Professor Amanda Simson joined the Chemical Engineering faculty in September 2017. Her background is in using heterogeneous catalysis for alternative energy technologies and air pollution control. Currently, she is working on off-grid power production using locally sourced fuels. 

As a teacher, Professor Simson is dedicated to improving educational opportunities for students, particular in STEM. She enjoys developing game and creating engaging science curricula for kids as part of the Science Ninjas team. Professor Simson is also part of an NSF funded project developing biotech curricula for community college students, with collaborators at Bronx Community College. Prior to her Ph.D. work, Simson taught middle school mathematics for three years, two of which were with the Team for America Miami Corp. 

Professor Simson received her bachelor’s degree in aerospace engineering from the University of Virginia and her Ph.D. from Columbia University Department of Earth and Environmental Engineering. Her graduate work at Columbia focused on developing efficient hydrogen production process for PEM fuel cells and was sponsored by BASF. After her Ph.D. she spent two years developing hydrogen production technologies for Watt Fuel Cell in Port Washington, NY. 

Professor Simson currently teaches the Thermodynamics sequence and a graduate level elective in Environmental Catalysis.

PUBLICATIONS

Chemical Engineering Peer Reviewed

• Kim, A., Simson, A. "Rapid optimization of 3D printed sediment microbial fuel cells" International Journal of Energy and Environmental Engineering, September 2022
• Chun, D., Ni, D., Simson, A. "The effect of inherent inorganics and CO2 co-pyrolysis on biochar production from biowastes and their gasification reactivity" Biomass and Bioenergy, March 2022
• Shresta, P., Chun, D., Kang, K., Simson, A. Klinghoffer, N. “Role of metals in biochar production and utilization in catalytic applications: A Review” Waste and Biomass Valorization, July 2021
• Abdallah, M., Ni, D., Simson, A. "Evaluation of biochars derived from food waste for synthesis gas production via pyrolysis and CO2 gasification" Biomass and Bioenergy, Volume 143, December 2020
• Uddin, M., Simson, A., Wright, M. "Techno-economic and greenhouse gas analysis of dimethyl ether production via the bi-reforming pathway for transportation fuel" Energy Volume 211, November 2020
• Simson, A., Crowley, S., Castaldi, M., “The Impact of Sulfur on Ethanol Steam Reforming” Catalysis Letters available May 2016 Pages 1-12
• Simson, A., Roark, K. Farrauto, R., “Niobium containing oxygen storage materials for the three way catalyst” Applied Catalysis B: Environmental Volume 158-159, October 2014, Pages 106-111
• Simson, A., Farrauto, R., Castaldi, M. “Steam reforming of ethanol/gasoline mixtures: Deactivation, regeneration and stable performance” Applied Catalysts B: Environmental Volume 106 Issues 3-4, August 2011, Pages 295-303
• Simson, A. Waterman, E., Farrauto, R., Castaldi, M. “Kinetic and Process study for ethanol reforming using a Pt/Rh Washcoated monolith catalyst” Applied Catalysis B: Environmental Volume 89, Issues 1-2, June 2009, Pages 58-64

Patents

• Finnerty, C., Isenberg, M., Simson, A., inventors; Active Filtration system for hydrocarbon fuels, methods, and filter elements. US patent 12,028,258. February 19, 2019.

Engineering Education, Peer Reviewed

• Rahman, I., Simson, A. (2023, July) Introduction of a Carbon Dioxide Capture Experiment in a Senior Chemical Engineering Laboratory Course Paper presented at 2023 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Baltimore, MD. https://peer.asee.org/43859
• Simson, A., & Davis, B. (2022, August), A Sustainability and Alternative Energy Course as a Bridge between Disciplines Paper presented at 2022 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Minneapolis, MN. https://peer.asee.org/41486
• Lawless, M., Lee, C., Shay, L., Shlayan., N., Cumberbatch, T., Wade-Smith, A., Simson, A*. Teaching the First-Year Hands-On Engineering Design Experience Online Paper presented at 2021 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, held virtually. https://peer.asee.org/37826
• Simson, A., & Broughton, L. C., & Biddinger, E. J. (2019, June), Program Evaluation of a High School Summer Bridge Program in Chemistry and Engineering (Evaluation) Paper presented at 2019 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Tampa, Florida. https://peer.asee.org/33198
• Simson, A., & Randi, J., & Becker, A. L. (2017, June), Assessing the Value of Different Techniques for Teaching Technical Communication Skills Paper presented at 2017 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, Columbus, Ohio. https://peer.asee.org/27628
• Erdil, N. O., & Harichandran, R. S., & Collura, M. A., & Nocito-Gobel, J., & Adams, D. J., & Simson, A. (2016, June), Preliminary Assessment of and Lessons Learned in PITCH: an Integrated Approach to Developing Technical Communication Skills in Engineers Paper presented at 2016 ASEE Annual Conference & Exposition, New Orleans, Louisiana. 10.18260/p.25944

Popular Press

• Rabinowitz, A., Simson, A. "This New York town doesn't want to be a climate experiment" Published December 6, 2024
• Rabinowitz, A., Simson, A. "Under the sea: Running Tide's ill-fated adventure in ocean carbon removal" Published September 19, 2024 (feature article)
• Rabinowitz, A., Simson, A. “The Dirty Secret of the World’s Plan to Avert Climate Disaster”www.wired.com, Published December 10, 2017 (feature article)

CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS

• Davis, B., Simson, A. A Sustainability and Alternative Energy Course As a Bridge between Disciplines 2021 AIChE Annual Meeting, Education Division
• Simson, A., Gilliar-Schoenenberger, L. The Impact of Inorganics on the Production and Use of Biochars Made from Household Biowaste 2021 AIChE Annual Meeting, Environmental Division
• Chun, D., Xu, Y., Simson, A. “The Impact of CO2 in Pyrolysis and Ultimate Reactivity of Biochars Made from Food Wastes” 2020 AIChE Annual Meeting, Environmental Division (November 2020).
• Lin, K., Sherman, J., Davis, B., Simson, A. “Optimization of Steam/CO₂ use in a modified BECCS process” AIChE Annual Meeting, Computing and Systems Technology Division (November 2020).
• Uddin, M.M., Mba Wright, M., Simson, A. “Techno-economic and Life Cycle Analysis of Dimethyl Ether Production via the Bi-reforming Pathway for Transportation Fuel” 2020 AIChE Annual Meeting, Synthetic and Renewable Fuels (November 2020).
• Ni, D., Simson, A. “Kinetic Studies on the CO2 Gasification of Biochar for use with SOFCs as a Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Sequestration (BECCS) process” 2019 AIChE Annual Meeting, Reactor Engineering for Biomass Feedstocks Session (November 10, 2019).
• Simson, A. “Adapting Best Practices from Middle School Classrooms to Chemical Engineering Courses” 2017 AIChE Annual Meeting, Education Division (November 2017).

Conference Presentations (Poster)

• Effects of Pyrolysis Temperatures on CO2 Adsorption Rates and Capacities of Biochar As an Alternative Solid Adsorbent for Carbon Capture  Caitlin Noonan,Naomi Akiyama, Canying Wang, Xiao Lin and Amanda Simson, 2021 AIChE Annual Meeting, Undergraduate Poster Competition. (2^nd place in Environmental Division II Undergraduate Poster Competition)
• The Impact of Lignin Content on the Pyrolysis Time-Temperature Curves during Biochar Production from Household Biowaste Xiao Lin, Aviv Kresch and Amanda Simson, 2021 AIChE Annual Meeting, Undergraduate Poster Competition. (3^rd place in Environmental Division III Undergraduate Poster Competition)
• Biochar Production from Cardboard Feedstock  Renata Ashapatov, Sanjna Rao, Seemee Seon and Amanda Simson, 2021 AIChE Annual Meeting, Undergraduate Poster Competition. (1st place in Environmental Division II Undergaduate Poster Cmpetition)
• Effect of K+ Doping on Pyrolysis of Sawdust Based Biochar  Edward Bukhman, Dave Chun, and Amanda Simson, 2021 AIChE Annual Meeting, Undergraduate Poster Competition
• An Investigation into Electrospun Scaffolds Containing Ion-Exchange Resins for Direct Capture of CO2 from Ambient Air Kevin Chen, Jennifer Weiser and Amanda Simson, 2021 AIChE Annual Meeting, Separations Division
• Troast, D., Ni, D., Simson, A. “The Catalytic Effect of Ash Content on CO₂ gasification of Biochar” AIChE Annual Meeting (November 2020).
• Chun, D., Anthony, A., Davis, B., Simson. A “Bioenergy via Char Gasification with Carbon Capture and Storage: An Alternative to BECCS” AIChE Bioenergy Sustainability Conference, Nashville, TN (October 2019).
• Soosairaj, T., Biddinger, E., Broughton L., Simson, A., and SochaA., “Beyond the Beaker – Summertime Chemistry Training for Students and Educators.” NSF Advanced Technical Education Annual PI Meeting (October 17, 2019).
• Abdallah, M. Simson, A. “Integration of CO₂ Biomass Gasification with SOFC as a Viable Pathway for Carbon Capture and Sequestration” AIChE Annual Meeting, Sustainability and Sustainable Biorefineries Division, Pittsburgh, PA (October 2018).
• Simson, A., Broughton, L. C., Biddinger, E. J. Soosairaj, T., Socha, A., “Introducing Chemical Engineering through a Summertime Boot Camp for High School Students” NSF Advanced Technical Education Annual PI Meeting (October 19, 2018).
• Simson, A. et al. “A User-Friendly Set-up for Undergraduate Research: Combining Thermogravimetric Analysis with Micro-Gas Chromatography” AIChE Annual Meeting, Minneapolis, MN (October 2017).t.

COURSES

Engineering Design: Re-envisioning Waste

Engineering Design and Problem Solving (EID-101): I am the course coordinator for EID101, the Engineering School’s first year engineering design course. Each year, students form multidisciplinary teams to work on a project for the entire semester. We have made some recent updates to the course, including adding in upperclass Teaching Assistants to act as mentors for student projects. The current topic of my course is Re-envisioning Waste. Below are some projects from my students:

2020: Re-envisioning Waste (you can watch the problem statement introduction video here)

Group 1: Repurposing Brewery Waste   

Group 2: Tackling Restaurant Waste

Group 3: Our Food Renewed

2019: Engineering for the Future: Designing an Educational Exhibit on Climate Change

Below is a video of one of the student projects that developed an artificial tree with carbon capture "leaves" and check out this poster a student team made about their video game for people to learn about the carbon balance and renewable energy. Thermodynamics 1 and 2

Thermodynamics 1 and 2

I teach both sections of our Thermodynamics curriculum and they are two of my favorite courses to teach!

We spend a lot of time talking about our current energy infrastructure and how it is changing (but not fast enough). 

Here is the syllabus for Thermodynamics I for the Spring 2021 semester.

Here is the syllabus for Thermodynamics II for the Fall 2021 semester. 

I am happy to share detailed topics list with youtube links and readings by email (amanda.simson@cooper.edu)

Below you can watch a student mini-project on the Thermodynamics of maple syrup. The mini-project is designed to have students think about Thermodynamics in their homes and communities. Other projects have been on zeer pots, kimchi, and seltzer! 

Cooper Union Freshman Engineering Project on Carbon Capture

RESEARCH

Coming soon

SERVICE

Coming Soon