About Dr. Choi

Ph.D., University of Wisconsin—Madison, 1984

Dr. Choi has been a member of the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering since 1984, and was an affiliate of the Institute for Systems Research (ISR) from 1993 to 2004. He leads the Polymer Reaction Engineering Laboratory, which focuses on polymerization kinetics, polymerization reactor/process modeling, control, and optimization. Dr. Choi has won numerous awards, including the DuPont Young Faculty Award and the NSF Presidential Young Investigator Award at the start of his career, and the Sigma Xi Contribution to Science Award more recently. He is an elected member of the National Academy of Engineering of Korea and the Korean National Academy of Science and Technology. His work in industry includes collaborations with major corporations such as Exxon Chemical, DuPont, Dow, Eastman Chemical, Solvay, Honeywell, and Shell Chemical; as well as major chemical companies in Europe, Asia, and South America.

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E-mail: choi@umd.edu

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Current Research

Dr. Choi and the Polymer Reaction Engineering Laboratory have attained a level of excellence in polymer reaction engineering research through the development of new modeling techniques for a variety of industrially important polymerization processes. They include: slurry and gas phase polymerization of olefins catalyzed by transition metal catalysts, investigation of free radical polymerization kinetics, nonlinear dynamics of polymerization reactors, dynamic optimization of copolymerization processes, model-based on-line estimation and control of polymerization reactors, modeling of melt and solid-state step-growth polymerization processes.

Dr. Choi and his group are currently working on the development of new
polymerization technology to synthesize polymers for electronic display applications. Novel heterogeneous polymerization techniques are developed to make polymers that can be directly applicable to LCD- type display devices. Polymerization in confined geometries is also a new research direction the group takes to take advantage of the progress in nanotechnology. The group investigates the polymerization kinetics in nanoscale pores that have a controlled pore structure. Heterogeneous polymerization of styrene is also investigated through experimentation and theoretical modeling.

As the polymer industry is changing rapidly in the U.S. and abroad, Dr. Choi's research program is also targetting advanced electronics materials, nano-structured materials, and energy related problems. He is particularly interested in developing new polymeric materials synthesis technology for display devices, including flexible display systems that are expected to be the next big development in display technology. His group is also pursuing studies in reaction engineering and control aspects of fuel cells.

Q&A with Dr. Choi

What impact could your work have on society or consumers?

Through our research, the polymer industry will be able to make a variety of high- quality polymers in a more cost-effective way. The polymers we work with include polyethylene and polypropylene, the two most commonly used polymers in plastics, films, fibers, automobile parts, and food packaging; polycarbonates, which are transparent and high heat-resistant polymers used as data storage media such as CDs and DVDs, and as parts in LCD monitors; ethylene-cycloolefin copolymer, a transparent novel copolymer with a very high melting point used in special packaging and electronic displays; syndiotactic polystyrenes, which are new polymers that are highly heat- and chemical-resistant, for electronic applications; and polymethyl methacrylate, which is used to create bullet-proof plastics.

What attracted you to the Clark School?

The location and its free academic atmosphere. Faculty members are encouraged to do what they think is best in their research to advance our knowledge in engineering, and in teaching to improve the education of new generations of engineers. I also saw the opportunity for the school to grow into a top-class state university.

Why is the Clark School a good place for students (graduate or undergraduate) to study chemical and biomolecular engineering?

There are many high-tech industries and government laboratories nearby, and also agencies that have close interactions with A. James Clark School of Engineering faculty. Our graduates find jobs locally (in Washington, D.C. and Baltimore) and throughout the mid-Atlantic region, which are known as some of the best places to live in the U.S. Our department has a group of top-quality faculty with innovative research programs.

Why should young engineers consider chemical and biomolecular engineering for their field of study?

Nano-, electronics, and bio-technology will be the future of our industry, and chemical engineering priciples are the foundation of all of these high technologies. Without chemical engineers, these exciting new sciences will be difficult to progress to the level of technology that will have a direct impact on our society and lives.

What's your favorite class to teach, and why?

Chemical reaction kinetics and engineering. This course makes students develop analytical and design abilities through critical thinking. Many theories are rather simple but their applications are infinite, meaning that creativity is the only limitation.

What electives do you recommend?

I recommend courses in biology, polymer science and engineering, process optimization, and colloidal science.

What would students be surprised to learn about you?

They would be surprised to learn that I'm a kind and caring professor who is genuinely interested in their future careers. Some students think I'm a tough professor, but I have always believed that the education and training they receive at school need to be tough, so they can be strong in their professional careers.