Liz works with new student onboarding and registration, re-enrollment processing, academic major changes, and advisor assignments.

Fun fact: Liz is our resident provider of “mom advice.” She has five children and three grandchildren (so far)!

Theresa works with the class schedule, processes special registrations, and completes transcript evaluations for current students.

Fun fact: Theresa loves music, theater, and a variety of outdoor activities (snowshoeing, kayaking, and hiking). 

Selma is from Stillwater, Minnesota, and is pursuing a degree in general Music with a minor in Psychology. She is actively involved in the music program at Northwestern. Selma takes piano and voice lessons and sings in the Northwestern Choir as an alto.

Selma began taking piano lessons when she was seven years old and has played ever since. She has played the piano and sung for her church’s worship team, as well.

Selma finds deep satisfaction in listening to and creating music. Selma began teaching piano with the Academy of Music in 2023 and is excited to pour into her students by teaching them valuable skills.

Dr. Andy Tsai has over 30 years experience in academics, national laboratory research, and industry as a founder of a private high-tech company.

Highlights and Awards

• Principal Investigator for NSF, DOE, NASA, and EPA research project awards in excess of $2.5MM
• United Technologies Research Award
• United Technologies Corporation Patent Award
• NASA Tech Briefs Award
• Minnesota High Tech Society Tekne Award

Selected Publications

1. “Atomic Layer Deposition of L-alanine polypeptide”, Y. Fu, Y.-B. Jiang, D.R. Dunphy, C.-Y. A. Tsai, S.-Y. Tam, B. Li, H. Fan, H. Zhang, D. Rogers, S. Rempe, P. Atanassov, J. L. Cecchi, C.J. Brinker, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 136 (45) pp 15821-15824 (2014).

2. “The Road to Robust Pd-Membrane”, A. Tsai, Proceedings of Joint Workshop on Scale-up of Pd Membrane Technology from Fundamental Understanding to Pilot Scale Demonstration, Peten, The Netherlands (2014)

3. “Tubular Ceramic-Supported Sol-Gel Silica-Based Membranes for Flue Gas Carbon Dioxide Capture and Sequestration” G. Xomeritakis, C.-Y. Tsai, Y.B. Jiang, C.J. Brinker, J. Memb. Sci., 341 (2009) 30-36

4. “Novel Dual-Functional Membrane for Controlling Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Fossil Fuel Power Plants”, Brinker, C.J., G.K. Xomeritakis, C.-Y. A. Tsai, Y.-B. Jiang, Final Scientific/Technical Report, DEFG26-04NT42120, August (2009)

5. “Nano-Pervaporation Membrane with Heat Exchanger Generates Medical-Grade Water”, C.Y. Tsai, J. Alexander, NASA Tech Briefs, September 2009, (2009)

6. “Anodic Alumina Supported Dual-Layer Microporous Silica Membranes”, G. Xomeritakis, N.G. Liu, Z. Chen, Y.-B. Jiang, R. Kohn, P.E. Johnson, C.-Y. Tsai, P.B. Shah, S. Khalil, S. Singh, C.J. Brinker, J. Memb. Sci., 287, 157-161 (2007)

7. “Microporous Sol-Gel Derived Aminosilicate Membrane for Enhanced Carbon Dioxide Separation”, G. Xomeritakis, C.-Y. Tsai, C. Jeffrey Brinker, Separation and Purification Technology, 42(3), 249-257 (2005)

8. “Novel Amine-Functional Membrane for Metabolic CO2 Removal from Spacesuit Breathing Loop”, C.-Y. A. Tsai, I. Guray, X. Tang, T. Nalette, C. Thibaud-Erkey, C. Jeffrey Brinker, and G. Xomeritakis, American Institute of Physics Proceedings:Space Technology & Applications International Forum, 654, 861-868 (2003)

9. “Dual-Layer Asymmetric Microporous Silica Membranes,” C.-Y. Tsai, S.-Y. Tam, Y. Lu, C.J. Brinker, J. Memb. Sci., 169(2), 255-269 (2000)

10. “Hydrogen Production for Fuel Cells by Selective Dehydrogenation of Alkanes in Catalytic Membrane Reactors,” T.J. Gardner, E.P. Boespflug, C.J. Brinker, A.G. Sault, C.Y. Tsai and J.P. Collins, Sandia Report, SAND 99-0681 (1999)

11. “Dense Perovskite Membrane Reactors for the Partial Oxidation of Methane to Synthesis Gas – A LongTerm Study,” C.-Y. Tsai, Y.H. Ma, W.R. Moser, A.G. Dixon, AIChE J., 43(11), 2741-2750 (1997)

12. “Oxygen-Selective Dense Perovskite Membrane Synthesis, Applications and its Characterizations,” C.-Y. Tsai, Y.H. Ma, W.R. Moser, A.G. Dixon, and M.R. Pascucci, J. Am. Ceram. Soc., 81(6), 1437-1444 (1998)

13. “The application of oxygen-selective dense perovskite membrane reactors for the partial oxidation of methane to synthesis gas – a long-term study,” C.-Y. Tsai, Y.H. Ma, W.R. Moser and A.G. Dixon, ICIM4-96: Proceedings of the Fourth International Conference on Inorganic Membranes, Gatlinburg, Tennessee, July 15-19 (1996)

14. “Perovskite Dense Membrane Reactor for the Partial Oxidation of Methane to Synthesis Gas,” C.-Y. Tsai, Y.H. Ma, W.R. Moser and A.G. Dixon, Proceedings of the Fifth World Congress of Chemical Engineering, San Diego, CA, July (1996)

15. “Modeling and Simulation of a Nonisothermal Catalytic Membrane Reactor”, C.Y. Tsai, Y.H. Ma, W.R. Moser, A.G. Dixon, Chemical Engineering Communications, 134 (1) 107-132 (1995)

16. “Simulation of Nonisothermal Catalytic Membrane Reactor for Methane Partial Oxidation to Syngas,” C.- Y. Tsai, Y.H. Ma, W.R. Moser and A.G. Dixon., The Proceedings of the Third International Conference on Inorganic Membranes, Ma, Y.H. (Ed.) (1995) 271-280

Selected Presentations

• “The Road to Robust Palladium Membrane”, A. Tsai, S.-Y. Tam, Joint Workshop on Scale –up of Pd Membrane Technology from Fundamental Understanding to Pilot Demonstration, November 20&21, Petten, the Netherlands (2014).
• “Contaminant Resistant Membrane for High-Temperature Hydrogen Purification”, A. Tsai, S.-Y. Tam, Y-B Jiang, North America Membrane Society Meeting, New Orlean LA, 11 June (2012)
• “Novel Dual-Functional Membrane for CO2 Capture from Fossil Fuel Power Plants” G. K. Xomeritakis, Y-B Jiang, C.-Y. A. Tsai, J. Zhang, C.J. Brinker, 7th Annual Conference on Carbon Capture & Sequestration, May 5-8, Pittsburg PA (2008)
• “Dual-Functional Molecular Sieve Membrane for CO2/Air Separation”, G Xomeritakis, A. Tsai, C.J. Brinker, NAMS 2006, 13 May (2006)
• “New Opportunities for Membrane-Based CO2 Separation Technology”, A. Tsai, invited talk, IPRIME Meeting at University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, 31 May (2005)
• “Sol-Gel Derived Aminosilicate Nanoporous Molecular Sieve Membrane for CO2/Air Separation,” G. Xomeritakis, A. Tsai, C. Jeffrey Brinker, MRS Spring Meeting, San Francisco, CA (2005).
• “Metabolic CO2 Removal using Amine-Functional Silica Membrane,” C.-Y. A. Tsai, G. Xomeritakis, C.J. Brinker, T. Nalette, and C. Thibaud-Erkey, Habitation 2004, January 4-7, Orlando, FL (2004).
• “Microstructural & Separation Properties of Inorganic Molecular Sieve Silica Membranes,” G. Xomeritakis, C.Y. Tsai, K. Yu, B. Smarsly, N. Liu, R. Kohn and C. J. Brinker, AIChE Annual Meeting, November 16-21, San Francisco, CA (2003).
• “Novel Amine-Functional Membrane for Metabolic CO2 Removal from Spacesuit Breathing Loop,” C.-Y. A. Tsai, I. Guray, X. Tang, T.A. Nalette, C. Thibaud-Erkey, C. Jeffrey Brinker, and G. Xomeritakis, Invited talk for NASA Bioastronautics Investigator’s Workshop, January 14, Galveston, TX (2003).
• “Mechanical and Chemical Properties of Biomimetic Nanocomposite Coating,” C.-Y. Tsai, S. Satyapal, C.J. Brinker, H.H. Michels, MRS Fall Meeting (2000).
• “Understanding and Predicting the Performance of Asymmetric Silica Membrane for Gas Separation,” S.-Y. Tam, C. J. Brinker, C.-Y. Tsai, Gordon Research Conference, New London, Connecticut, July 29- August 3 (2000)
• “Microporous Silica Membrane for Gas Separation,” C.-Y. Tsai, S.-Y. Tam, C.J. Brinker, EuroMembrane 99, Leuven Belgium, Sept. 19-22 (1999)
• “Microporous Silica Membrane for CO2 Removal from Natural Gas,” C.-Y. Tsai, S.-Y. Tam, C.J. Brinker, MRS spring meeting, San Francisco (1999)
• “Zeolite-Like Sol-Gel Silica Membrane,” S. Naik, C.-Y. Tsai, C.J. Brinker and R. Assink, MRS spring meeting, San Francisco (1999).
• “Microporous Silica Membrane for CO2 Removal from Natural Gas,” C.-Y. Tsai, S.-Y. Tam, C.J. Brinker, AIChE spring meeting, Houston (1999)
• “Silica Gas Separation Membranes for Hydrogen Recovery and CO2, NOx Removal,” C.-Y. Tsai, C.J. Brinker, AIChE Annual Meeting, Miami, FL, November (1998)
• “Silica Gas Separation Membranes for Hydrogen Recovery, CO2, and NOx Removal, and Isomer Separation,” C.-Y. Tsai, C.J. Brinker, AIChE Annual Meeting, Miami, FL, November (1998)
• “Silica Gas Separation Membranes Prepared with Surfactant-Templated Sublayers,” C.-Y. Tsai, C.J. Brinker, ICIM5-98:the Fifth International Conference on Inorganic Membranes, Nagoya, Japan, June 22-26 (1998)

Patents

1. “Hydrogen Selective Protective Coating, Coated Article and Method” C.Y. A. Tsai, S.-Y. Tam, US 8900344 (2014)

2. “Thermoelectric Heat Pump for Heat & Energy Recovery Ventilation”, C.Y. Tsai, PCT/US2005/028885, US7,937,953B2 (2011)

3. “Hybrid Thermoelectric-Vapor Compression System”, C.Y. Tsai, R. Radhakrishnan, X. Yu, PCT/US2005/028888 (2005), US7,926,294B2(2011)

4. “Film transfer to porous support for separation membrane”, C.Y.A. Tsai, S.-Y. Tam, US61/395,152 (2010)

5. “Device, and method for producing medical grade water”, C.Y. Tsai, PCT/US2006/036171(2006), US patent application no. 11/660171(2007)

6. “Thermoelectric Device Based Refrigerant Subcooling”, R. Radhakrishnan, X. Yu, M.K. Sahm, G.M. Dobbs, D. Tew, C.Y. Tsai, EP 1920200 A1 (2008)

7. “Inorganic Dual-Layer Microporous Supported Membrane,” C.J. Brinker, C.-Y. Tsai, and Y. Lu, US patent number 6,536,604 B1 (2003).

8. “Dehumidification Process and Apparatus using Collodion Membrane,” A. Kesten, S. Satyapal, J. Blechner, C.-Y.A. Tsai, R. Jarvis, US patent number 6,497,749 (2002).

Classes Taught

• Thermodynamics
• Heat and Mass Transfer
• Differential Equation with Linear Algebra
• Introduction to Electronics and Electric Circuits