Biobased Industry Outlook Conference
August 29-30, 2005
Iowa State University - Ames, IA
Brent Shanks
As an Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at Iowa State University, Brent Shanks researches the design of efficient heterogeneous catalysts and catalyst systems for use in the conversion of biorenewables to industrial chemicals. In particular, his research group is interested in synthesizing catalysts that can selectively convert biobased feedstocks despite the high level of functionality present in these types of molecules.
Prior to joining Iowa State, Shanks worked at Shell Oil Company where he researched the development of new catalysts for ethylbenzene dehydrogenation with subsequent scale-up to manufacturing. He also provided technical support to customers who were using dehydrogenation catalysts.
Shanks has served on numerous committees including the Iowa Industries of the Future Advisory Board, the Science and Engineering Committee of the Office of Biorenewables Programs, and the Green Chemistry Catalysis Laboratory Advisory Board. He recently was the vice chair of the “Envisioning Biorefineries” topical session at the AIChE Annual Meeting. Shanks received his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Iowa State and his M.S. and Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the California Institute of Technology.
