Plenary Lecture
Design of Experiments in Action: Accelerating Innovation and Enhancing Scientific Understanding
David Fenn, PhD
Associate Fellow, PPG Industries
Abstract:
In today’s fast-paced industrial landscape, accelerating innovation and new product development is critical for maintaining competitive advantage. This keynote presentation explores the strategic application of Design of Experiments (DOE) and advanced data analysis techniques as powerful enablers of efficient, insightful, and robust innovation processes.
Beginning with a clear definition of DOE, the talk addresses common challenges faced in industrial innovation and new product development, including misconceptions and myths that often hinder the effective adoption of DOE methodologies. The presentation highlights the significant advantages of DOE, such as optimized resource utilization, enhanced understanding of complex interactions, and improved decision-making. Both traditional and emerging DOE approaches will be reviewed, showcasing their adaptability to diverse industrial contexts. Real-world examples from recent PPG projects will serve as the centerpiece, demonstrating how DOE has been used to solve challenging problems and deepen scientific understanding.
Biography:
David Fenn is an Associate Fellow at PPG Industries with over 37 years of experience in polymer chemistry and coatings research. He earned both his BSc in Chemistry and PhD in Polymerization Kinetics from the University of Birmingham. Dr. Fenn began his professional career in 1988 with ICI Paints’ Automotive Refinish business. Following PPG’s acquisition of ICI’s Refinish division in 1998, he joined PPG and relocated to Allison Park, Pennsylvania, in 2001.
Throughout his career, Dr. Fenn has been a driving force behind the development of innovative next-generation coatings platforms. His pioneering work includes the introduction of the first UV-cured primer for automotive repair, as well as the advancement of high solids and waterborne coatings engineered to meet increasingly stringent environmental regulations. A notable highlight of his career is the conceptualization and early development of Ambient Reactive Extrusion printing for thermoset polymers, an innovation honored with an R&D 100 Award in 2018. His contributions have resulted in more than fifty granted U.S. patents and have helped generate over $1 billion in sales for PPG.
In addition to his technological breakthroughs, Dr. Fenn is a recognized leader at PPG in the application of statistically designed experiments (DOE) and advanced data analysis techniques to accelerate innovation and new product development. He is committed to mentoring and training the next generation of scientific leaders.
Keynote Speaker
You Are What You Breathe and Eat: Linking Chemical Exposure and Molecular Responses
Professor Erin Baker
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Abstract:
Anthropogenic, or human-caused, chemical pollution poses one of the largest threats to the environment and human health. Over the last few decades, the number of chemicals in global commerce has been estimated to range from 25,000 to >350,000 with only a few thousand chemicals having toxicology information. Since total chemical exposure is somewhat unknown from these estimates, we often rely on observed effects such as studies showcasing toxicant links to infertility, diseases, cognitive health, and food security. However, even after concerns have been raised, control measures to limit exposure are often not adopted at the rate needed to avoid chronic and acute effects on human health. An urgent need therefore exists to enable higher throughput and more comprehensive studies on chemical exposure to heighten global awareness about the overall risks posed by chemical usage, dispersal and disposal. This presentation will thus highlight how combining targeted and non-targeted metabolomic, lipidomic and exposomic analyses enable a deeper look into chemical exposure and the ensuing endogenous molecular responses.
Biography:
Erin S. Baker is an Associate Professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. To date, she has published over 200 peer-reviewed papers utilizing different analytical chemistry techniques to study both environmental and biological systems. She is currently serving as the Vice President of Education for the International Lipidomics Society, a mentor for Females in Mass Spectrometry, and an Associate Editor for the Journal of the American Society for Mass Spectrometry. She has received seven US patents, two R&D 100 Awards, been named to the 2019, 2021, 2023, and 2024 Analytical Scientist Top 100 Power Lists, and was a recipient of the 2016 ACS Rising Star Award for Top Midcareer Women Chemists, 2022 ASMS Biemann Medal, and 2022 IMSF Curt Brunnée Award. Currently, her research group utilizes advanced separations and novel software capabilities to examine how chemical exposure affects human health.
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CONTACT
Laura Penabad
[email protected]
Will Kidder
[email protected]
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