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Biodiesel  Workshop Team Member
Jon Van Gerpen, Ph.D.
Jon Van Gerpen is a professor of Biological and Agricultural Engineering at the University of Idaho and has been working doing biodiesel-related research for 15 years. His research includes investigations of biodiesel-fueled engine emissions, fuel composition effects, thermal and oxidative stability, and contaminant effects. Currently, he directs a USDA-funded Biodiesel Education program. 
Rudy Pruszko
Rudy Pruszko is a chemical engineer for the Centerfor Industrial Research and (CIRAS), which is part of Iowa State University Extension. He has over 25 years of manufacturing and management experience in a broad range of industries. His experience includes design, construction, start-up, and operations of five chemical plants including business planning, cost analysis, marketing, research, and project, development from concept to commercialization
L.Davis Clementsk, Ph.D
Dr. Clements is the founder and president of Renewable Products Development Laboratories, Inc (RPDL), of Lincoln, Neb., a process development and licensing company founded in 1999. He has been involved in chemical process design and process development activities in industry, academia, and as a consultant since 1966. The current focus of RPDL is process and products based on the utilization of animal fats, vegetable oils, and waste cooking grease as a source of energy and industrial chemicals.
Gerhard Knothe, Ph.D.
Gerhard Knothe has a Ph.D in organic polymer chemistry and has worked at the National Center for Agriculture Utilization Research of the US Department of Agriculture in Peoria, III., since 1989. In his position as research chemist, he has been involved with developing industrial uses of vegetable oils. His contributions include research on pre-combustion reactions of fatty compounds as they occur in vegetable oils and biodiesel, combustion-improving additives, additives for improving cold-flow properties, and analytical methods of biodiesel production and fuel quality assessment.
Brent Shanks, Ph.D.
Brent Shanks is an associate professor in chemical engineering at Iowa State University, where he joined the faculty in 1999. Dr. Shanks worked for Shell Chemical Company in Houstan, Texas, for 11 years as a research engineer in the area of heterogeneous catalysis and as department manager of the chemical catalyst department. Several of his assignments included leading training courses for process engineers and operators in manufacturing facilities. A current project involves the synthesis of novel highly basic heterogeneous catalysis for the transesterification of triglycerides to biodiesel.
Paul Jewell
 Paul Jewell is the technology manager for Engineering Distance Education at Iowa State University's College of Engineering. With 22 years of experience in educational technology design and support, Paul's major focus is on implementation of distance delivery technologies that meet the educational needs of today's technical workforce. Paul supervises two full time and 10 part time professional staff in technical operations and digital course development using the state-of-the-art facilities ISU's Howe Hall
Hiro Iino
 Hiro Iino is an Instructional Support Specialist for Engineering Distance Education in the College of Engineering at Iowa State University. He has experience in digital video production in corporate and educational settings. Hiro manages the production of distance courses that are offered through different delivery methods, including videotape, CD, and streaming media. He also works with faculty to implement and maintain web-based courses where students can access course materials online.
Joe Monahan
 Joe Monahan is a digital developer. He is part of the technology team responsible for producing the instructional video “Biodiesel: Iowa’s Energy Future” also have day jobs working with Engineering Distance Education (EDE), Iowa State University.The team brings over 30 years of combined experience in video, multimedia, and web development technologies to EDE and the college.