Amanda Simson

Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering

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

CONFERENCE PROCEEDINGS

Conference Presentations (Poster)

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

 

URBAN AIR POLULTION

RESEARCH

BIOCHAR

We are currently working on creating biochars from various biomass waste sources including food waste. We are interested in understanding the pyrolysis process that creates the biochar. Some questions we are looking into: 

-The heat of reaction so better models could be used to evalute biochar as a carbon removal method

-Small scale reactor design including using solar energy to power the pyrolysis process 

-Emissions from the pyrolysis process from small scale reactors 

-Activated carbons for carbon dioxide adsorption

Some of the biowastes we have used to make biochar include nut shells, waste wood, and corncobs, but also NYC specific wastes like coffee grinds and spent grain from breweries.

Here is a video of Derek and Delphine showing their leaching process to study the impact of removing inorganics on biochar reactivity. 

Biochar In the Lab video


 URBAN AIR POLLUTION

I am interested in air pollution, specifically from combustion, impacts the air quality of New Yorkers. Here are a few recent projects: 

NOx emissions from stoves in NYC apartments: 

High school student Lydia Evans measured the air quality in NYC apartments, building on research showing the impact of gas stoves in residential homes in California. Evans work was examing the impact of stove use in NYC homes: smaller apartments often lacking adequate ventilation. 

NOx emissions from passenger ferries in NYC:

Students Ijoo Yoon and Sophie Schneider measured NOx emissions from NYC passenger ferries. This was a continuation of work started in the Environmental Catalysis class and NOxEmissionsPoster was presented at the Engineering End of the Year show (2019). The students found a correlation between wind speed, temperature and NOx emissions which meant that NOx emissions were higher, and above the 1-hr EPA regulation for short, slow ferries traveling in the East River. Ferries to Rockaway, where passengers had longer exposure times, but that ran at higher speeds had significantly lower NOx levels. For these ferries, NOx levels were below 1-hr EPA regulations except during short periods for docking. 

CO2 CAPTURE

Masters student Kevin Chen (ChE'19 and ME'21) is developing electrospun materials for carbon capture and storage. Check out an overview of his work Poster_Electrospinning_for_Carbon_Capture.

DIY AT HOME: COMPOST AND MCFs

During COVID we moved our research into our apartments or our backyards. Andrew started working on microbial fuel cells and Yueling started composting and taking measurements of her compost. 

MICROBIAL FUEL CELLS: Andrew has been 3D printing parts and constructing MFCs with muck he has found in Seoul, South Korea. He made his project for $41.33 (If you don't have access to a 3D printer you can get one for just over $100). Here is a short video on making a few different MFC designs: 

 

Microbial Fuel Cell Demo

COMPOSTING: After composting in plastic bins and measuring temperature and pH, Yueling added air flow, sized a reactor, and started controlling C/N ratio with the hope of understanding the impact of biochar on compost rates. We gave up on this project after having too many pest issues. 

SERVICE

I am the faculty advisor for the Cooper Climate Coalition and advise on the school's student-led Climate Week. I started the first Cooper Climate Week in 2019 with two students, Sophie Schneider and Alisa Petrosova. Now in its seond year, Climate week has hosted speakers like Mary Robinson (the former president of Ireland), Rhiana Gunn-Wright, Varshini Prakash (Founder of the Sunrise Movement), Bill McKibben (Founder of 350.org), Naomi Klein, and Ayana Elizabeth Johnson. 

Related News

  • Founded by inventor, industrialist and philanthropist Peter Cooper in 1859, The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art offers education in art, architecture and engineering, as well as courses in the humanities and social sciences.

  • “My feelings, my desires, my hopes, embrace humanity throughout the world,” Peter Cooper proclaimed in a speech in 1853. He looked forward to a time when, “knowledge shall cover the earth as waters cover the great deep.”

  • From its beginnings, Cooper Union was a unique institution, dedicated to founder Peter Cooper's proposition that education is the key not only to personal prosperity but to civic virtue and harmony.

  • Peter Cooper wanted his graduates to acquire the technical mastery and entrepreneurial skills, enrich their intellects and spark their creativity, and develop a sense of social justice that would translate into action.