James Liao, the Ralph M. Parsons Foundation Professor of Chemical Engineering in the UCLA Henry Samueli School of Engineering and Applied Science, has received the 2014 National Academy of Sciences Award for the Industrial Application of Science. Liao is among 15 individuals recognized by the academy for major contributions in the physical, biological and medical sciences, who will be presented with the award in April at the academy’s annual meeting in Washington, D.C.
The prestigious prize, which is presented every three years and carries a prize of $25,000, is this year in the area of bio-energy, recognizing “original scientific work of intrinsic scientific importance and with significant, beneficial applications in industry.” Liao was recognized for “production of higher alcohols as drop-in fuel from sugars, cellulose, waste protein, or carbon dioxide."
Liao, who is the chair of the chemical and biomolecular engineering department, uses metabolic engineering and synthetic biology techniques in his research. He focuses on developing the biological production of the liquid fuel isobutanol while simultaneously consuming carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas. This series of reactions, in essence turning exhaust into fuel, is powered directly by sunlight. He has also developed different methods to create liquid fuels from electricity and from waste proteins; as well as identifying a more efficient way to convert sugars into fuels.
Liao was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2013. Among many awards he has received for his research are the Environmental Protection Agency's Presidential Green Chemistry Award, a Champion of Change award from the White House and the Eni Prize from the Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei in Milan.
The prestigious prize, which is presented every three years and carries a prize of $25,000, is this year in the area of bio-energy, recognizing “original scientific work of intrinsic scientific importance and with significant, beneficial applications in industry.” Liao was recognized for “production of higher alcohols as drop-in fuel from sugars, cellulose, waste protein, or carbon dioxide."
Liao, who is the chair of the chemical and biomolecular engineering department, uses metabolic engineering and synthetic biology techniques in his research. He focuses on developing the biological production of the liquid fuel isobutanol while simultaneously consuming carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas. This series of reactions, in essence turning exhaust into fuel, is powered directly by sunlight. He has also developed different methods to create liquid fuels from electricity and from waste proteins; as well as identifying a more efficient way to convert sugars into fuels.
Liao was elected to the National Academy of Engineering in 2013. Among many awards he has received for his research are the Environmental Protection Agency's Presidential Green Chemistry Award, a Champion of Change award from the White House and the Eni Prize from the Fondazione Eni Enrico Mattei in Milan.
Read the complete announcement at the UCLA School of Engineering website.
