School of Engineering

Steven M. Cramer
Professor
William Weightman Walker Professor of Polymer Engineering http://www.rpi.edu/~crames

Department Affiliation:

Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering

Education:

Ph.D., Yale University
Chemical Engineering

M.S., Yale University
Chemical Engineering

B.S., Brown University
Biomedical Engineering

Background:

• 11/04-8/06: Acting Chairperson, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), Troy, New York.
• 5/95-Present: Professor of Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute (RPI), Troy, New York.


• 1/90-5/95: Isermann Associate Professor of Chemical Engineering, RPI


• 9/86 - 1/90: Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering, RPI


• 9/78 - 8/81:Research Engineer, Amicon Corporation, Lexington, Massachusetts.

Research Interests:

The research being carried out in my laboratory involves novel bioseparation techniques for simultaneous concentration and purification of biomolecules. This research involves a detailed analysis of the thermodynamics and transport involved in these processes as well as a fundamental investigation into the nature of affinity in these non-linear chromatographic systems. Our major focus to date has been on displacement chromatography, a technique that takes advantage of the non-linearity and competitive nature of the adsorption of biomolecules at high concentrations.

This work has resulted in the discovery that low molecular weight compounds with appropriate chromatographic properties can be employed as efficient displacers for protein purification. We have developed powerful new models of non-linear ion exchange and immobilized metal affinity chromatographic systems. In addition, we have applied our theoretical and experimental expertise in non-linear chromatography to the optimization of gradient chromatographic systems. We have recently further expanded our research to include non-linear hydrophobic chromatographic systems, high throughput screening, computational chemistry, RAMAN spectroscopy, and chip technology.