Department of Food

   

Hamid Rismani-Yazdi

  
 
 

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EDUCATION

 

 

Yale University, New Haven, CT ■ Starting 09/2008

Postdoctoral Research Associate in Chemical and Environmental Engineering

 

Ohio State University, Columbus, OH ■ 03/2004 - Present

Ph.D. Candidate in Biological Engineering

Expected graduation: Spring 2008

Specialization: Bioenergy and Biofuels

Dissertation: "Bioconversion of lignocellulosic biomass into electrical energy in microbial fuel cells"

 

Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran ■ 9/2001 - 12/2003

M.S. in Ruminant Nutrition

Specialization: Anaerobic Microbiology

Thesis: "Isolation, identification and characterization of anaerobic cellulolytic bacteria"

 

Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran ■ 9/1997 - 6/2001

B.S. in Animal Sciences

 

RESEARCH INTERESTS

 

  • Biocatalysis
  • Microbial fuel cells
  • Bioprocess engineering
  • Molecular and electrochemical characterization of biocatalysts
  • Biological conversion of biomass to biofuels and value-added products
  • Bioprospecting for robust and novel microorganisms for bioenergy and biofuels production

 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

 

Ohio State University, Columbus, OH ■ 03/2004 - Present

Dept. of Food, Agricultural, and Biological Engineering

Position: Graduate Research Associate

Supervisor: Dr. Ann D. Christy, P.E.

  • Developed an innovative microbial fuel cell for direct conversion of lignocellulosic biomass into electricity with rumen microorganisms as biocatalysts.

  • Improved the power output of cellulose-based microbial fuel cells (CB-MFCs) by 300% through optimization of operating parameters (i.e., microbial enrichment, circuit resistance and electrode-spacing).

  • Identified the structure and function of microbial communities responsible for electricity production in CB-MFCs using analysis of 16s rRNA genes, cloning and sequencing and HPLC techniques.

  • Characterized the electrochemical properties and electron transport mechanisms of biocatalysts in CB-MFCs using electrochemical analytical techniques; in-situ and in-vitro cyclic and linear voltammetry.

  • Evaluated methane production as a biogas product in CB-MFCs using gas chromatography, analysis of 16s rRNA genes, denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis, cloning and sequencing.

  • Engineered an integrated biological pre-treatment and hydrolysis/fermentation process for bio-ethanol production from sugarcane lignocellulosic biomass.

  • Designed an anaerobic digester and fuel cell system for energy production from dairy wastes.

  • Developed a method to isolate and quantify trace quantities of bacterial genomic DNA from large volume batch cultures.

  • Evaluated the high-hydrostatic-pressure inactivation of food pathogenic bacteria by differential scanning calorimetry.

Hallam-Sheffield University, Sheffield, UK ■ 08/2003 - 11/2003

Biomedical Research Center

Position: Visiting Scholar

Supervisor: Dr. T. Smith

  • Molecular biology training

Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, Wooster, OH ■ 01/2003 - 07/2003

Ohio State University

Dept. of Animal Sciences

Position: Visiting Scholar

Supervisor: Prof. Burk A. Dehority

  • Evaluated a method to enrich the cellulolytic rumen bacteria and possible use of selective medium to enrich for specific species (Fibrobacter succinogenes, Ruminococcus flavefaciens and, Ruminococcus albus).

Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran ■ 09/2001 - 12/2003

Dept. of Animal Sciences

Position: Graduate Research Associate

Supervisor: Prof. Gholam R. Ghorbani

  • Isolated, identified and characterized sheep rumen cellulolytic bacteria.

  • Studied production of L-lysine using Corynebacterium glutamicum from fermented fish wastes.

Arina Sepahan Agricultural Research and Development Co., Isfahan, Iran ■ 06/2002 - 01/2003

Position: Research Associate

  • Designed and established a silk production farm in Isfahan, Iran.

Isfahan Poultry Production Union, Isfahan, Iran ■ 04/1999 - 07/2002

Position: Consultant

  • Statistical assessment of poultry production in Isfahan province.

  • Poultry nutritionist consulting service.

RESEARCH GRANTS

Contributed as the major co-author in writing and developing the following grant proposals (unnamed as a co-author because of university policy restrictions on graduate student status for co-PIs):

Funded Research Grants

  • A.D. Christy, O.H. Tuovinen, and B.A. Dehority. Bio-electricity from agricultural lignocellulose wastes. Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, funds requested $99,850; funds awarded $76,754; 3/1/2005 -2/28/2008.
  • A.D. Christy, B.A. Dehority, and O.H. Tuovinen. Direct conversion of agricultural wastes to electricity using rumen microbes in microbial fuel cells. Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center, funds requested $50,000; funds awarded $39,124; 3/1/2006 -2/28/2008.

Submitted, Not Funded

 

  • A.D. Christy, O.H. Tuovinen, B.A. Dehority, and Battelle Memorial Institute. Power production from ligno-cellulosic agricultural wastes using rumen microbes in microbial fuel cells. DOE/USDA, funds requested $700,000. 12/22/2005.

  • A.D. Christy, O.H. Tuovinen, and Z. Yu. Electricity generation from paper and cellulosic wastes in microbial fuel cells. U.S. Army, funds requested $300,000. 06/2007. Invited Proposal.

PUBLICATIONS

Peer- reviewed journal articles

  • H. Rismani-Yazdi, A.D. Christy, B.A. Dehority, M. Morrison, Z. Yu and O.H. Tuovinen. 2007. Electricity generation from cellulose by rumen microorganisms in microbial fuel cells. Biotechnol. Bioeng. 97:1398-1407.
  • H. Rismani-Yazdi, S. Carver, A.D. Christy, and O.H. Tuovinen. Cathodic limitations and optimization in microbial fuel cells; An overview. 2008. J. Power Sources. 180:683-694.
  • H. Rismani-Yazdi, A.D. Christy, Z. Yu, B.A. Dehority, M. Morrison, and O.H. Tuovinen. Effect of initial external resistance on microbial fuel cells performance, microbial ecology, and metabolism. Environ. Sci. Technol. In review process.
  • H. Rismani-Yazdi, A.D. Christy, Z. Yu and O.H. Tuovinen. Evaluation of methane production in cellulose-based microbial fuel cells. In preparation.

Conferences Abstracts and Proceedings

  • H. Rismani-Yazdi, N. Pashmi, S. M. Carver, Z. Yu, O. H. Tuovinen, A. D. Christy. Evaluation of methane production in microbial fuel cells generating electricity from cellulose. Microbial Fuel Cell First International Symposium, 2008, State College, PA. 

  • A.D. Christy, H. Rismani-Yazdi, S. M. Carver, Z. Yu, O. H. Tuovinen. Cellulose Conversion to Electricity in Microbial Fuel Cells: Challenges and Constraints. Microbial Fuel Cell First International Symposium, 2008, State College, PA. 

  • H. Rismani-Yazdi, N. Pashmi, S.M. Carver, Z. Yu., O.H. Tuovinen, and A.D. Christy. External circuit resistance influences bacterial diversity and power output in microbial fuel cells. 108th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology, 2008, Boston, MA.

  • B. Corcoran, J. Henry, R. Rice, H. Rismani-Yazdi, and Ann D. Christy. Cellulosic ethanol from sugarcane bagasse using rumen microorganisms as biocatalysts. American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers Annual Meeting, 2008. Providence, RI.

  • H. Rismani-Yazdi, A.D. Christy, and O.H. Tuovinen. 2007. Power output assessment of cellulose-based microbial fuel cells operating under different external resistance. Prepr. Pap.-Am. Chem. Soc., Div. Fuel Chem. 2007, 52 (1), 2 p. 234th National Meeting;. American Chemical Society, Boston, MA.

  • H. Rismani-Yazdi and A.D. Christy. 2007. Electron transport mechanisms in cellulose-based microbial fuel cells with rumen microorganisms as biocatalysts. Northeast Agricultural and Biological Engineering Conference, Wooster, OH

  • H. Rismani-Yazdi, O.H. Tuovinen, A.D. Christy, and B.A. Dehority. 2007. Direct generation of electricity from renewable biomass using rumen microorganisms as biocatalysts in a microbial fuel cell. OARDC Annual Research Conference, Columbus, OH.

  • H. Rismani-Yazdi, A.D. Christy, B.A. Dehority, and O.H. Tuovinen. 2006. A microbial fuel cell coupling anaerobic degradation of agricultural lignocellulose wastes to electricity generation. ASABE Paper No. 067115, 7 p., St. Joseph, Mich.: American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers Annual Meeting, Portland, OR.

  • H. Rismani-Yazdi, O.H. Tuovinen, A.D. Christy, B.A. Dehority, M. Morrison, and Z. Yu. 2006. Rumen microorganisms generate electricity from cellulose in microbial fuel cells. 106th General Meeting of the American Society for Microbiology, Orlando, FL.

  • H. Rismani-Yazdi and A.D. Christy. 2006. Harvesting electricity from cellulose using rumen microbes in a microbial fuel cell. Ohio Journal of Science 106(1): A-56. 115th Annual Meeting, Ohio Academy of Science, Dayton, OH.

  • H. Rismani-Yazdi, A.D. Christy, B.A. Dehority, and O.H. Tuovinen. 2005. Bioconversion of cellulose into electricity using rumen microorganisms as biocatalysts in a microbial fuel cell. 230th National Meeting Proceedings. 2 p. American Chemical Society, Washington, DC.

  • B. Henslee, P. Gehres, B. Clayton, A. Weber, and Rismani-Yazdi, H. 2005. Design of an anaerobic digester and fuel cell system for energy production from dairy waste. Final report for USEPA OSWER P3 Award. Washington, DC. May, 16-17, 2005.

INVITED SCHOLARLY PRESENTATIONS

  • H. Rismani-Yazdi, A.D. Christy and O.H. Tuovinen. 2006. Electricity generation from cellulose in microbial fuel cells with rumen microorganisms. 2nd Microbiology Symposium. Dept. of Microbiology, Ohio State University.

  •  H. Rismani-Yazdi. 2005. Microbial fuel cells; bioconversion of cellulose into electricity. Faculty of Agricultural Engineering, Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran.

  • H. Rismani-Yazdi and A.D. Christy. 2005. Microbial fuel cells; bioconversion of cellulose into electricity using rumen microorganisms. Graduate Seminar. Dept. of Food, Agricultural and Biological Engineering, Ohio State University.

MEDIA REPORTS ON MY RESEARCH (Selected in English)

 

  • Cow-powered fuel cells grow smaller, mightier. Rechargeable Battery Review. November12, 2007.
  • Fuel cells in your future. MSNBC. August 22, 2007.
  • Cow-powered fuel cells grow smaller, mightier. Research News, Ohio State University. August 21, 2007.
  • Rismani-Yazdi Wins 2007 OARDC Krauss Award: "Someday a Source of Sustainable Energy". OARDC News. April 19, 2007.
  • Making more of livestock: Beyond bio-methane. New Agriculturalist On-Line. March 1, 2006.
  • Electricity from cellulose. Environment Science &Technology Online News. September 28, 2005.
  • Need energy? Get a cow!. The Christian Science Monitor; USA TODAY. September 14-15, 2005.  
  • US battery boffins build cow dung fuel cell. The Register. September 7, 2005.
  • OSU researchers plug into cow waste for electricity. AG Answers. September 06, 2005.
  • OSU study uses cow manure for electricity. UrbanOhio.com. September 06, 2005.
  • Rumen reaction. Iran Daily. September 5, 2005.
  • It's electric: Cows show promise as power plants. Science Daily. September 1, 2005.
  • Forget Horsepower, Think Cow-Power. Science A GoGo. September 1, 2005.
  • It's electric: Cows show promise as power plants. Coverage of OSU Research. August 31, 2005.  

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

 

Ohio State University, Columbus, OH ■ 06/2007 - Present

Dept. of Food, Agricultural and, Biological Engineering

Position: Teaching Associate

 

  • Developed a course entitled Biomass Conversion to Bioenergy, FABE 694, to be taught in spring 2008.

o       The course aims to provide the opportunity for senior undergraduate and graduate students to learn the fundamentals of and gain laboratory experience in bioenergy technologies to meet the emerging demand of the biorefinery industry for knowledgeable technical personnel.

  • Co-taught FABE 225; Introduction to Food, Agricultural, and Biological Engineering.

o       Delivered lectures on engineering statistics.

o       Developed and delivered lectures and lab sessions on microbial fuel cell assembly and statistical data analysis.

o       Graded laboratory reports.

 

Ohio State University, Columbus, OH ■ 11/2005 – Present

College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Science: “Get Real About Science Program”

College of Engineering: “Women in Engineering Summer Workshop”

  • Taught Microbial Fuel Cells and provided hands-on-experience sessions for K-12 students and pre-freshmen.

ADVISING EXPERIENCE

Undergraduate Student Advisor

  • Senior undergraduate student teams for Capstone Design in Food, Agricultural, and Biological Engineering. 09/2004- Present

o       Conversion of sugarcane bagasse for cellulosic ethanol production using rumen microorganisms and commercial yeast.

o       Design of an anaerobic digester and fuel cell system for energy production from dairy waste.

  • Undergraduate honors thesis researchers

o       Corcoran, B. Use of landfill leachate to generate electricity in microbial fuel cells. Spring 2007.

o       Bettin, C. Applicability and feasibility of incorporating microbial fuel cell technology into implantable biomedical devices. Spring 2006.

  • ASABE/IBE Bio-Environmental Design Team OSU (2004-2006)

o       The team won 1st place in the G.B. Gunlogson Student Environmental Design Competition, ASABE Annual International Meeting, 2005.

OUTREACH ACTIVITY

Research

  • Disseminated research results through publications and presentations in scholarly journals and scientific meetings of professional societies.
  • Designed and maintained a website to provide public and scientific communities with updated information on the state-of-art cellulose-based microbial fuel cells. < hcgl.eng.ohio-state.edu/~rismani-yazdi.1/>
  • Worked with Ohio State University’s Office of Media Relations to prepare several press releases distributed to the science news outlets nationally and internationally.
  • Participated in press interviews with reporters and members of newspapers and media about my research.

Teaching

  • Facilitated the delivery of state-of-the-art microbial fuel cell science to the next generation of young scholars; high school students and pre-freshmen.
  • Developed a protocol for middle/high school teachers interested in implementing microbial fuel cell science experiments in class.
  • Assisted scientists and students in other countries such as Kenya, Indonesia, India, Canada, Iran and Malaysia interested in pursuing microbial fuel cell research.
  • Assisted with designing a website to integrate a microbial fuel cell science experiment into 6th-12th grade science curricula and to demonstrate the significance of alternative energy and sustainability. < http://digitalunion.osu.edu/r2/summer07/nskrinak/index.html>
  • Participated in undergraduate/graduate student-recruiting programs at college level.

Entrepreneurship

  • Worked with Ohio State University’s Office of Technology Licensing and private sectors for licensing cellulose-based microbial fuel cells technology and identifying potential investors for its future commercialization.

HONORS AND AWARDS

  • OARDC William E. Krauss Award for Excellence in Graduate Research, 2007.

    • An annual award given to the first author of the best journal article written by a graduate student from the College of Food, Agricultural and Environmental Science. Ohio State University.

  • Ranked 1st among M.S. graduates in Dept. of Animal Sciences. Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran, 2003.
  • Ranked 2nd in nation-wide M.S. entrance exam, Iran, 2001.
  • Ranked 1st among B.S. graduates in Dept. of Animal Sciences. Isfahan University of Technology, Isfahan, Iran, 2001.

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

  • American Chemical Society, member, 2005-Present.

  • American Society of Agricultural and Biological Engineers, member, 2006-Present.

  • American Society for Microbiology, member, 2005-Present.

  • American Society for Engineering Education, member, 2006-Present.

  • The Electrochemical Society, member, 2004-2005.

  • Ohio Academy of Science, member, 2005-2006.

 

PROFESSIONAL SERVICES

  • Reviewed manuscripts for Environmental Science & Technology. 2006-Present.

  • Reviewed research proposals for The Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center Research Enhancement Competitive Grant Program: Graduate Research Competition. 2005-2007.

  • International student leader, Office of International Affairs: International Students and Scholars, The Ohio State University. 2006-Present.

  • Session moderator, 115th Annual Meeting, Ohio Academy of Science, Dayton, Ohio, April 21-23, 2006.

  • Judge, Central Kentucky Regional Science and Engineering Fair, Lexington, KY, March 26, 2005.

SELECTED GRADUATE COURSE WORK

Design and modeling of biological systems, Tissue and cell engineering, Fuel cells and catalysts, Transport phenomena, Electrical power systems for agriculture, College teaching in engineering, Research methods, Partial differential equations, Applied biometrics, Advanced biochemistry, Gene expression and regulation, Advanced biological chemistry, General and environmental microbiology, Advanced statistical methods, Molecular biology techniques, Advanced physiology, Minerals and vitamins.


 

REFERENCES

 

Dr. Ann D. Christy, Associate Professor

Dept. of Food, Agricultural, and Biological Engineering

Ohio State University

E-mail: christy.14@osu.edu

Phone: 614-292-3171

 

Dr. Olli H. Tuovinen, Professor

Dept. of Microbiology

Ohio State University

E-mail: tuovinen.1@osu.edu

Phone: 614-292-3379

 

Dr. Thomas L. Bean, Professor and Chair

Dept. of Food, Agricultural, and Biological Engineering

Ohio State University

E-mail: bean.3@osu.edu

Phone: 614-292-9338

 

 

 

Dr. Burk A. Dehority, Professor

Dept. of Animal Sciences

Ohio Agricultural Research and Development Center

Ohio State University

E-mail: dehority.1@osu.edu

Phone: 330-263-3909

 

 

Dr. Alfred B. Soboyejo, Professor

Dept. of Food, Agricultural, and Biological Engineering

Dept. Aerospace Engineering

The Ohio State University

E-mail: soboyejo.2@osu.edu

Phone: 614-292-1368

 

Dr. Zhongtang Yu, Assistant Professor
Dept. of Animals Sciences
Ohio State University

E-mail: yu.226@osu.edu

Phone: 614-292-3057