Ph.D. Students
Aditya Prajapati
Ph.D. : Fall 2016 - Fall 2021
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Current Position: Postdoctoral Scholar, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory
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Thesis: Artificial Photosynthesis for Conversion of Water and Carbon Dioxide to Renewable Fuels
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Awards:
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2018 TA of the year award from the Department of Chemistry
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2019 Provost's Graduate Research Award
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2019 Award for Graduate Research
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2021 CoE Graduate Student Award
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2019 AIChE CRE Travel Award
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2020 AIChE Environmental Division Best Student Paper Award
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Project Description:
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Development of low overpotential, stable and selective electrocatalysts for CO2RR
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Characterization of catalysts, membrane and light absorbers
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Development of test-beds and prototypes of artificial photosynthetic systems
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Mathematical modeling and simulation of electrochemical cells
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Background:
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M. S. in Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, India (2016)
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B. Tech. in Chemical Engineering, SV National Insititute of Technology, Surat, India (2013)
Paria Coliaie
Ph.D. : Fall 2016 - Fall 2021
Current Position: Senior Scientist-1 at AbbVie Pharmaceuticals
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Thesis: Microfluidic Platforms for High-Throughput Screening of Pharmaceutical Compounds
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Awards:
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2018 Chancellor’s Student Service Award
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2020 Provost’s Graduate Research Award
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2020 Provost’s Graduate Internship Award
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2020 AIChE Women in Chemical Engineering (WIC) Travel Award
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Project Description:
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Development of microfluidic Lab-on-a-Chip platforms for pharmaceuticals
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High-throughput screening of crystal growth, nucleation and polymorphs
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Multi-scale modeling and simulation
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Background:
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B. Sc. in Chemical Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Tehran, Iran (2016)
Anish V. Dighe
Ph.D. and M.S. : Fall 2016 - Fall 2021
Current Position: Postdoctoral Scholar, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA
Thesis: Controlling Self-Assembly of Molecules for Directed Nucleation and Growth of Pharmaceutical Polymorphs
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Awards:
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2019 Provost’s Graduate Research Award
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2021 Award for Graduate Research
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2021 AIChE Separation Division Graduate Student Research Award
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Project Description:
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Multi-scale modeling and simulation of self-assembly of rigid molecules
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Mechanistic modeling of crystal growth rate and nucleation rate
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Experimental validation using microfluidic platforms
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Background:
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B. Tech. in Biotechnology, Sinhgad College of Engineering, Pune, India (2016)
Nishithan C. Kani
Ph.D. and M.S. : Fall 2018 - Summer 2023
Current Position: Postdoctoral Researcher, Technical University of Denmark
Ph.D. Thesis: Decarbonization of Ammonia Synthesis
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Project Description:
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Electrochemical synthesis of ammonia and urea: electrocatalyst synthesis and electrochemical cell development
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Recovery of nitrates from wastewater and subsequent conversion to ammonia
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Hydrogen generation from Biochar assisted water electrolysis
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Awards:
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2019 Best TA Award from Department of Chemical Engineering
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2020 Award for Graduate Research
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2021 3 Minute Thesis Competition (Honorable Mention)
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2021 Provost’s Graduate Internship Award
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2021 AIChE Sustainable Engineering Forum Student Paper Award.
Background:
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M.S. in Chemical Engineering, IIT Madras, Chennai, India (2015 -2018)
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B. Tech. in Chemical Engineering, AC Tech - Anna University, Chennai, India (2011 - 2015)
Ayankola Ayansiji
Ph.D. and M.S. : Fall 2018 - Summer 2023
Current Position: Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Illinois Chicago
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Ph.D. Thesis: Drug Delivery to the Central Nervous System (co-advised with Prof. Andreas Linninger)
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Project Description:
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Mathematical Modeling of Magnetophoresis
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CFD Simulation of Cerebrospinal Fluid
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Experimental Measurement of Magnetophoresis
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Current Position: Postdoctoral Researcher, University of Illinois Chicago
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Awards:
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2022 High-Impact Publication Award from Department of Chemical Engineering
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Background:
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B.S. in Chemical Engineering, University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria- 2012
Rajan R. Bhawnani
Ph.D. and M.S. : Fall 2019 - Spring 2024
Current Position: Postdoctoral Scholar, Massachusetts Institute of Technology , MA
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Ph.D. Thesis: Automated High-Throughput Screening of Porous Crystalline Frameworks for Understanding Thermodynamic and Kinetics of Formation
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Project Description:
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Understanding the kinetics and underlying mechanism of polymerization of various metal- and covalent-organic frameworks (MOFs and COFs)
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Designing novel techniques to fabricate MOF thin films on solid and porous substrates and deploy them for gas separation and electrocatalytic applications
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Developing high-throughput screening platform for MOFs and High-Entropy materials (HE alloys and HE MOFs) – Synthesis and Characterization
​Awards:
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2024 AIChE MESD Graduate Student Research Award (1 st Place)
Background:
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Research Assistant, GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), PA, USA (2017 - 2019)
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M.S. in Chemical Engineering, Rutgers University, NJ, USA (2016 - 2018)
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Process Engineer, Toyo Engineering, India (2014 - 2016)
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B. E. in Chemical Engineering, TSEC, Mumbai University, India (2010 - 2014)
Ishita Goyal
Ph.D. and M.S. : Fall 2022 - Summer 2025
Current Position: Postdoctoral Fellow, Georgia Institute of Technology , GA
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Ph.D. Thesis: Decarbonization of C-N compounds
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Project Description:
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Electrochemical Synthesis of Urea: Electrocatalyst synthesis and electrochemical cell development
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High-pressure ammonia synthesis: Electrochemical synthesis of Ammonia using Nitrogen at high pressure
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Awards:
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2025 Second Position-3MT| Chemical Engineering Symposium
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2025 First Position-3MT| Chemical Engineering Symposium
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2025 Second Position-Poster| Chemical Engineering Symposium
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2025 Second Position-Research Image| Chemical Engineering Symposium
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Background:
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B. Tech. (Honors) in Chemical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Karnataka (NIT Surathkal), India (2018-2022)
Prem K.R. Podupu
Ph.D. and M.S. : Fall 2020 - Fall 2025
Current Position: Postdoctoral Scholar, Massachusetts Institute of Technology , MA
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Ph.D. Thesis: Microkinetic and Multi-Scale Modeling for Synthesis and Analysis of Crystals
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Project Description:
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Microkinetic Modeling for synthesis of Metal Organic Frameworks
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Multi-Scale Modeling for understanding the mechanisms of antisolvent and oiling out crystallization
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Awards:
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2024 Provost Visiting Scholar Award |University of Illinois Chicago
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2024 Award for Graduate Research | University of Illinois Chicago
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2024 Graduate Student Council Travel Award | University of Illinois Chicago
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2024 Second Prize – Image of Research Competition | University of Illinois Chicago
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2023 Excellence Award | AbbVie Internship
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Background:
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Experiential Summer Intern, AbbVie, North Chicago, IL (2023)
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Project Associate, IIT Madras, India (2019 - 2020)
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M.Tech. in Chemical Engineering, IIT Madras, Chennai, India (2017 - 2019)
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B. Tech. in Chemical Engineering, Jawaharlal Nehru Technological University Anantapur, Andhra Pradesh, India (2012 - 2016)
Rohan Sartape
Ph.D. and M.S. : Fall 2020 - Spring 2026
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Ph.D. Thesis: CO2 Capture and Utilization
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Project Description:
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Development of novel carbon capture technologies
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Valorization of Methane to Methanol
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Integrated technologies for CO2 capture to value added fuels
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Background:
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Data Scientist, STL Tech, Pune, India, 2019-2020
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M. Tech. in Chemical Engineering, IIT Kharagpur, India, 2017-2019
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B. Tech. in Chemical Engineering, NIT Rourkela, India, 2013-2017
Postdoctoral Researcher
Vamsi Vikram Gande
Spring 2023 - Fall 2024
Current Position : Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, India
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Post-Doctoral Research: Decarbonization of Cement and CO2 reduction to Ethylene
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Project Description:
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Developing high-throughput testing strategies for process and concrete optimization
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Developing a microreactor for Distributed Direct Air Capture with Rapid Mineral Carbonation (DDAC-REACT)
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Mechanistic Understanding and model development for Calcium dissolution in Ammonium Chloride solution
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Current Position: Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Hyderabad, India
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Awards:
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2021- Best paper presentation award in CHEMPLUS 2021- IIT Madras-India
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2020- Best poster award in Indo-German Workshop -Max Planck Society-Germany
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2015 - OUCT alumni scholarship award- Osmania University-India
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2013-2016 Prime minister scholarship – Govt. of India
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Background:
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Application Engineer-Intern, Atonarp Microsystem Pvt Ltd, Bengaluru, India (2022)
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PhD in Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, India (2018 - 2022) (Thesis: Role of kinetics and transport processes in a sustainable process for recovering metals as value added products from e-waste)
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M.Tech in Chemical Engineering, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, Chennai, India (2016 - 2018)
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Apprentice Engineer, Technoforce Solutions Pvt Ltd, Nashik, India (2016)
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B.Tech in Chemical Engineering, University College of Technology, Osmania University, Hyderabad, India (2012 - 2016)
M.S. Students
Ragavendra Hari
M.S. Non-Thesis ( Fall 2017 - Spring 2018)
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Background:
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B. Tech. in Chemical Engineering, SRM University, Chennai, India (2016)
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Project Description:
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Analysis of Particle Breakage
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Current Position:
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R&D Technician at PepsiCo
Victoria Smith
M.S. Non-Thesis (Fall 2017 - Spring 2018)
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Background:
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B. A. in Chemistry, Washington & Jefferson College, Washington, Pennsylvania, US (2015)
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Project Description:
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Development of Electrocatalysts for Dinitrogen Conversion
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Current Position:
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Engineer at Siemens
Michael Zepeda
M.S. (Spring 2020 - Spring 2021)
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Project Description:
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Phase-field simulation of Li-dendrite growth
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Sihang Chen
M.S. (Spring 2020 - Spring 2021)
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Project Description:
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Discrete element modeling of dendrite growth in solid-state electrolytes
Rabia Ali
M.S. (Spring 2021 - Spring 2022)
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Background:
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B.S in Industrial Chemistry, NED University of Engineering and Technology, Karachi, Pakistan (2015-2019)
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Project Description:
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Post-fabrication processes of the 3D-printed microfluidic devices.
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Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) experiments for the batch sensitivity measurements of different metals.
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Growth rate measurement using the continuous-flow microfluidic device and the detection of the liquid-liquid phase separation boundaries.
M.S. (Fall 2023 - Fall 2024)
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Background:
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B. Tech, Chemical Engineering, Nirma University, India
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Project Description:
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Design of a CO2 Electrolyzer
Ayush Karwa
Research Associates
Carrie Schoeneberger
Research Topic: Electrochemical Oxidation of Ethane to Ethanol
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Background:
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B. S. E. in Chemical Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA (2015)
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Project Description:
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Design, synthesis and evaluation of electrocatalysts for oxidation of Ethane
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Current Position:
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Ph.D. Candidate at Northwestern University
Visiting Scholar
Dr Sam David Swaminathan
Summer 2024 - Fall 2024 (Fulbright Scholar)
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Current Position: Assistant Professor of Chemical Engineering, SRM Institute of Science and Technology, India.
Dr Haitham El-Bery
Fall 2024 - Spring 2025 (Fulbright Scholar)
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Current Position: Associate Professor of Chemistry, Faculty of Science, Assiut University, Egypt
Undergraduate Students
Sanjana Epari
Research Topic: Mechanism of Bone Remineralization
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Background:
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B. S. in Chemical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, IL, USA (2019)
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Project Description:
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Mechanism of bone regeneration using implants and scaffolds
Grzegorz Kokoszka
Research Topic: Transport Analysis of MEA for Integrated Carbon Capture and Reduction
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Background:
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B. S. in Chemical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, IL, USA (2018)
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Project Description:
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Membrane electrode assembly for integrated carbon capture and reduction
Emily Yolo
Research Topic: Solar-Driven Water Purification and Hydrogen Production
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Background:
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B. S. in Chemical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, IL, USA (2018)
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Associate of Science, Rock Valley College, IL - 2015
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Project Description:
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Design of solar-driven electrochemical system for simultaneous desalination of water and hydrogen production
Rosanna Granata
Research Topic: Design of a 500 MW Carbon-Neutral Thermal Power Plant
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Background:
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B. S. in Chemical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, IL, USA (2017)
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Project Description:
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Design of CO2 reduction unit to utilize waste heat and CO2 from the thermal power plant
Qinyang Fang
Research Topic: Electrochemical Oxidation of Phenol to Gaseous Fuels
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Background:
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B. S. in Chemical Engineering, University of Illinois at Chicago, IL, USA (2020)
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Project Description:
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​Electrochemical oxidation of phenolic compounds to hydrocarbons
Karthikayini Thiyagarajan
Research Topic: High Throughput Screening
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Background:
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B.S. in Biology, Loyola University, Chicago, IL (2025 - Expected)
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Project Description:
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High Throughput Screening of Activity of CO2 reduction catalysts
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High Throughput Screening of Electrochemical Synthesis of Metal Organic Frameworks
Vir Trivedi
Research Topic: High Throughput Screening
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Background:
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B.S. in Bioinformatics, Loyola University, Chicago, IL, USA (2025 - Expected)
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Project Description:
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High Throughput Screening of Activity of CO2 reduction catalysts
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High Throughput Screening of Electrochemical Synthesis of Metal Organic Frameworks
Aruba Awan
Research Topic: CO2 Capture, Storage, and Utilization
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Background:
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B.S. in Chemical Engineering, University of Illinois Chicago, IL, USA (2025 - Expected)
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Project Description:
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Perform and optimize CO2 reduction reaction via electro catalysis for production of ethylene
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Refine electrodialysis unit for MAMG CO2 capture
High School Students
Christopher Kull
Research Topic: Computer-Aided Design and 3D Printing of Heat Exchanger, Distillation Column, Cyclone Separator, and Reactor
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Background:
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Senior High School Student, St. Ignatius College Prep (2017)
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Project Description:
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CAD and 3D Printing of Chemical Engineering Equipments
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Project Duration:
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May 2017 - July 2017
Mary L. Dekold
Research Topic: Computer-Aided Design and 3D Printing of Heat Exchanger, Distillation Column, Cyclone Separator, and Reactor
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Background:
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Graduated from St. Ignatius College Prep (2017)
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Project Description:
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CAD and 3D Printing of Chemical Engineering Equipment
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Project Duration:
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May 2017 - July 2017
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Current Position:
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B.S. Chemical Engineering, University of Notre Dame