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Research
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Our research
efforts are organized around the general theme
of first understanding the dynamic behavior of
complex systems through mathematical modeling
and analysis, and then exploiting this
understanding for novel designs and improved
operation. The particular complex systems of
interest range from polymer reactors,
particulate processes and extruders, to
biological systems on the cellular, tissue, and
organ levels. When sufficient fundamental
knowledge is available, we develop and employ
dynamic “mechanistic” models; when more data is
available than fundamental knowledge, we apply
probability theory and statistics for efficient
data acquisition and “empirical” model
development. Our research group has three main
areas of focus:
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Control and system theory
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where we
are concerned with the development of effective
control techniques, with application to industrial
polymer reactors, distillation columns, particulate
processes, and reactive extrusion processes; we are
also interested in reverse engineering biological
control systems for process applications. |
Systems biology
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where we
bring principles of control and systems theory as
well as probabilistic/statistical techniques to bear
on the analysis of biological processes. We are
developing models, tools and techniques to study
biological systems across various levels of
granularity—from the molecular level where
mechanistic details at the genetic and protein
levels are studied, to the cellular, tissue, organ
and physiological system level. The goals of our
systems biology efforts are to be able to
understand, analyze and predict integrated
biological systems function with sufficient fidelity
for potential practical medical and pharmaceutical
applications. |
Product engineering, process design and
operations
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where we
employ both stochastic and deterministic techniques
for engineering desired characteristics into
products, and subsequently for developing inherently
robust processes to manufacture these products to
meet customer demands consistently in the face of
unavoidable process and raw material variations. |
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