Research Group Leader

Dr. M. Toufiq Reza is an Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering at Florida Tech. Prior to this position, he was an Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at Ohio University and a Research Scientist at the Leibniz Institute of Agricultural Engineering, Potsdam, Germany. He received his Ph.D. and M.S. in Chemical Engineering from University of Nevada, Reno in 2013 and 2011, respectively. His primary research interests are thermochemical and biochemical conversion of biomass including HTC, hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL), supercritical water gasification (ScWG), torrefaction, pyrolysis, anaerobic digestion, wet air oxidation, and pelletization. Dr. Reza likes to play and run with his dog (Jasmine) and he also likes to watch soccer, cricket, and football.

PhD Students

1. Md. Tahmid Islam
2. Al Ibtida Sultana
3. Thomas Quaid
4. Cadianne Chambers
5. Vahab Ghalandari
6. Laura Guidugli
7. Swarna Saha

Undergraduate Researchers

1. Aaron Portell, Period: Fall 2020-present, Topic: Solvothermal liquefaction of waste plastics
2. Matthew Harvey,  Period: Fall 2020-present, Topic: Bio-derived materials for hydrogen storage
3. Abimbola Adokeya,  Period: Fall 2020-present, Topic: Sustainable Aquaculture
4. Allyson Carver, Period: Summer 2020 – Fall 2020, Topic: Combustion of hydrochars in Cone Calorimeter
5. Cadianne Chambers, Period: Spring 2020-present, Topic: Effect of process water recyclability of hydrothermal carbonization
6. Travis Rembrandt, Period: Spring 2020-present, Topic: Parameter evaluations of hydrothermal carbonization
7. Rosie Red, Period: Spring 2020-Summer 2020, Topic: Dye adsorption of hydrochar
8. Hannah Vest, Period: Fall 2019- Spring 2020, Topic: Thermodynamics of methylene blue adsorption on hydrochar
9. Thomas Quaid, Period: Fall 2019- Spring 2020, Topic: Hydrothermal carbonization of food waste, IRL muck, and food waste digestate
10. Laura Guidugli, Period: Fall 2019- Spring 2020, Topic: Advanced characterization of hydrochars
11. Clay Womack, Period: Fall 2019- Spring 2020, Topic: Molecular simulations of deep eutectic solvents

Alumni

1. Dr. Nepu Saha, Postdoctoral Reaearch Scholar, Idaho National Laboratory
2. Dr. Kyle McGaughy, Postdoctoral Resarech Scholar, University of Pittsburgh
3. Md. Rifat Hasan, MS in Chemical Engineering, Current Position: Facilities Engineer, Tesla Gigafactory 1, Reno NV

4. Akbar Saba, MS in Mechanical Eningineering, Current Position: Senior Equipment Engineer  with Chemical Focus, Western Digita, San Jose, CA

5. Pretom Saha, MS in Mechanical Eningineering, Current Position: Quality Assurance Engineer, YS Precision Stamping Georgetown, KY

6. Shanta Majumder, MS in Mechanical Eningineering, Current Position: Quality Engineer, Aisin USA Mfg Inc. Seymour, Indiana

7. Soudeh Banivaheb
8. Jessica Peterson, Process Engineer, Aspen Aerogels, Northborough, MA