Chemical engineering Ph.D. student collects Summer Dissertation Award from WSU Graduate School

Henrique Oyama, a Ph.D. student in the Department of Chemical Engineering and Materials Science, was one of 15 students from across Wayne State University to receive a 2022 Summer Dissertation Award from the Graduate School.

These competitive awards provide support from June through August for students who plan to defend their dissertations within the academic year.

Oyama’s research focuses on developing integrated detection strategies to combat cyberattacks on chemical processes. Consequences of such attacks range from loss of property to health and safety risks.

“The main benefits of the proposed methods are that single and multiple attack scenarios involving false sensor measurements and rogue actuator outputs can be detected, which adds a layer of protection to the chemical process,” said Oyama. “The outcome of this work is expected to be a step toward a safer and economically optimal process operation in the chemical industries.”

Oyama is a graduate teaching assistant in process dynamics and simulation, product and process design, and kinetics and reactor design. He is also a researcher in the lab of Assistant Professor Helen Durand.

He earned his B.S. in chemical engineering from the Federal University of Uberlandia in Brazil. As an undergraduate, Oyama received several awards and honors, including a grant proposal award in the process control field, a fellowship of the Young Talents Program for Science, and a fellowship of the Tutorial Education Program of Chemical Engineering for excellence in academics, teaching, research and service activities.