FAMU Associate Professor of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering Professor Egwu E. Kalu has been awarded a Fulbright Scholar grant to lecture and conduct research at Covenant University, Ota in Nigeria during the 2010-2011 academic year.Kalu will conduct research in collaboration with Covenant University Faculty colleagues in renewable energy systems by investigating the development of a continuous reactor and catalyst system for the production of biodiesel. They will use local raw materials that will not impact adversely on the food security issues of the country. Kalu, one of approximately 1,100 U.S. faculty and professionals who will travel abroad through the Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program, will also teach computational methods in chemical engineering.
Kalu joined the faculty of the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering as an assistant professor of chemical engineering. Since his arrival at the College, he has taught courses in the different areas of chemical engineering including courses in numerical computations, materials science, kinetics and reactor design and electrochemical engineering. His research interests are in the synthesis of nanocluster materials for renewable energy systems including electrocatalytic materials for batteries, fuel cells and hydrogen generation.