New Research Director for National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center

In Illinois, Yan Zhang was hired as the new director of research at Southern Illinois University’s National Corn-to-Ethanol Research Center after the school conducted a huge national search. Her background in analytical chemistry in the environmental, biofuels and pharmaceutical industries and working with organizations like biopharmaceutical company Mallinckrodt, USDA, RFA, National Corn Growers Association, National Pork Board, and others, will come in handy for her new role with NCERC and its pilot plant and labs. NCERC Executive Director John Caupert told Advantage News “Beyond NCERC and the SIUE community, the biofuel, biochemical and biomaterial industries will all directly benefit from her research and leadership.” In her new role, Zhang plans to focus on ways to improve commercialization and scaling up of biofuel and biochemical processes for ethanol production.