Purdue News

June 25, 1999 New director takes helm of Purdue lab WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- Michael Ladisch, a Purdue University professor of food and agricultural engineering, has been appointed director of the Laboratory of Renewable Resources Engineering, replacing George Tsao, who founded the laboratory in 1978 and had been its only director. The appointment is effective immediately. LORRE was established to meet the challenges related to the increasing scarcity of nonrenewable materials, fuel shortages, water recycling, and related environmental concerns. Ladisch, a member of the Purdue faculty since 1978, conducts research on fundamental topics in separations and reaction kinetics. His current projects focus on bioseparations, kinetics of biochemical reactions, chemical reaction engineering and biomass conversion. His work has resulted in 150 publications, 14 patents (issued and applied for) and more than 100 papers at national professional society meetings. Ladisch has been with LORRE since its inception, most recently as leader of its Research and Process Engineering Group. His work has attracted a wide range of recognition, culminating in his election to the National Academy of Engineering in 1999. He holds doctoral and master's degrees in chemical engineering from Purdue and a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering from Drexel University. Ladisch has served as a member of U.S. delegations and advisory panels to Russia, Thailand, China and Japan to review the status of biotechnology programs. He was chairman of the Committee on Bioprocess Engineering of the National Research Council in 1991-92. This committee studied research priorities and policy issues related to commercialization of biotechnology. Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu To the Purdue News and Photos Page