SEARCH:

Instructor Profiles

Microbiology

Dr. Christopher Nomura
Dr. Christopher (Chris) Nomura received his Doctorate in Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Molecular Biology from The Pennsylvania State University in 2001 and was a Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) post-doctoral research fellow at The RIKEN Institute in Japan until 2006. He is currently an Assistant Professor in the Department of Chemistry and a member of the Cellulose Research Institute, Michael Szwarc Polymer Research Institute, and The Center for Applied Microbiology at SUNY-ESF. Dr. Nomura has expertise in microbial physiology, biochemistry, genomics, biopolymer chemistry, protein engineering, and metabolic engineering. Current teaching assignments include Microbiology for Bioprocessing and Biochemistry.

Bioseparations

Dr. Bandaru Ramarao
Dr. Ramarao has been a professor at the Department of Paper Science and Engineering at the SUNY-ESF since 1988 and also served as the acting Chair from 1999-2000. He obtained his PhD in Chemical Engineering from Clarkson University, NY in 1986, and has since been involved in projects of a varied nature. His expertise is in the fields of fluid particle separations, filtration of aerosols and hydrosols, colloidal suspensions, processing of pulp for papermaking, moisture-transport in paper, thermodynamics, de-inking of pulp and floatation processes, digital image processing and image analysis. He holds a US patent in determination of pulp characteristics.

Bioprocess Engineering

Dr. Shijie Liu
Dr. Shijie Liu obtained his Doctorate in Chemical Engineering from the University of Alberta, Edmonton, in 1992. He has been a professor in the SUNY ESF department of Paper and Bioprocess Engineering (PBE) since 2005. He is serving as the curriculum coordinator in PBE. His research interests include chemical and biochemical kinetics, process modeling and optimization, fluid particle systems, fiber properties, and mass transfer. Dr. Liu’s research is widely published, with numerous book chapters and articles in journals of chemical engineering. He holds leadership roles in several professional engineering societies. His current teaching assignments include Bioprocess Engineering and Paper Engineering classes, and Process Engineering and Qualification for Bioprocessing.

Bioprocess Plant Design

Dr. Noshir Mistry
Dr. Noshir Mistry is an independent consultant and a retired Senior Director of Global Engineering for Bristol-Myers Squibb Company. He has a BS, MS and PhD degrees in Chemical Engineering. Dr. Mistry has over 30 years of diverse experience in design, construction and project management of Bulk Pharmaceutical Active Manufacturing and related infrastructure facilities for both Biologics and Chemical Drugs. As Senior Director, he was active in the formulation of strategy for Capital Projects for Manufacturing and Development including regulatory compliance and environmental controls. Dr. Mistry directed the activities of a staff of over 50 professionals and actively participated in the planning, budgeting, design, construction, cost control and commissioning of projects ranging from grass roots facilities to retrofits and upgrades. He has been active in the ISPE Baseline Guide Steering Committee and was a Chapter Leader and a Committee member overseeing Bulk Pharmaceutical Chemicals and the Biopharmaceutical Manufacturing Facilities Baseline Guides.

Management in Bioprocessing

Dr. Thomas Amidon
Dr. Tom Amidon obtained his Doctorate in Silviculture from SUNY-ESF in 1974 and served as Chair of the Paper and Bioprocess Engineering Department at the State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry (SUNY-ESF) 2000 until 2007. He is currently a Professor and Director of the Empire State Paper Research Institute. He is widely experienced in industrial processes, commercial scale-up of pilot operations, regulatory aspects, design and quality improvement. He worked with International Paper from 1976 to 2000 and has co-authored four patents. Dr. Amidon’s expertise is unique in that it encompasses both academic and industrial arenas and that he is conversant with both technology development and commercial process implementation.