Faculty

Selected Honors & Awards

ACS PMSE Future Faculty Scholar (2022)
Chemical Engineering Research Grant, MIT (2021-2022)
Procter & Gamble Poster Competition Award: First Place, UT Austin (2019)
Finalist for Excellence in Graduate Polymer Research, AIChE (2018)
Paper of the Year Award, UT Austin (2018)

Courses

ChE 231: Chemical Reactor Design

Recent Publications:

Weiss, T.; Fan, G.; Neyhouse, B; Moore, E; Furst, A. L.; Brushett F., “Characterizing the Impact of Oligomerization on Redox Flow Cell Performance,” Batteries Supercaps,2023, doi.org/10.1002/batt.202300034.

Karbelkar, A.A.; Ahlmark, R.; Zhou, X.; Austin, K.; Fan, G.; Yang, Y. V.; Furst, A.L., “Carbon Electrode-Based Biosensing Enabled by Biocompatible Surface Modification with DNA and Proteins,” Bioconjugate Chem.2023, 34, 2, 358–365. doi.org/10.1021/acs.bioconjchem.2c00542.

Fan, G.; Corbin, N.; Gill, T. M.; Karbelkar, A.A.; Furst, A.L., “DNA-based immobilization for improved electrochemical carbon dioxide reduction,” ChemRxiv,2022. doi.org/10.26434/chemrxiv-2022-qll2k.

Wasuwanich, P.#; Fan, G.#; Burke, B.; Furst, A.L., “Metal-phenolic networks as tuneable spore coat mimetics,” J. Mater. Chem. B,2022, 10, 7600-7606. # equal contribution. doi.org/10.1039/D2TB00717G

Fan, G.; Cottet, J.; Rodriguez-Otero, M.R.; Wasuwanich, P.; Furst, A.L., “Metal–Phenolic Networks as Versatile Coating Materials for Biomedical Applications,” ACS Appl. Bio Mater.,2022, 5, 4687–4695. doi.org/10.1021/acsabm.2c00136.

Fan, G.; Wasuwanich, P.; Rodriguez-Otero, M.R.; Furst, A.L.,”Protection of anaerobic microbes from processing stressors using metal-phenolic networks,” J. Am. Chem. Soc.,2022, 144, 2438–2443. doi.org/10.1021/jacs.1c09018.

Zamani, M.; Yang, V.; Maziashvili, L.; Fan, G.; Klapperich, C.M.; Furst, A.L., “Surface Requirements for Optimal Biosensing with Disposable Gold Electrodes,” ACS Meas. Sci. Au,2022, 2, 91–95.   doi.org/10.1021/acsmeasuresciau.1c00042.

Fan, G.; Wasuwanich, P.; Furst, A.L., “Biohybrid Systems for Improved Bioinspired, Energy‐Relevant Catalysis,” ChemBioChem,2021, 22, 1-16. doi.org/10.1002/cbic.202100037.

Fan, G.; Furst, A.L., “How Far Can Electromicrobial Production Go?” Joule,2020, 4, 2079-2081. doi.org/10.1016/j.joule.2020.09.012.

Fan, G.; Graham, A.J.; Kolli, J.; Lynd, N.A.; Keitz, B.K., “Aerobic Radical Polymerization Mediated by Microbial Metabolism,” Nature Chemistry ,2020, 12, 638-646. doi.org/10.1038/s41557-020-0460-1.

Fan, G.; # Dundas, C.M.; # Graham, A.J.; Lynd, N.A.; Keitz, B.K., “Shewanella oneidensis as a Living Electrode for Controlled Radical Polymerization,” Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 2018, 115(18), 4559-4564. # equal contribution.  doi.org/10.1073/pnas.1800869115

Fan, G.; Dundas, C.M.; Zhang, C.; Lynd, N.A.; Keitz, B.K., “Sequence Dependent Peptide Surface Functionalization of Metal-Organic Frameworks,” ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces,2018, 10(22), 18601–18609. doi.org/10.1021/acsami.8b05148.

Yu, Y.; Fan, G.; Fermi, A.; Mazzaro, R.; Morandi, V.; Ceroni, P.; Smilgies, D.-M.; Korgel, B.A., “Size-Dependent Photoluminescence Efficiency of Silicon Nanocrystal Quantum Dots,” Journal of Physical Chemistry C,2017, 121(41), 23240-23248. doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcc.7b08054.

Fan, G.; Lin, Y.-X.; Yang, L.; Gao, F.-P.; Zhao, Y.-X.; Qiao, Z.-Y.; Zhao, Q.; Fan, Y.-S.; Chen, Z.; Wang, H., “Co-self-assembled Nanoaggregates of BODIPY Amphiphiles for Dual-Color Imaging of Live-Cells,” Chemical Communications,2015, 51(62), 12447-12450. doi.org/10.1039/C5CC04757A

Yang, L.; Fan, G.; Ren, X.; Zhao, L.; Wang, J.; Chen, Z., ”Aqueous Self-assembly of a Charged BODIPY Amphiphile via Nucleation-Growth Mechanism,” Physical Chemistry Chemical Physics2015, 17(14), 9167-9172. doi.org/10.1039/C5CP00207A.

Fan, G.; Yang, L.; Chen, Z., “Water-Soluble BODIPY and aza-BODIPY Dyes: Progress of Synthesis and Applications,” Frontiers of Chemical Science and Engineering, 2014, 8(4), 405-417. doi.org/10.1007/s11705-014-1445-7

Research Overview:

Microbial engineering involves the manipulation of microbes to develop new uses for them. Chemical engineering plays a pivotal role in the delivery of biological discovery and innovation for the benefit of society. In particular, microorganisms have become an increasingly important platform for the production of chemicals, drugs, and biofuels from renewable resources. Historically, plastics (polymers) were developed to minimize cost, maximize durability, and optimize performance rather than recyclability and reuse potential. Meanwhile, conventional polymerizations often rely on organic solvents and heavy metal catalysts that are contrary to sustainability goals. Our failure to address these issues in the inherent design of plastics combined with our global dependence on them has caused severe pollution and accelerated the depletion of natural resources. For the environmentally-friendly synthesis of polymers with defined sequences, we can take inspiration from microbes, which have synthesized sequence-controlled polymers in the form of proteins, polysaccharides, and nucleic acids for millions of years. The combination of microbial and chemical engineering offers a promising approach to improve the polymer industry and enable the development of greener plastics. This way, we can work towards a more sustainable and circular polymer ecosystem.