Rutgers New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station (NJAES) off-campus research centers are sometimes located in remote parts of the state, providing limited opportunity for others to know the scope of their work. In the Get to Know Rutgers NJAES Series, we’ll take a look at these centers and find out just what they do. Serpil Guran, director of the Rutgers EcoComplex, provides us with an up-close look at what goes on at the EcoComplex Alternative Energy Innovation Center in Bordentown, NJ.
Q. What types of research are conducted at your facility?
Initially, the Ecocomplex was established to perform applied research and demonstration on technologies and practices in the fields of solid waste management, environmental and controlled environment agriculture. In addition to these activities, the EcoComplex also serves as an “Alternative Energy Innovation Center” to promote clean, low carbon alternative fuels, clean power and energy efficiency. The EcoComplex also provides testing and verification of these emerging alternative energy and energy efficiency technologies.
Q. Who are the support faculty and staff that participate in research projects at the EcoComplex?
The EcoComplex support staff members are Serpil Guran, director; Kevin Lyons, associate director; Dave Specca, assistant director; Pat Evans, program support; Laurie Magee-Raider, program coordinator; Russ Wright, greenhouse manager; and Jon Lee, facilities maintenance. Associate VP for Economic Development Margaret Brennan-Tonetta provides administrative oversight of the EcoComplex and participates in research collaborations.
Faculty members that we collaborate with include Mark Robson, Kevin Lyons, Gal Hochman, Paul Gottlieb, Zane Helsel, Monica Mazurek, Dunbar Birnie, Mike Muller, Paul Falkowski, Debashish Bhattacharya, Eric Lam, Chris Obropta, A.J. Both, Donna Fennell, Uta Krogmann, Pete Strom, Rob Miskewitz, John Reinfelder, and staff members Val Krumins, Suleyman Kemal Betin and Tom Manning.
