Penn State Researchers Receive $1.3 Million Grant

Based in Spring, TX, Donald Lee “Don” Pferdehirt is an engineering leader and manager who worked with the Bayer Corporation for more than 20 years. Before joining the company in 1984, Don Pferdehirt attended Pennsylvania State University, where he obtained a BS and MS in chemical engineering.

Recently, Penn State’s College of Engineering announced that three of its researchers will receive a $1.3 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to perform more extensive research on charge transfers in conjugated polymers, plastic materials that conduct electricity as well as metals such as silicon or copper. The three-year grant was awarded in light of the school’s previous work on conjugated polymers, which demonstrated that the order of molecular chains may assist in the design of a flexible polymer with high charge conduction.

Scientists are hoping to design a polymer that will allow for the creation of flexible electronics, including bendable displays on smartphones, or biomedical sensors that could be worn easily. Flexible biomedical sensors could be used in a noninvasive, comfortable way to more efficiently monitor daily health vitals and create a more comprehensive picture of patient health for physicians.

This is the second NSF grant worth more than $1 million in three years that researchers from Penn State’s College of Engineering studying conjugated polymers have received. The last grant was awarded in 2016 to the same principal investigator, professor of chemical engineering Enrique Gomez.

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Lupus Foundation of Pittsburgh Hosts 22nd Annual Lupus Loop

Don Pferdehirt is a grad. of Penn State University

With a background in engineering and international business, Spring, TX, resident Donald “Don” Lee Pferdehirt works for Bayer Corporation. He recently served as global technical support for operations. A former resident of Pennsylvania when he attended the Pennsylvania State University, Don Pferdehirt remains connected to the state and supports the Lupus Foundation of Pittsburgh.

Founded in 1975 by Barbara Vandergrift, an individual diagnosed with lupus, the Lupus Foundation of Pennsylvania promotes awareness, research, and education pertaining to the disease. Since it began, the organization has grown and currently includes offices in Erie, Harrisburg, Pittsburg, and the Poconos. 

One of the organization’s annual fundraising events is the Lupus Loop. The 2017 event occurred on September 16. In its 22nd year, the Lupus Loop is a 5K fun run and walk that took place at Station Square in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. There were 46 runners who competed in the race, with 24 men and 22 women. Haley Noonan came in first overall with a time of 19:39 and the first male to cross the finish line was Ken Hornfeck with a time of 20:44.