Three ChBE Grads Make Alumni Association’s “40 Under 40”

In 2020, the GT Alumni Association published its inaugual“40 Under 40” List, including:

Dhaval Bhandari, PhD 2010, Planning Advisor, ExxonMobil

Bhandari has contributed to significant advancements in sustainability as well as in addressing the world’s dual energy challenge. His research has been at two of the nation’s top energyfocused industrial labs: ExxonMobil Research and Engineering and General Electric Global Research.

Dhaval has filed more than 20 U.S. patents and applications. And at 26, he became a principal investigators of a $3 million grant from the Department of Energy, leading a 15-member team.

Samirkumar Patel, PhD 2011, President & CEO, Moonlight Therapeutics

Patel is in awe of the science and technology that powers breakthrough advancements in medicine.

As a scientist, inventor, and entrepreneur, Samirkumar is propelling the next wave of unimaginable medical advancements of the future. While obtaining his PhD, he made a discovery in a GT lab that led him to invent a new way to deliver drug treatment into the eye to treat eye diseases. With this technology, he started Clearside Biomedical in 2011. Two years ago, he started his second venture, Moonlight Therapeutics, to develop a treatment for food allergies.

Graham Thorsteinson, ChBE 2006, MS ChE 2007, Chief Technology Officer, Energy One Consulting

Graham Thorsteinson has devoted his career to one of the most pressing problems facing the world today: reducing energy use.

After leading General Mills’ energy program for nearly 10 years, Thorsteinson co-founded Energy One Consulting. In 2018, The Association of Energy Engineers awarded Energy One with National Project of the Year for its work improving energy efficiency at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport, one of the busiest airports in the world.

Thorsteinson’s low capital approach focuses on optimizing existing systems without requiring significant capital upgrades.