Clean Fuels Staff

Burt Davis
Associate Director - Clean Fuels and Chemicals
Scientist IV/Engineer
Center for Applied Energy Research, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
Research focuses on direct and indirect liquefaction; Catalysis in Coal Conversion; Analysis of Synfuels Products; and the relationship between Coal Structure and Liquefaction Behavior. Also, documenter of historic scientific personalities through videotaping.

Bruce Farmer
Engineer Tech Associate - Clean Fuels and Chemicals
Center for Applied Energy Research, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
Processes Fischer-Tropsch samples on GC; builds reactor systems.

Pei Gao
Post Doctoral Scholar - Clean Fuels and Chemical
Center for Applied Energy Research, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky

Muthu Kumaran Gnanamani
Scientist III - Clean Fuels and Chemicals
Center for Applied Energy Research, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
Research interests include Fischer-Tropsch synthesis; nano cobalt catalysts and their application in FT synthesis; microkinetic ttudies of C/C coupling. Expertise in ultra deep desulfurization of VGO and oxidative desulfurization of HDS diesel; synthesis and characterization of various mesoporous molecular sieves like MCM-41, HMS, SBA-15, SBA-16 and their aluminum, titanium, zirconium substituted materials; and testing catalysts for hydrodesulfurization, hydrogenation, and hydro cracking of various model compounds (Thiophene, cyclohexene, cumene) in a fixed-bed catalytic micro reactor operating at atmospheric pressure.

Uschi Graham
Scientist III - Clean Fuels and Chemicals
Center for Applied Energy Research, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
Catalyst materials for fuel cells and solar cells; anodes for solid oxide fuel cells; CVD applications for nano-ceramics; mixed plasma reactors; oxide nanowires, nanotubes and nanowebs; characterization of nanomaterials: XPS and XRD as well as electron microscopy including: SEM, HR-TEM, STEM and EELS; nanomaterials from flame pyrolysis.

Gary Jacobs
Engineer Associate IV - Clean Fuels and Chemicals
Center for Applied Energy Research, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
Catalyst characterization; fuel cell processor catalysts (low temperature water gas shift, hydrogen production, etc.); Fischer-Tropsch synthesis; solid superacid catalysts; dehydrocyclization of paraffins.

Jungshik Kang
Post Doctoral Scholar - Clean Fuels and Chemicals
Center for Applied Energy Research, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
Research interests include catalyst characterization with TPD, TPO, TPR, chemisorption, BET and XPS; natural gas to liquid catalysis; fuel processing catalysis; mesoporous silica/alumina materials for catalyst support.

Robert Keogh
Scientist III - Clean Fuels and Chemicals
Center for Applied Energy Research, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
Catalyst preparation and testing (bench scale to pilot plant); analysis of reactor products; direct and indirect liquefaction.

Wenping Ma
Engineer Associate III - Clean Fuels and Chemicals
Center for Applied Energy Research, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
Coal/Natural gas to liquid fuels; hydrogen production by water gas shift reaction; syngas production by dry/steam reforming of natural gas; catalysts for production of liquid and hydrogen fuels; modeling and simulation of reactor behaviors at steady and unsteady states.

Venkat Ramana Rao Pendyala
Scientist III - Clean Fuels and Chemicals
Center for Applied Energy Research, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
Research focus is on Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis. Expertise in synthesis, characterization of various mixed oxide and mesoporous materials supported on metal catalysts, and testing the catalysts for hydrogenation, hydrodechlorination, dehydrogenation, alkylation and ammoxidation reactions by various compounds.

Wilson (Will) Shafer
Scientist I - Clean Fuels and Chemicals
Center for Applied Energy Research, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
Research focus in Fischer-Tropsch Synthesis (FTS); FTS Products Separation (GC/LC) and Analysis (IR, MS, FID).

Dennis Sparks
Engineer Associate II - Clean Fuels and Chemical
Center for Applied Energy Research, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky
Modification and operation of the prototype integrated process unit (PIPU) pilot plant; construction and operation of various bench-scale fixed bed and CSTR catalytic reactors.