Sihe (Helena) Zhang

Sihe Zhang
Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science

Assistant Professor

Phone

szhang@kettering.edu

Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering

Dr. Zhang completed her BSE and BS degrees in Chemical Engineering and Financial Management in Tianjin University, 2007, and continued her passion in "Making a greener and greater world" in Auburn University, Dept. of Chemical Engineering, worked with Dr. Christopher Roberts on the project of Alternative fuel synthesis with process intensification and supercritical fluids, and received her Ph.D degree in 2013. She worked at the Biofuel and Bioenergy Center on Biomass conversion via catalytic routes at Auburn University. Dr. Zhang continued her career and research at the Georgia Institute of Technology, working with Dr. Pamela Pollet and Dr. Charles Liotta on Flow technology and green processing, and also pursuing undergraduate education and research from 2018. She joined the West Virginia University Institute of Technology, Department of Chemical Engineering, and worked as an assistant professor from 2020 to 2024. Dr. Zhang joined Kettering University in 2024 to pursue her career goal in research on sustainable chemical synthesis, with a focus on process optimization, and to educate the next generation of engineers and scientists.

Dr. Zhang serves as the Advisor to Kettering University AIChE Student Club.

 

Education

Ph.D. 2013, Auburn University
B.S., B.S.E. 2007, Tianjin University, China

  • Reaction Engineering
  • Heterogeneous Catalysis in CO hydrogenation, oligomerization, and cracking
  • SuperCritical Fluids as Reaction Media
  • Continuous Flow Technology
  • Polymer synthesis and characterization
  • Alternative fuel production
  • CO2 Conversion and Utilization
  • Material synthesis for sustainability
  • Water/Air pollution treatment

Research Profile

Orcid Profile

  • Research interests and focus areas:
  • Metal-Organic Materials synthesis as alternative membranes,
  • CO2 conversion and utilization,
  • Heterogeneous catalysis,
  • Continuous Flow processing for sustainable chemical production.
  • Current and past projects: Metal-Chitosan Composites development and characterization as Alternative films, CO2 utilization for post-plant gas and battery usage, Continuous Flow synthesis of polymers and chemicals.

 

The faculty and staff within and out of the department are incredibly friendly and collaborative, which is essential to me and greatly enhances the academic environment. Kettering University stands out as a unique institution. The students here are highly goal-oriented, actively engaged, and professionally driven—a natural outcome of the university’s exceptional Co-op model and opportunities. I frequently find inspiration in their dedication and enthusiasm. 

Reading, Standup Comedy, Movie, Music, Piano, Manga, Badminton, Martial Arts, Hiking, and Biking.