You can watch the ceremony here (start at 37:36). and also view the program and pictures from the event.

Scott Banta ’97, chemical engineering, is currently professor and vice-chair for the Department of Chemical Engineering at Columbia University, where his research program focuses on protein engineering, metabolic engineering and synthetic biology. 

The Banta lab at Columbia has published more than 100 peer-reviewed manuscripts, holds nine U.S. patents, and has given seminars around the country and internationally. Banta co-founded the start-up Ironic Chemicals LLC and the company went on to receive two grants from the National Science Foundation. 

Banta’s dedication to his field is clear. He served as program chair of the Bioengineering Area of the Food, Pharmacetical, and Bioengineering Division for the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE). Last year he also delivered a Plenary Award Lecture for the Division. He is an associate editor for the Biochemical Engineering Journal and part of the Editorial Advisory Board for the AIChE Journal. He is also heavily involved in the Biochemical Technology (BIOT) division at the American Chemical Society. Banta served as the program chair for the National Meeting and eventually served as the chairman of the BIOT Division and is currently a long range program coordinator. Additionally, he was inducted into the College of Fellows by the American Institute for Medical and Biological Engineering (AIMBE). 

Through Banta’s many professional roles and accomplishments, he continues to contribute to the discussion around critical issues at the undergraduate and graduate levels to help improve engineering educational programs.

Photo Credit: UMBC Alumni & Friends Events