Raisa Carmen Andeme Ela

Dr. Andeme Ela completed a Postdoctoral Associate position in the Department of BioProducts and BioSystems Engineering at the University of Minnesota in January 2024. Prior to this, she was a Postdoctoral Associate in the National Science Foundation (NSF) Center for Sustainable Polymers (CSP) in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science at the University of Minnesota (2021-2023). She is also the founder and CEO of RAI STARALLA™️. Dr. Ela is a multi-disciplinary researcher passionate about consolidating innovative science and techniques for the design of sustainable precise heterogeneous catalysts, and nanotechnologies to tackle societal and environmental challenges in the chemical industry. The central tenet of her primary scientific research interest lies at the intersection of reaction engineering and efficient lignocellulosic biomass valorization to carbon-neutral fuels and platform chemicals. The second component of Dr. Ela’s research involves approaching the efficaciousness and sustainability challenges in sensory devices, cosmetic formulations, and resource recovery from wastewater through multifunctional, stimulus-responsive polymeric nanomaterials. Dr. Ela has received various awards for her research, and involvement with the community. Dr. Ela was selected as a 2022-2023 Mistletoe Research Fellow, and in 2021 she was recognized as a Rising Star in Chemical Engineering by the distinguished department of Chemical Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Awards that highlight Dr. Ela’s commitment to innovating, and advancing sciences and technologies, in inclusive and diverse environments.