Academic Record 

Academic Achievements

GPA in courses taken during MS degree 3.8 on 4.0
GPA in courses taken during BS degree 3.9 on 4.0
GPA in courses taken during MBA degree 4.0

Academic Awards

• Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers Award for getting the highest grade in V, VI and VII semesters in Chemical Engineering. National Institute of Technology, Surathkal, India in 1987.
• Dinesh Rao Memorial Award for getting the highest grade in Chemical Engineering ( I to VIII semesters). National Institute of Technology, Surathkal, India in 1988.
• University First Rank in Chemical Engineering, Mangalore University, 1989
• Dean’s Scholar for academic excellence in MBA, Kansas State University, Manhattan, USA, 2009

Academic Experience

                                         
Assistant Professor, Department of Grain Science and Industry, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, 02/07 – Present

Accomplishments

• Established a fully functional bioprocessing lab and have initiated productive research programs in biofuels, biochemicals and specialty products
• Wrote 37 grant proposals to various funding agencies, including USDA, DOE, commissions and industry since 2007.  Secured $1,464,280 in research funding; directly responsible for $ 476,540 as PI and $230,100 as Co-PI since 2007
• Developed collaborative relationships with faculty in 6 departments and 3 colleges at K-State and with faculty at 3 universities, and with researchers at 3 different industries
• Designed and developed two new courses: GRSC 745 Fundamentals of Bioprocessing (Spring Semester) and GRSC 905 Enzymes and Bioprocessing Applications (Fall Semester). TEVAL score for GRSC 745 (overall effectiveness of teacher): 4.3 (Spring 2008); 4.6 (Spring 2009); and 4.8 (Spring 2010). GRSC 905: 4.4 (Fall 2009)
• Member of 2 committees at University level, 1 committee at College level, and 2 committees at Department level; External reviewer for proposals and journal manuscripts; Served as Subject Editor for two journals; Delivered invited lectures. Volunteered time for public service activities at Department, College and University level.

Invited Lectures, Department of Bioengineering and Chemical Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, 04/03 – Present.
Visiting Faculty, Department of Chemical and Materials Engineering, University of Auckland, New Zealand, 06/98 – 12/98.
Visiting Faculty, Department of Chemistry, Sri Sathya Sai University, Puttaparthi, Andhra Pradesh, India, 06/08 - Present

Accomplishments

• Compiled and taught a course Engineering Biotechnology at undergraduate and graduate level.
• Supervised Heat & Mass Transfer Laboratory course for sophomore chemical engineering students.
• Advised undergraduate and graduate research and was the internal examiner for a MS thesis

Post-doctoral Fellow, Institute for Post-graduate Studies & Research, University of Malaya, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 08/97 – 05/98

Accomplishments

• Performed research on mixing and hydrodynamic studies in laboratory rigs and fermenters and advised graduate research.
• Participated in the project for producing 2, 3-butanediol from sugarcane molasses.

Adjunct Faculty, Department of Biotechnology, Anna University, Chennai, India, 08/95 – 05/97

Accomplishments

• Taught a course Bioprocess Engineering
• Thesis advisor for an undergraduate project

Industrial Experience
                                         
Principal Research Scientist, AgRenew Inc, Manhattan, Kansas 2002 - 2007                              

Accomplishments

• Process and product development of challenging, commercially-viable industrial biotechnologies using renewable resources.
• Identify emerging technologies of commercial interest and develop collaborative teams with universities and other established industries for synergistic relationships.
• Write proposals to state, federal and private funding agencies and be the Project Director for the awarded projects.
• Develop and sustain state-of-the-art laboratory facilities and supervise the smooth execution of in-house and sponsored research projects.

Research Associate, Biomass Pilot Plant, Chemical Engineering Department, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas, 1998-2002

Accomplishments

• Involved in pilot plant research and development process for bioconversion of paper fines to useful chemicals.
• Supervised research work of undergraduate and graduate students at the plant and investigated the performance of the various bioprocessing strategies.
• Designed and developed various process equipment and wrote safety reports for the plant
• Made presentations to funding agencies and involved in new product development.

Research Officer, SPIC Pharmaceuticals Division (SPIC group of industries is a major industrial conglomerate in India), Chennai, India, 1995-1997

Accomplishments

• Overall in-charge for the R&D fermentation division consisting of fermenters, product recovery unit and analytical equipments. Supervised four research assistants
• Provided leadership to investigate innovative bioprocess strategies and low-cost raw materials for maximizing penicillin G and V production (Pharmaceuticals).
• Attended supervisory development program at SPIC Management Center.

Affiliation/Service Activities

Publications/Presentations/Research Projects

Peer Reviewed Publications

• Brijwani K, Rigdon A, Vadlani PV (2010) Fungal laccases: production, function and applications in food processing, Enzyme Research, Special Issue: Enzymes as Additives or Processing Aids in Food Biotechnology doi:10.4061/2010/149748 [KAES: 10-389-J]
• Oberoi HS, Vadlani PV, Ananda N, Bansal S, Singh S, Kaur S, Babbar N (2010) Enhanced ethanol production from kinnow mandarin (Citrus reticulata) waste via a statistically optimized simultaneous saccharification and fermentation process. Bioresource Technology (Published online)
• K. Brijwani, Vadlani PV (2010), Lipase-mediated hydrolysis of corn DDGS oil: Kinetics of linoleic acid production, Biochem. Eng. J. 52: 289-295 [KAES: 10-225-J]
• Ananda N, Vadlani PV (2010) Production and optimization of carotenoid-enriched DDGS by Phaffia rhodozyma and Sporobolomyces roseus fermentation of whole stillage. Journal of Industrial Microbiology and Biotechnology (DOI: 10.1007/s10295-010-0765-y) KAES: 10-083-J]
• Brijwani K, Oberoi HS, Vadlani PV (2010) Production of a Cellulolytic Enzyme System in Mixed-Culture Solid-State Fermentation of Soybean Hulls Supplemented with Wheat Bran. Process Biochem 45(1):120-128 [KAES: 09-231-J]
• Pfromm PH, Amanor-Boadu V, Nelson R, Vadlani PV, Madl R(2010) Bio-butanol vs. bio-ethanol: A technical and economic assessment.  Biomass and Bioenergy 34 : 515-524
• Oberoi HS, Vadlani PV, Madl R, Saida L, Abeykoon JP (2010) Ethanol production from orange peels: two-stage hydrolysis and fermentation studies using optimized parameters through experimental design. J. Agric. Food Chem. 58(6): 3422-3429 [KAES: 09-270-J]
• Oberoi HS, Vadlani PV, Brijwani K, Bhargav VK, Patil RT (2010) Enhanced ethanol production via fermentation of rice straw with hydrolysate-adapted Candida tropicalis ATCC 13803. Process Biochem 45(8): 1299-1306 [KAES: 10-017-J]
• Oberoi HS, Babbar N, Dhaliwal SS, Kaur S, Vadlani PV, Bhargav VK, Patil RT Enhanced Oil Recovery by Pre-treatment of Mustard Seeds Using Crude Enzyme Extract Obtained from Mixed-Culture Solid-State Fermentation of Kinnow (Citrus reticulata) Waste and Wheat Bran. Food Bioprocess Technol DOI 10.1007/s11947-010-0380-y
• Campbell GM, Vadlani PV (2009) Baby, remember my name. Food and Bioproducts Processing 87(C3): 163-163.
• Campbell GM, Azapagic A, Vadlani PV (2009) Managing the transition decades: Tactical options for an uncertain route towards a clear strategic goal. Chemical Engineering Research & Design 87(9A): 1101- 1102
• Singh R, Vadlani PV, Harrison M, G.N. Bennett GN, San K-Y (2008) Aerobic production of isoamyl acetate by overexpression of the yeast alcohol acetyl-transferase AFT1 and AFT2 in Escherichia coli and using low-cost fermentation ingredients. Bioprocess and Biosystems Engineering 31(4): 299-306 [KAES: 08-52J]
• Vadlani PV, Matthews AP, Karr GS (2008) A two-stage fermentation process: production of propionate and acetate salt as road deicer from cheese whey. Biological Engineering 1(1): 95-104 [KAES: 08-35J]
• Vadlani PV, Ramachandran KB (2008) Evaluation of influent composition and concentration in a batch reactor for effective start-up of the UASB reactors. J Environmental Engineering (in press) [KAES: 08-53J]
• Vadlani PV, Ramachandran KB (2008) Evaluation of UASB reactor performance during start-up operation using synthetic mixed acid waste. Bioresource Technology 99(17): 8231-8236 [KAES: 08-65J]
• Vadlani PV*, Mathews AP, Karr GS (2008) Low-cost propionate salt as road deicer: evaluation of cheese whey and other media components. World J Microbiol Biotechnol 24: 825-832 [KAES: 07-296J]
• Agamuthu, Choong LC, Hasan S, Vadlani PV (2000) Kinetic evaluation of composting of agricultural wastes. Environmental Technology. 21, 185-192, (2000).
• Singhal A, Gomes J, Vadlani PV, Ramachandran KB (1998) Axial dispersion model for upflow anaerobic sludge blanket reactors, Biotechnology Progress, 14, 645 – 648 (1998).
• Ananda N, Vadlani PV*, Madl RL (2010) Rice bran is an effective substitute for yeast extract in ethanol fermentation. Journal of Biobased materials and Bioenergy (in review)
• Ananda N*, Vadlani PV (2010) Fiber reduction and lipid enrichment in carotenoid-enriched distillers dried grain with solubles (DDGS) by secondary fermentation of red yeasts. Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry (In review)

Book Chapters

• Bansal S, Brijwani K, Vadlani PV and Madl R. (2010) Integrated wheat-based biorefinery:  Value-added bioproducts using enzymes and microbial fermentation.  In; Wheat Science Dynamics: Challenges and Opportunities (eds. Chibbar, R.N. and Dexter, J.E.) Agrobios (International), Jodhpur, India (in press) Chapter 19)
• Chen L, Zhang Y, Madl R and Vadlani PV (2010) Nutritional enhancement of soybean meal and hull via enzymatic and microbial bioconversion. In: Soybeans: Cultivation, Uses and Nutrition. Editors: Maxwell JE. Nova Science Publishers, Inc (in press) ISBN: 978-1-61761-762-1[KAES: 11-005-B]
• Ghosh P, Ramachandran KB, Vadlani PV (1995) Application of fluidization principles for bioprocesses. Three-Phase Sparged Reactors, Eds: K.D.P. Nigam and A.Schumpe, Gordon and Breach Publishers, 303 – 338, (1995). 
• Vadlani PV, Ramachandran KB (1993) Operational characteristics of an upflow anaerobic sludge blanket (UASB) reactor. In: Recent Trends in Biotechnology, Proceedings of Ninth National Convention of Institution of Engineers, Tata McGraw-Hill, New Delhi, India, 175-178.

Patents

• McKeeman T, Karr GS, Vadlani PV (2008) Method and apparatus for multi-system bioenergy facility.  US Patent Application 11/844307
• Robb T, Vadlani PV, Mielgo I, Madl R (2008) Improved quality and value of co-products of the ethanol production industry. WO/2009/079183 and PCT/US2008/084814
• Vadlani PV, Mukhopadhyay A (2009) Value added Products from Paper Mill Sludge. Disclosure filed. KSURF, Kansas State University

Conferences
Oral Presentations

• Brijwani K+, Vadlani PV. Solid State Fermentation of Soybean Hulls for Cellulolytic Enzyme Production: Physicochemical Characteristics of Substrate and Bioreactor Design. Society of Industrial Microbiology Annual meeting, San Francisco, August 1-5, 2010.
• Brijwani K+, Vadlani PV. Cellulolytic Enzyme Production in Solid State Fermentation: Role of Physico-Chemical Characteristics of a Substrate. AACC International Annual Meeting, Savannah, GA, October 24-27, 2010
• Ballard, T+, Bansal S, Agrupis S, Haag L, Vadlani PV, Staggenborg, S. Seeding Rate Effects on Ethanol Production in Corn and Sorghum. International Symposium on Renewable Feedstock for Biofuel and Bio-based Products, Austin, TX, August 11-13, 2010.
• Bansal S+, Vadlani PV, Staggenborg, S. Evaluation of Different Agricultural Feedstocks for Bioethanol Production. 39th Biochemical Engineering Symposium. Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS, April 17th, 2010.
• Zhang Y+, Kumar A, Vadlani PV, Narayanan S. Cyanophycin biosynthesis using engineered Escherichia Coli BL21 and thin stillage from ethanol industry. 32nd symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals. April 19-22, 2010. Hilton Clearwater Beach, FL
• Zhang Y+, Kumar A, Vadlani PV, Narayanan S, Production of Nitrogen-Based Platform Chemical: Cyanophycin Biosynthesis using Recombinant Escherichia coli. International Symposium on Advanced Biological Engineering, Beijing, China. July 23-25, 2010.
• Zhang Y+, Kumar A, Vadlani PV, Narayanan S, Production of nitrogen-based platform chemical: cyanophcyin biosynthesis using recombinant Escherichia Coli. 39th Biochemical Engineering Symposium. Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS,  April 17th, 2010.
• Pfromm PH, Amanor-Boadu V, Nelson R, Vadlani PV, Madl R, Bio-butanol vs. bio-ethanol: A technical and economic assessment, American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) Annual Meeting, Nashville, TN, November 8-13, 2009
• Mukhopadhyay A, Vadlani PV, Mulukutla RS, Renk FJ, Bioconversion of Paper Mill Waste to Chemicals, TAPPI Engineering, Pulping and Environmental Conference, Memphis, TN, October 11-14, 2009
• Yoo J+, Alavi S, Vadlani PV, Amanor- Boadu V, Novel Thermo-mechanical Pre-treatment of Lignocellulosic Biomass for Efficient Ethanol Production from Agricultural Residues, AACC International Annual Meeting, Baltimore, September 14-16, 2009
• Ananda NS, Vadlani PV, Carotenoid production on whole stillage by mixed and monoculture fermentation of Phaffia rhodozyma and Sporobolomyces roseus, Biofuels from Maize: Current Economics and Future Sustainability, AACC International Annual Meeting, Baltimore, September 14-16, 2009
• Brijwani K, Oberoi HS, Vadlani PV, Cellulolytic enzyme system production in mixed fungal culture and its utilization for lignocellulosic biomass hydrolysis, Breeding and Bioconversion of Plants for Sustainability under Biotechnology and Sustainability, AACC International Annual Meeting, Baltimore, September 14-16, 2009
• Mukhopadhyay A, Vadlani PV, Mulukutla RS, Renk FJ, Bioconversion of Paper Mill Waste to Value-Added Chemicals, Society for Industrial Microbiology (SIM) Annual Meeting, Toronto, Canada, July 26-30, 2009
• Vadlani PV, Katz J, Ethanol Industry Emergence in an International Context: Biofuels from Renewable Resources, Academy of International Business (AIB) Annual Meeting, San Diego, California, June 27 – 30, 2009.
• Vadlani PV, San K-Y, Bennett GN, Production of Natural Flavor Chemicals: Isoamyl Acetate Biosynthesis from Renewable Sugars Using Engineered Escherichia Coli, Advances in Fermentation/Biological Conversion, American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, November 16-21, 2008
• San K-Y, Vadlani PV, Bennett GN, Production of Platform Chemicals from Renewable Sugars: Low-Cost Succinic Acid Fermentation Using Engineered Escherichia Coli, Environmental Biotechnology: Green Bioprocessing, AIChE Annual Meeting, Philadelphia, November 16-21, 2008
• Ananda KN, Vadlani PV, Murphy, D, Prasad, PVV Effect of environmental stress on ethanol production efficiency from grain sorghum, AACC International Annual Meeting, Honolulu, Hawaii, September 21-24, 2008. Abstract in Cereal Foods World 53: A20
• Vadlani PV, Madl, RL, Robb T, Microbial bioconversion of fiber present in distillers’ grain (DG) to single cell protein, AACC International Annual Meeting, Honolulu, Hawaii, September 21-24, 2008. Abstract in Cereal Foods World 53: A42
• Vadlani PV, San K-Y, Bennett GN, Value-added Chemicals from Grain Sorghum: Isoamyl acetate and Succinic Acid Biosynthesis via Fermentation and Engineered Escherichia coli. AACC International Annual Meeting, October 7 – 10, 2007
• Vadlani PV, Mathews AP, Karr GS, Low-Cost Propionate and Acetate Salts as Road Deicer from Cheese Whey. American Insitute of Chemical Engineers Annual Meeting November 4 – 9, 2007, Salt Lake City, Utah
• Vadlani PV, Ramachandran KB, Effect of Inoculum quality on the Start-up of UASB reactors, Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers (IIChE) Annual Meeting, Kalpakkam, India, December 1996
• Vadlani PV, Ramachandran KB, Steady State characteristics of UASB reactors, Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers (IIChE) Annual Meeting, Bombay, India, December 1993

Poster Presentations:

• Zhang Y+, Kumar A, Vadlani PV, Narayanan S, Cyanophycin Biosynthesis from Sorghum-Derived Sugars and Recombinant Escherichia coli. AACC International Annual Meeting, October 24-27, 2010. Savannah, Georgia
• Bansal S+, Zhang Y+, Vadlani PV, Biomass-Based Integrated Biorefinery: Biochemicals and Lignin Composites Manufacturing. ASME 2010 International Manufacturing Science and Engineering Conference, Erie, PA, October 12-15, 2010.
• Yoo J+, Alavi S, Vadlani PV, Amanor- Boadu V, Thermo-mechanical Extrusion Processing as a Pretreatment for Efficient Ethanol Production from Soybean Hulls, K-State Center for Sustainable Energy, Kansas State University, KS. May 6, 2010.
• Chen L+, Vadlani PV, Madl R. Nutritional Enhancement of Soybean Carbohydrates and Hulls forAnimal Feed Using Microbial Cultures. Kansas Soybean Expo, Topeka, KS, Jan 6th, 2010
• Brijwani K+, Vadlani PV. Improved Ethanol Production from Cellulosic Biomass: Enhanced Enzyme Production from Agro-Industrial Residues using Solid State Fermentation. Center for Sustainable Energy, Kansas State University, Manhattan, KS May 2010.
• Ananda NS+, Vadlani PV, Madl R, Production of carotenoid-enriched animal feed by secondary fermentation of whole stillage. Recent Advances in Fermentation Technology (RAFT) VIII, San Diego, November 8 - 11, 2009
• Zhang Y+, Kumar A, Vadlani PV, Narayanan S, Production of platform chemical from ethanol industry byproduct: cyanophycin biosynthesis using metabolically engineered Escherichia coli BL21. Advances in Fermentation Technology (RAFT) VIII, San Diego, November 8 - 11, 2009
• Zhang Y, Kumar A, Vadlani PV, Narayanan S Cyanophycin biosynthesis using engineered Escherichia Coli BL21 and thin stillage from ethanol industry. 32nd Symposium on Biotechnology for Fuels and Chemicals, Clearwater Beach, FL, April 19-22, 2010
• Ananda NS, Vadlani PV Production of carotenoid-enriched whole stillage and wheat bran by fermentation using Phaffia rhodozyma and Sporobolomyces roseus Society for Industrial Microbiology (SIM) Annual Meeting, Toronto, Canada, July 26-30, 2009
• Vadlani PV, Value-added Chemicals from Paper Mill (PM) Sludge. Bioenergy and Environment, Consortium of Plant Biotechnology Symposium, Washingtion DC, February 9-11, 2009
• Brijwani K, Vadlani PV, Oberoi HS, Coon E, Bioethanol Production from Wheat Straw: Enzymatic Digestion and Co-Culture Fermentation using Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Pachysolen tannophilus, Symposium on the Sustainability of Biofuels Production and Processing in the Central Plains, Manhattan, KS, September 15-16, 2008
• Oberoi HS, Vadlani PV, Brijwani K, Coon E, Cellulase and Xylanase Production Studies: Solid State Fermentation using Wheat Straw and Bran as Substrates and Aspergillus oryzae and Trichoderma reesei cultures, Symposium on the Sustainability of Biofuels Production and Processing in the Central Plains, Manhattan, KS, September 15-16, 2008.
• Prasad PVV, Vadlani PV, Anand KN, Madl RL, Carbohydrate and Ethanol Production Efficiency of Grain Sorghum, American Society of Agronomy (ASA) Joint Annual Meeting, Houston, TX, October 5-9, 2008.
• Vadlani PV, Ramachandran KB, Hydrodynamics studies in UASB reactor, International Conference on Mixing, Tioman Island, Malaysia, April 1998

Invited Speaker

• Value-Added Products from Sorghum via Enzymatic and Microbial Bioprocessing. Great Plains Sorghum Conference & 27th Biennial Sorghum Research and Utilization Conference, Mead, Nebraska, August 11-12, 2010.
• Biofuels Production and Economics, CHE 670 Sustainability Seminar, Chemical Engineering Department, Kansas State University, July 23, 2010.
• Kansas State University: College of Agriculture and Biofuels, Mariano Marcus State University, Batac City,  Ilocos Norte,  Philippines, July 14th, 2010
• Production of Chemicals via Microbial Bioprocessing, Department of Chemical Engineering, University of Philippines, Diliman Campus, Philippines, July 16th, 2010.
• Biofuels from Renewable Resources, College of Engineering, University of Santo Tomas, Manila, Philippines, July 18th, 2010.
• Value-added Chemicals and Improved Animal Feed Product from Agricultural Resources: Biocatalysis and Microbial Fermentation. BIT’s Inaugural Symposium on Enzymes and Biocatalysis, Shanghai Everbright Convention and Exhibition Center, Shanghai, China, April 22 – 24, 2010
• Ethanol production from biomass resources. Symposium on bioprocessing and sustainability. Panama City, Panama, November 30 – December 6, 2009
• An Integrated Approach to Biorefining, Cellulosic Ethanol: Critical Constraints to Success, AACC International Annual Meeting, Baltimore, Maryland, September 13 – 16, 2009
• Traditional Ethanol via Fermentation Production and Use, Biofuel Processes and Applications, Overland Park, Kansas City, September 10, 2009
• Production and Use of Biogas, Biofuel Processes and Applications, Overland Park, Kansas City, September 10, 2009
• Biofuels and Platform Chemicals from Agricultural Resources: Biocatalysis and Microbial Fermentation, Emerging Trends in Catalysis and Biocatalysis, Department of Chemistry, Sri Sathya Sai University, Puttaparthi, India, August 11 – 13th, 2009
• Integrated Wheat-based Biorefinery: Value-added Bioproducts using Enzymes and Microbial Fermentation, International Wheat Quality Conference IV, Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada, June 2-6, 2009
• Platform chemicals from renewable resources via bioprocessing, Center for Biopolymer by Design, Kansas State University, March 5, 2009.
• Bioprocessing: Status and Potential, Sri Sathya Sai University, Puttaparthi, India, June 7, 2008
• Industrial Biotechnology: Recent Advances, School of Biotechnology, JNTU, Hyderabad, India, June 16, 2008
• Industrial Biotechnology: Future Challenges and Opportunities, Rice University, Biochemical Engineering Class, Houston, TX, March 29, 2007; April 10, 2008
• Value-Added Products from Plant Resources: Biofuels and Biochemicals. Plant Biology and Environment: Changing Scenario, University of Allahabad, Allahabad, India, December 17 – 19, 208
• Bread or BTUs: Industrial Wheat Applications, K-State Research and Extension, ARC-Hays Fall Field Day, Fort Hays, KS, August 23, 2007  
• Bioprocessing of Cellulosic materials to high value products, MeadWestvaco Innovation Center, Rayleigh, NC, November 13, 2007
• Cellulosic Ethanol: Status and Potential, Bioenergy and Water in Kansas, Kansas Water Office and KCARE, Garden City, KS, December 7, 2007

Collaborators
Dr. Ka-Yiu San, Department of Bioengineering, Rice University; Dr. George Bennett, Department of Biochemistry and Cell Biology, Rice University; Dr. Donghai Wang, Biological and Agricultural Engineering, Dr. Scott Staggenborg, Agronomy, Dr A.P. Mathews, Civil Engineering, Kansas State University; Dr. Klein Ileleji, Purdue University; Dr. Tom Robb, Abengoa Bioenergy Inc; Dr. Mulukutla, MeadWestvaco; Dr. Sukh Bassi, MGP Ingredients, Dr. K.B.Ramachandran, IIT Madras, India.

Graduate Students
Ananda K. Nanjundaswamy, PhD (2007-present); Achira Mukhopadhyay,MS (2009); Mathew Shell, MS (2007-present); Zhang Yixing, MS (2008 – present); Khushal Brijwani, PhD (2008 – present); Gustavo Correa (Co-advisor), MS (2008 – present); Liyan Chen, PhD (2009 – present); Anne Rigdon (Co-advisor), PhD (2009 – present); Kyle Probst PhD (2010 – present).

Graduate Student Advising Committee Member
Esam Salim, MS (2007-2008). Juhyun (Camila) Yoo, PhD (2008-present), Yonghui Li, PhD (2008-present), Grain Science and Industry; Subramanian Sathish, PhD (2007-present), Agronomy; Todd Ballard, PhD (2009-present), Agronomy; Patrick Zhang, PhD (2009-present), Industrial Engineering .

Visiting Scientists/Faculty
Dr. Harinder S. Oberoi, Senior Scientist, CIPHET, India( 2008-09); Saida Lavudi, Assistant Professor, School of Biotechnology, JNTU, India (December, 2009); Dr. Shirley Agrupis (Borlaug Fellow 2009-10), Associate Professor, Mariano Marcos State University, Philippines; Mr. Nkosi Douglas (Borlaug Fellow 2010-2011), Scientist, Animal Production Institute, South Africa.

Undergraduate Research Students
David Murphy, Biochemistry; Jonathan Wilson, Feed Science; Emily Coon, Mechanical Engineering; Josh Hughes, Biology; Karen Snook, Chemical Engineering, Kansas State University

Current Teaching
GRSC 745: Fundamentals in Bioprocessing.  Offered in spring semester for senior and graduate students; GRSC 905: Enzyme and Bioprocessing Applications. Offered in fall semester for graduate students; and GRSC 101 Introduction to Grain Science and Industry (ethanol and biodiesel topics).

Projects
Current Projects

• Demonstrate pelletizing forage crops and perennial grasses in the field to increase cellulosic ethanol production. $690,000. DOE-USDA Biomass Research and Development Initiative. 2008-2011. PI Scott Staggenborg. Co-PIs: Wang D, McKinney L,  Vadlani PV
• Screening sorghum germplasm for abiotic stress tolerance and biofuel production. $66,000. Kansas Sorghum Commission. 2008-2010. PI Prasad PVV. Co-PIs: Vadlani PV, Roozeboom, C.
• Improved Ethanol Production from Cellulosic Biomass: Enhanced Enzymatic Digestion and Fermentation from Inhibitor-free Hydrolysis. $49,372. Graduate Assistantship Award, Center for Sustainability Energy, KSU. Aug 2008- July 2010, PI Vadlani PV
• Innovative Bioprocessing of Lignocellulosic Biomass: Process Improvements for Enhanced Lactic Acid Productivity. $56,558. MeadWestvaco, Inc. 2009-2010. PI Vadlani PV
• Nutritional enhancement of soybean carbohydrates and hulls for animal feed using microbial cultures. Kansas Soybean Commission. $77,519. 2009-2011 PI Vadlani PV, Co-PIs Madl R and O’Brien D.
• Bioconversion of Paper Mill Waste to Value-added chemicals Consortium for Plant Biotechnology Research, Department of Energy, $160,000. 2010-2011. PI Vadlani PV
• Improve Mechanical Processes to Achieve Process Efficiencies and Biomass Densities. $375,000. Kansas Bioscience Authority. 2010-2011. D Wang, D Maier, R Nelson, Vadlani PV, R Madl
• Comprehensive biorefining of distillers’ grain to obtain hemicelluloses gum, zein proteins, and cellulose enzymes. $698,296. MGPI proposal to Kansas Bioscience Authority (KBA). 2009-2012. KSU subcontract: PIs Madl R, Shi Y-C, Vadlani PV (pending)
• Establishment and Operations of Kansas Bio-Plastics Commercialization Collaborative. $22,000. US Small Business Administration, 2010-2011 Kansas State University Subcontract: PI Vadlani PV
• Aerobic Stabilization of Silage. $24,889. USDA-FAS Fellowship to host Borlaug Fellow from South Africa. 2010-2011. PI Vadlani PV

Completed Projects

• Biomass conversion to biofuels.  $24,981.  USDA-FAS Fellowship to host a Borlaug Fellow from the Philippines. 2009-2010. PI Vadlani PV, Co-PIs Madl RL, Staggenborg, S.
• Improving Grain-based ethanol process efficiency and physical and nutritional properties of DDGS. $36,000. KSU College of Agriculture MiniGrant program. 2007-2008. PI Behnke K Co-PIs: Vadlani PV, Madl RL, Lamsal B
• Innovative Bioprocessing of lignocellulosic biomass to high value products. $55,000. MeadWestvaco, Inc. 2007-2008. PI Vadlani PV
• Rice Bran as a Nutrient Source to Enhance Ethanol Fermentation Efficiency: Feasibility Studies. $15,779. Nutracea, Inc. 2008. PI Vadlani PV
• Non-corrosive propionate based road deicer, USDA SBIR Phase II, 2002 -2005 ($300,000).
• Innovative and low-cost process to produce isoamyl acetate using metabolically engineered E.coli, USDA SBIR Phase I, 2004 – 2005 ($80,000). PI with Rice University subcontract.
• Protein content enhancement of DG: bioconversion of fiber into single-cell-protein. Value-added project using co-products from the bio-ethanol industry, a proprietary collaborative project with a large bio-energy Industry, 2005 – 2006 ($143,000). Co-PI with Ron Madl, Co-PI, BIVAP.
• Low-cost succinate production using grain sorghum and engineered E.coli, USDA SBIR Phase I, (http://www.ehponline.org/members/2005/113-12/innovations.html) 2005 – 2006 ($80,000). PI with Rice University and K-State subcontract.
• Protein content enhancement of DG: microbial adaptation and pilot plant studies. A large collaborative project with a large Bio-energy Industry, 2006 – 2007 ($100,000). Co-PI with Ron Madl, Co-PI, BIVAP.
• Biobutanol production from corn grain: feasibility of using existing ethanol plant facilities. A proprietary project with a chemical company, 2007 ($100,740). Co-PI with Peter Pfromm (PI), Richard G Nelson, Ronald L Madl and Vincent Amanor-Boadu (Co-PIs).