structure using x ray diffraction
- Be able to communicate scientific procedures and results to a broad audience
Course Information
Course Prefix and Number: TBD
Format: On Campus (at Syracuse University)
Eligibility: Students must be of rising high school junior or senior status – or a 2023 high school graduate. Students must be from a partner organization of the Office of Pre-College Programs.
Credit: Noncredit
Grading: Pass/Fail
- N/A
Program rates are subject to change and will be approved by the board of trustees. Discounts and scholarships are also available.
Program Information
Summer College – Research Immersions: Students work closely with research faculty on existing and new faculty led research projects both online and on campus.
Course Dates and Details
| Program | Course Dates | Synchronous Class Time (Eastern Time) | Credit/Noncredit | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summer College – Research Immersions | 2-Week Session II: Monday, July 17 – Friday, July 28, 2023 | MTWThF; 9 a.m. – 4 p.m. | Noncredit | Open |
Typical Day
- 9 AM morning meeting with Prof. Walker and graduate student supervisor – discuss new results and day’s activities
- 10 AM to noon – lab work: calibrate instruments as needed, set up experiments for the day
- Noon – lunch break
- 1-3 PM finish lab work for the day; clean lab space when done
- 3-5 PM data analysis and planning for following day
Faculty Bio
Ted Walker
Theodore (Ted) Walker (he/him/his) joined the Department of Biomedical and Chemical Engineering in the College of Engineering and Computer Science in Fall 2022 as a tenure-track assistant professor. Prior to joining Syracuse University, Ted Walker was a Senior Scientist in the ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company from 2019-2022, where he oversaw experimental research into biofuels production and advanced waste plastic recycling. Prior to his studies and work as a Chemical Engineer, he served in the U.S. Army’s 75th Ranger Regiment (a special operations unit) from 2007-2012; as a Sergeant, he led a four-man team on hundreds of missions across Iraq and Afghanistan.
Ted Walker’s research focuses on the fundamentals of catalysts and catalytic technologies which allow for the conversion of low-value, solid waste residues (e.g., waste plastics and biomass) into sustainable, low-carbon fuels and chemicals. He has published in premiere Chemistry and Chemical Engineering journals on these subjects, including The Journal of Catalysis, Energy and Environmental Science, and Science Advances. Between his time at the University of Wisconsin and the ExxonMobil Technology and Engineering Company, he is a co-inventor on three filed patent applications to-date.
Ted Walker earned a Ph.D. in Chemical and Biological Engineering in 2019 from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he studied under the supervision of James Dumesic and George Huber. He earned a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Chicago in 2015, where he graduated cum laude from the Honor’s College.