Leadership and Awards

Faculty Leadership Positions (2022)

Jorge Almodovar

  • Biotechnology and Bioengineering, Journal Reviewer
  • Science Advances, Journal Reviewer
  • Carbohydrate Polymers, Journal Reviewer
  • ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, Journal Reviewer
  • ACS Omega, Journal Reviewer
  • Center for the advancement of wearable technologies, Proposal Reviewer     
  • University of Arkansas VCRI, Proposal Reviewer     
  • National Science Foundation, Proposal Review Panelist
  • National Science Foundation, Ad Hoc Proposal Reviewer           
  • American Institute of Chemical Engineers, Session Chair
  • American Institute of Chemical Engineers MESD Division, Director
  • American Institute of Chemical Engineers Future Faculty Mentoring Program, Mentor        
  • Biomedical Engineering Society Diversity Committee Committee, Member 
  • Radians High School Science Fair, Scientific Review Committee Chair      
  • University of Arkansas NSF Advance Engage Peer Mentoring Circle, Mentor
  • University of Arkansas Engineering Summer Academy, Facilitator

Bob Beitle

  • National Science Foundation, Reviewer
  • ABI: Arkansas Biosciences Institute, Grant Management
  • Chan Innov, Grant Management
  • AEDC, Scientific Advisory Committee
  • Workshops: MRI, Early Career, Arts/Humanities Scholarship

Ed Clausen

  • ASEE Midwest Section, Conference Organizing Committee
  • ASEE Midwest Section, Awards Committee
  • ASEE Midwest Section, Session Chair

Jamie Hestekin

  • North American Membrane Society (NAMS), Permanent Secretary (elected), 2012-Present
  • North American Membrane Society (NAMS), Board of Directors
  • World Association of Membrane Societies, Board Member
  • Council for Undergraduate Research, Councilor

  • Journal of Membrane, Science Reviewer

Karthik Nayani

  • Soft Matter, Journal Reviewer
  • Journal of Colloids and Interfacial Sciences, Journal Reviewer
  • Physical Review E, Journal Reviewer
  • Bioengineering Journal, Journal Reviewer             
  • Crystals Journal Reviewer
  • American Chemical Society, BIOT Session Organizer
  • Army Research Office, Proposal Reviewer
  • American Chemical Society, PRF Proposal Reviewer

Will Richardson

  • Scientific Reports, Nature Publishing Group, Journal Reviewer
  • PLOS Computational Biology, Journal Reviewer
  • Summer Biomechanics, Bioengineering, & Biotransport Conference, Sponsorship & Exhibits Chair

Tom Spicer

  • Arkansas Academy of Chemical Engineers, Board of Directors
  • AIChE Loss Prevention Symposium, Member
  • AIChE The Climate Solutions Committee, Board of Directors
  • AIChE Continuing Education Operating Council Equity Diversity and Inclusion Subcommittee, Member
  • AIChE Education and Accreditation Committee, Subcommittee Chair
  • ABET, Program Evaluator

Heather Walker

  • Arkansas Academy of Chemical Engineers Mentoring Program, Steering Committee

Keisha Bishop Walters

  • Arkansas Academy of Chemical Engineers, Board of Directors
  • Walters Macromolecules, Journal Reviewer
  • Polymer, Journal Reviewer
  • Energy & Fuels, Journal Reviewer
  • National Institutes of Health, Panelist, Study Section
  • National Science Foundation, Proposal Review Panelist
  • American Chemical Society, AR Local Section, Executive Board
  • American Chemical Society, AR Local Section, Alternate Councilor
  • Honors College, Clemson University, Advisory Board  2022
  • Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) Foundation, Board of Directors           
  • Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) Foundation, Grants Committee    
  • Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE) Foundation, Plastivan/Outreach Committee  
  •  Bioplastics and Renewable Technologies Division, SPE Councilor       
  • Engineering Properties and Structure Division, SPE Technical Programming Chair
  • Bioplastics and Renewable Technologies Division, SPE Board of Directors
  • Engineering Properties and Structure Division, SPE Board of Directors
  • SPE ANTEC 2022, Engineering Properties and Structure, Session Chair    
  • Clemson University Mentor/Mentee Network (TigerLink), Mentor
  •  Great Minds in STEM, MentorNet, Mentor 
  • Society of Plastic Engineers (SPE): Student Chapter, University of Arkansas, Founding Faculty Advisor
  • Society of Plastics Engineers (SPE): Bioplastics and Renewable Technologies Division, Manuscript Reviewer

Ranil Wickramasinghe

  • 13th World Filtration Congress, Scientific Committee Member
  • National Council of Examiners for Engineering and Surveying, Vice Chair Chemical Engineering Committee for the Professional Engineering (PE) Exam
  • North American Membrane Society, Board Member
  • World Association of Membrane Societies (WA MS), Education Working Group Chair
  • Khalifa University’s Competitive Internal Research Award (United Arab Emirates), Grant Reviewer
  • American Institute of Chemical Engineers Journal, Reviewer
  • Separation and Purification Technology, Reviewer
  • Journal of Membrane Science, Reviewer

Faculty Awards (2022)

Jorge Almodovar

  • Young Investigator Award, Cell Tissues Organs
  • Invited Plenary Lecture, Arkansas Biosciences Institute Annual Symposium

Bob Beitle

  • Service to Students Awards, Ralph E. Martin Department of Chemical Engineering

Karen Beitle

  • Chemical Engineering Teaching Award, Ralph E. Martin Department of Chemical Engineering

Ed Clausen

  • Outstanding Campus Representative, ASEE Midwest Section
  • Outstanding Campus Representative, ASEE Zone 3
  • Best Conference Paper, ASEE MIdwest Section

Jamie Hestekin

  • Top Renal Abstract, A Dialysate Free Portable Artificial Kidney Device, ASAIO
  • Keynote Lecturer, A Dialysate Free Portable Artificial Kidney Device, ASAIO
  • Chemical Engineering Research Award, Ralph E. Martin Department of Chemical Engineering

Heather Walker

  • 2022 Imhoff Award Recipient, University of Arkansas Teaching Academy

Keisha Bishop Walters

  • Fellow, Society of Plastics Engineers
  • Invited Plenary-Keynote Lecture, Success as a Graduate Student and Beyond, OPTICA Research Symposium
  • Invited Keynote Speaker, Building Engineering Function with Stimuli Responsive Polymer Systems, OPTICA Research Symposium

Ranil Wickramasinghe

  • Fellow, American Institute of Chemical Engineers
  • Area 2g Bioseparations Honoree, American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), Separations Division
  • Invited Keynote Speaker, International Membrane Science & Technology Conference

Editors (2022)

Jamie Hestekin

  • Associate Editor, Environmental Progress and Sustainable Energy
  • Editor, Membrane Quarterly, North American Membrane Society

Karthik Nayani

  • Review Editor, Frontiers in Soft Matter Journal
  • Topic Editor, Bioengineering Journal

Ranil Wickramasinghe

  • Executive Editor, Separation Science & Technology

Editorial Boards (2022)

Keisha Bishop Walters

  • Scientific Reports, Nature Publishing Group, Editorial Board Member

Ranil Wickramasinghe

  • Frontiers in Chemical Sciences and Engineering, Springer, Editorial Board Member

  • International Journal of Environmental Research and Health, MPDI, Editorial Board Member