Mark Mullaney Sullivan is a PhD candidate in chemical engineering at the University of Minnesota, expected to graduate in summer 2017. His research focuses on kinetics, mechanism, and site requirements of hydrodeoxygenation of biomass-derived oxygenates over transition metal carbide catalysts. He has authored or co-authored 4 refereed journal articles and presented his research at several national and international conferences. Sullivan has received honors including the Kokes Award from the North American Catalysis Society and a Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship from the University of Minnesota.

1. Mark Mullaney Sullivan
519 3rd
Ave. SE APT 302Ÿ Minneapolis, MN Ÿ 55414 Ÿ sulli931@umn.edu Ÿ Phone: 508-479-7611
EMPLOYMENT
University of Minnesota Twin Cities – Minneapolis, MN
Research Assistant 2012-Present
• Advisor: Dr. Aditya Bhan, Professor, Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials
Science
• Thesis: Kinetics, Mechanism, and Site Requirements of Hydrodeoxygenation of Biomass
Derived Oxygenates over Interstitial Transition Metal Carbide Catalysts
o Designed and constructed a multifunctional reactor unit for catalyst synthesis and
kinetic experimentation of gas phase reactions over solid catalysts
o Determined the kinetics and mechanism of carbonyl and alcohol deoxygenation over
transition metal carbide catalysts through the use of transient, steady state, and
isotopic kinetic experiments
o Used in situ titration methods to probe hydrodeoxygenation site requirements
o Characterized catalysts using CO chemisorption, N2 physisorption, and X-ray
diffraction
PUBLICATIONS
Refereed Journal Articles
Sullivan, M. M.; Chen, C.-J.; Bhan, A. “Catalytic deoxygenation on transition metal carbide
catalysts.” Catal. Sci. Tech. 6 (2016) 602-616, 10.1039/C5CY01665G.
Sullivan, M. M.; Bhan, A. “Acetone hydrodeoxygenation over bifunctional metallic-acidic
molybdenum carbide catalysts.” ACS Catal. 6 (2016) 1145-1152, 10.1021/acscatal.5b02656.
Sullivan, M. M.; Held, J. T.; Bhan, A. “Structure and site evolution of molybdenum carbide
catalysts upon exposure to oxygen.” J. Catal. 326 (2015) 82-91, 10.1016/j.jcat.2015.03.011.
Sullivan, M. M.; Bhan, A. “Acid site densities and reactivity of oxygen-modified transition metal
carbide catalysts.” Submitted June 2016.
HONORS AND AWARDS
External Sources
Kokes Award Winner, 24th
North American Meeting of the Catalysis Society June 2015
• Sponsored by the North American Catalysis Society and awarded at the North American
Meeting to graduate student and some select undergraduate attendees. The award
provides lodging, conference registration costs, and covers transportation costs
North American Catalysis Society Travel award for the 16th
International Congress on Catalysis
• Awarded $2,000 for travel to the 16th
ICC in Beijing, China
Journal of Catalysis Featured Article June 2015
• “Structure and site evolution of molybdenum carbide catalysts upon exposure to oxygen”
was designated as one of four featured articles in the Journal of Catalysis for the month of
June 2015
University of Minnesota Twin Cities – Minneapolis, MN
Doctoral Dissertation Fellowship Awardee May 2016
• One of 150 fellowships awarded to PhD candidates across all graduate disciplines at the
University of Minnesota for the 2016-2017 academic year
• Fellowships are awarded to accomplished PhD candidates in their final year of study

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• Fellowship includes a $23,000 stipend for the academic year and a $600 stipend to be
used for travel and registration expenses to one academic conference
EDUCATION
University of Minnesota Twin Cities – Minneapolis, MN
Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering 2012-Present
• Expected Graduation: Summer 2017
• GPA: 3.89
University of Notre Dame - Notre Dame, IN
B.S. in Chemical Engineering Class of 2012
• GPA: 3.84/4.0 Major GPA: 3.97/4.0
PRESENTATIONS, POSTERS, AND EXHIBITS
Conference Oral Presentations -
Sullivan, Mark M.; Kumar, A.; Lee, W.-S.; Bhan, A. “Oxygen-Modified Molybdenum Carbide
Catalysts: A Class of Bifunctional Catalysts with Tunable Acidic and Metallic Functionalities.”
• 24th
North American Meeting of the Catalysis Society
• Pittsburgh, PA. 15 June 2015
• Oral presentation, 20 minutes. Lawrence Convention Center, Room 301-303
Sullivan, Mark M.; Held, Jacob T.; Bhan, Aditya. “Structure and Site Evolution of Molybdenum
Carbide Catalysts upon Exposure to Oxygen.”
• 2015 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Annual Meeting
• Salt Lake City, UT. 12 November 2015
• Oral presentation, 20 minutes. Salt Palace Convention Center, Room 355E
Conference Poster Presentations -
Sullivan, Mark M.; Bhan, A. “Properties of bifunctional metallic-acidic transition metal carbides
and oxides and their uses as hydrodeoxygenation catalysts.”
• 2016 Gordon Research Conference on Catalysis
• Colby-Sawyer College, New London, NH. 14 June 2016
Sullivan, Mark M.; Bhan, A. “Catalytic deoxygenation of lignocellulosic biomass-derived
oxygenates at ambient pressure and low temperature.”
• The 16th International Congress on Catalysis
• Beijing, China. 7 July 2016
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
University of Minnesota Twin Cities – Minneapolis, MN
Recitation instructor for CHEN 3102 Spring 2016 – Reaction Kinetics and Reactor Engineering
• Taught reaction kinetics and reactor engineering every Tuesday and Thursday to two
separate classes of 25-30 undergraduate students for one semester
• Gave multiple lectures to a class of 120 undergraduate students
Teaching assistant for CHEN 3006 Spring 2013 – Mass Transport and Separations Processes
• Prepared homework solutions, graded homework sets and exams
• Held weekly office hours for groups of 10-30 undergraduates

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SAFETY LEADERSHIP
University of Minnesota Twin Cities – Minneapolis, MN
Joint Safety Team Lab Safety Officer 2012 - Present
• Represent the Bhan Group lab as the lab safety officer in monthly safety meetings held
between all labs in the Chemistry and Chemical Engineering and Materials Science
departments
• Served on the Education and Resources committee for a six month period
o Organized and hosted a safety seminar offered to current graduate students offering
safety scenarios that encouraged critical thinking and problem solving of common
lab dilemmas including fire, lacerations, laser radiation, and chemical spills
• Maintain and update safety procedures and documentation in the Bhan Lab, including all
equipment Standard Operating Procedures
• Bi-annually audit four Chemistry and CEMS laboratories to ensure compliance with best
safety practices
PUBLIC SERVICE AND VOLUNTEERING
University of Minnesota Twin Cities – Minneapolis, MN
Twin Cities Regional Science Fair Volunteer Judge Spring 2013 - Present
• Volunteered to judge middle school and high school science fair projects in order to
determine winners to be entered into the Minnesota State Science and Engineering Fair.
Energy and U Volunteer Chaperone Spring 2013 - Present
• Volunteered as a guide for visiting middle school children to attend a child-friendly show
about energy on campus given by science and engineering professors