Over the 2024 - 2025 academic year, Malik Robinson, Environmental Studies '25, has been working on his senior thesis: Evaluation of Biodiesel Obtained Through Transesterification. He pitched the idea to look at methods for producing biodiesel from different sources, with a focus on algae-derived biodiesel, in response to the food vs. fuel debate. Throughout the year, with support from the Brace Lab, including Dr. Sarvada, Mel C., and Will R., Malik transesterified different bio-oils (soybean, corn, algae) into biodiesel and then characterizied the properties of the biodiesel using techniques and instruments such as FTIR, TGA, DSC (with help from Jing Jin in the Boston College Materials Characterization Core facility). On April 29, he presented his yearlong senior thesis as a poster at the Environmental Studies Research Symposium, with other ES senior research students. He successfully turned in his thesis to Prof. Brace & the ES Thesis committe at the end of April! Congratulations Malik! It was wonderful having him as part of our research group this past year! Malik will be working as an environmental consult in Boston after graduation.
Malik Robinson, '25, and Prof. Brace, with his thesis poster at the Environmental Studies Research Symposium, April 29, 2025.