2023
STUDENT BIO BOOK Graduate Student / Postdoctoral Researcher Profiles
GOALS
RESEARCH PROJECTS
EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND
Job Search Research Collaborations Mentoring Opportunities
CHANGE MAKERS NEWT’s vision is to facilitate access to suitable water almost anywhere in the world by developing next- generation high-performance, easy-todeploy drinking water and industrial wastewater treatment systems enabled by nanotechnology. NEWT graduate students and postdoctoral researchers are critical center stakeholders who work diligently to fulfill this vision. This profile booklet was created to showcase the skills and talents of graduate students and postdocs currently performing research in NEWT’s four academic institutions: Rice University, Arizona State University, The University of Texas at El Paso and Yale University. NEWT’s Industrial/Practitioner Members may use the booklet to identify candidates for internships and post-graduate professional employment opportuni-ties. Profiles may also be useful for mentor/mentee connections.
Each student/postdoc profile includes research and professional goals, research project experi-ence, NEWT research thrust/ theme affiliation (ref. thrust/theme definitions below) and academic cre-dentials. Links to online resumes and/or LinkedIn profiles are also included, and Industrial/Practitio-ner members are encouraged to contact students and postdocs directly via email to discuss research collaboration, job prospects or mentoring.
Scan to learn more about the NEWT experience.
Eric Willman Executive Director (713) 348 - 6398 (NEWT) Eric.Willman@rice.edu
NEWT CENTER STUDENT BIO BOOK
GOALS Develop technologies to address the issue of PFAS contamination in water using electrochemistry.
RESEARCH PROJECTS Develop suitable anode electrode material for selective electrochemical degradation of PFAS.
Sushanth Ashokkumar sa152@rice.edu LinkedIn Thrust 1
Use interfacial engineering strategies to tune the surface hydrophobicity of the catalyst material for targeted PFAS removal.
BACKGROUND B. Tech Chemical Engineering, 2019 - Amrita School of Engineering, Coimbatore; GPA 9.35/10
GOALS Provide affordable and scalable solutions for decentralized water treatment using electrochemical technologies. Improve the understanding of process variables on the efficiency of electrochemical water treatment. RESEARCH PROJECTS
Aksana Atrashkevich aatrashk@asu.edu LinkedIn Thrust 1
Enabling on-site water disinfection through engineered point-of-use electrochlorination systems. BACKGROUND PhD student in Environmental Engineering; 2021-present Arizona State University, GPA 4.0/4.0 Mechanical Engineer; 2016-2018, Minsk, Belarus BS Civil Engineering; 2018 Belarusian National Technical University, Minsk, Belarus
NEWT CENTER STUDENT BIO BOOK
GOALS Modeling selective removal of toxic oxo-anions in water using novel nanoadsorbents. Linking atomistic surface interactions of sorption to macroscale applications. RESEARCH PROJECTS Chemical equilibrium surface complexation modeling and pore surface diffusion modeling.
Emily Briese Ebriese@ASU.edu GoogleScholar Linkedin Thrust 1
BACKGROUND BS, Environmental Engineering, 2020 The University of Toledo, Ohio
GOALS Develop novel materials for nitrate reduction and ammonia recovery from wastewaters. Develop plasma activation of C-F bonds for PFAS destruction during water treatment.
Claire Butler, EIT claire.butler@yale.edu LinkedIn Thrust 1
RESEARCH PROJECTS Design electrode materials from abundant transition metals for nitrate reduction and ammonia recovery. Demonstrate reduction capabilities of different catalysts and understand how they increase selectivity of different products. Investigate the use of non-thermal plasma activation of C-F bonds for PFAS destruction and develop a novel reactor for in situ PFAS destruction BACKGROUND BS Environmental Engineering; CU Boulder; GPA 3.77/4.0 Minor in Energy Engineering;
NEWT CENTER STUDENT BIO BOOK
GOALS Developing molecular scaffolds for electrochemical detection and quantification of environmentally important organic pollutants. RESEARCH PROJECTS Design of electrochemical sensors for the quantification of perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA) and perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) in water.
Jonathan J. Calvillo Solís
jjcalvillos@miners.utep.edu Google Scholar Thrust 1 Safety & Sustainability
Studying degradation pathways of per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) by electrochemical and spectroscopical techniques. New water treatment strategies for PFOA degradation using molecularbased electrocatalysts. BACKGROUND Chemistry Ph.D., University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, 2022 present BS Chemistry, Universidad Autónoma de Ciudad Juárez, México, 2021.
GOALS Provide sustainable alternatives for water treatment using electrochemical technologies. RESEARCH PROJECTS Developing molecular-based polymers for electrochemical nitrate reduction to ammonia. Creating molecular-based polymer networks for electrochemical hydrogen and oxygen evolution.
Alexandria Castillo
acastillo27@miners.utep.edu LinkedIn Thrust 1 Safety & Sustainability
BACKGROUND PhD Chemistry Student, University of Texas at El Paso, Present MS Chemistry, University of Texas Rio Grande Valley, 2019 BS Chemistry, University of Texas at San Antonio, 2017
NEWT CENTER STUDENT BIO BOOK
GOALS Literature search and preliminary material screening with the aim of developing cost-effective and efficient catalyst for nitrate/nitrite reduction or PFAS destruction. Optimize catalytic structure based on the understanding of structureactivity relation. Collaborate with ASU to establish an efficient method to use metal nanoparticle catalysts in MCfR.
Byeong Jun Cha jc256@rice.edu LinkedIn Thrust 1
RESEARCH PROJECTS Develop PGM-lean metallic nanocatalytic films for MCfR treatment BACKGROUND PhD Chemitry; SKKU 2023; GPA 4.44/4.5 MS Chemistry; SKKU 2019; GPA 4.5/4.5 BS Chemistry; SKKU 2017; GPA 3.94/4.5
GOALS Develop patterned electroactive membranes for electrochemical fouling control. RESEARCH PROJECTS Develop interdigitated-patterned electrodes on polymeric substrates and control biofouling in membrane systems. BACKGROUND MS, Environmental Engineering, 2020 Pusan National University
Soobin Cho sc150@rice.edu GoogleScholar
BS, Environmental Engineering, 2018 Pusan National University (South Korea)
NEWT CENTER STUDENT BIO BOOK
GOALS Reduce toxicity of industrial wastewaters by breaking carbon-halogen (C-X) bonds. RESEARCH PROJECTS Catalytic membranes for the removal of TOC from complex water matrices Transition-metal catalysts for rapid PMS activation BACKGROUND B.S. Chemical Engineering; Minors in Chemistry, Sociology, and Industrial Engineering; University of Pittsburgh 2021; GPA 3.97/4.0
Claire Chouinard claire.chouinard@yale.edu LinkedIn Thrust 1
GOALS Development of salt-resistance photocatalysts for saline water treatment. Development a pilot-scale flow-through photocatalytic reactor For Treatment of PFAS-contaminated water. RESEARCH PROJECTS Chemical-free light-driven destruction of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFASs) using non-toxic boron nitride (BN).
Youngkun Chung yc167@rice.edu Google Scholar LinkedIn Testbed
BACKGROUND Ph.D., Civil and Environmental Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST) M.S., Civil and Environmental Engineering, Korea Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (KAIST), B.S., Spatial Environment System Engineering, Handong Global University
NEWT CENTER STUDENT BIO BOOK
GOALS Develop strategies to enhance performance of membrane distillation systems through investigation of fouling mechanisms for complex water sources. RESEARCH PROJECTS Membrane Distillation to Treat Food Processed Wastewater using Onsite Wasteheat Heat from Fryer Water Vapor. Electrothermal Membrane Distillation for Extraction of Ultra-Pure Water From Dialysis Effluent.
Maximilian Cobos
BACKGROUND BA Mathematics, Magna Cum Laude, Chemistry minor; Wabash College 2021
mc144@rice.edu Thrust 3
GOALS Develop treatment train to degrade a wide range of PFAS compounds. Develop new materials and reactor designs for nanotechnology-enabled treatment of Nitrate and PFAS. RESEARCH PROJECTS Expand the use of photocatalysts to reduce difficult-to-degrade PFAS and other oxidized contaminants.
Juan Donoso jad15@rice.edu Google Scholar LinkedIn Thrust 1
Develop Techno-Economic analysis to assess the viability and guide the development of water treatment technology. BACKGROUND BS Chemical Engineering; USFQ (Ecuador) 2015 Fulbright Scholar from Quito, Ecuador 2019-21 MS Chemical Engineering, Rice University 2021 PhD Chemical Engineering, Rice University – In Progress
NEWT CENTER STUDENT BIO BOOK
GOALS Reduce the cost and environmental impact of zero liquid discharge technologies to facilitate the wide-spread adoption of water reuse for small, inland communities. RESEARCH PROJECTS Incorporating social factors into a multi-criteria decision analysis of alternative potable water production strategies. Fundamental characterization and modeling of membrane-based minimal liquid discharge technologies.
Casey Finnerty casey.finnerty@yale.edu LinkedIn Thrust 3
BACKGROUND NEWT Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellow; 2022 Ph.D. Environmental Engineering; 2022 University of California, Berkeley NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Recipient; 2017 M.S. Environmental Engineering; 2016 University of California, Berkeley B.S. Chemical Engineering; 2013 University of California, Berkeley
GOALS Design and fabricate novel nano-scale materials and composite for emerging contaminant removal, and a variety of other environmental applications. RESEARCH PROJECTS Cooperation project between NASA and H2Optic insights – develop photocatalyst involved optical fiber system for H2O2 and H2 generation in a space environment.
Han Fu
hanfu1@asu.edu LinkedIn Google Scholar Thrust 1
Improve photovoltaic conversion efficiency by developing atmospheric water harvesting hydrogel. BACKGROUND Ph.D. Environmental Engineering; Northwestern University (2023) M.S. Environmental Engineering; Northwestern University (2019) M.S. Chemical Engineering; Tokyo University (2012) B.S. Chemical Engineering; University of California Berkeley (2010)
NEWT CENTER STUDENT BIO BOOK
GOALS Develop membrane technologies with catalytic functionality that improve the efficiency of water treatment. RESEARCH PROJECTS Synthesis of a copper single atom catalyst-functionalized ceramic membrane for use in Fenton-like chemistry for water treatment. Development of an ALD process for the synthesis of copper catalysts with tailored sizes on nanoporous ceramic membranes.
Tayler Hedtke tayler.hedtke@yale.edu LinkedIn Thrust 3
BACKGROUND M.S. in Chemical and Environmental Engineering; 2021 Yale University B.S. in Chemical Engineering, Chemistry minor; 2015 UH; GPA 3.88/4
GOALS Develop catalysts that address the high usage of precious metals in waterrelated contaminants treatment. Development of PGM-lean catalysts for selective and enhanced nitrate and nitrite removal from drinking water. RESEARCH PROJECTS Design of nanostructured catalysts to remove nitrate/nitrite Develop PGM-lean catalyst for nitrate reduction.
Kiheon Hong kh67@rice.edu LinkedIn
Thrust 1
BACKGROUND MS, Civil & Environmental Engineering; Seoul Nation University 2019 BS, Civil & Environmental Engineering; Yonsei University 2017
NEWT CENTER STUDENT BIO BOOK
GOALS Use the principles of Green Engineering and Green Chemistry to design controlled nanoparticle synthesis methods. Career aspiration is to get my PhD and join academia. RESEARCH PROJECTS
Mary Kate Lane
marykate.mitchell@yale.edu LinkedIn Thrust 1
Graduate research conducted in Dr. Julie Zimmerman’s Green Engineering group in Yale’s Chemical and Environmental Engineering Department. Specialize in the application of green solvents and supercritical fluids to the synthesis of nanoparticles and extractions of high-value compounds from algae biomass. BACKGROUND NSF Graduate Research Fellow, 2017 - Present MS Chemical and Environmental Engineering, Yale University, 2018 BS Chemical Engineering, Michigan Technological University, 2017
GOALS Remove PFAS from activated carbon materials by thermal treatment Understand the byproducts, cost of treating PFAS loaded materials at different temperatures RESEARCH PROJECTS Determine the performance of thermally regenerated activated carbon used to treat PFAS contaminated water BACKGROUND B.S. in Environmental Engineering, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China; 2019 M.S. in Environmental Engineering, Stanford University, CA; 2021
Zunhui Lin zlin101@asu.edu PFAS
NEWT CENTER STUDENT BIO BOOK
GOALS Develop materials to evaluate the aging of nanomaterials in nano-based water treatment technologies. Create technologies for the selective recovery and recycling of rare earth elements. RESEARCH PROJECTS Fabricated porous, water-stable organic framework materials modified with amino and phosphoric groups.
Yiming Liu
yl322@rice.edu LinkedIn Scaling & Fouling Control
Developed composite materials for selective electrosorption of rare earth element from aqueous waste streams. BACKGROUND PhD Civil & Environmental Engineering; UCLA 2023 MS Civil & Environmental Engineering; UCLA 2019; GPA 3.96/4.0 BS Environmental Engineering; Tsinghua Univ. 2018; GPA 88/100
GOALS Develop presentation, literature review, laboratory skills. Learn more about microbiology to understand my research project better. RESEARCH PROJECTS Microbial Degradation of Tire Particles
Vianney Luna vnluna@outlook.com LinkedIn
BACKGROUND BS, Civil Engineering, 2023 The University of Texas at El Paso
NEWT CENTER STUDENT BIO BOOK
GOALS Develop unique and novel PFAS treatment paradigms at the intersection of environmental engineering and chemistry Focus on engineering sustainable processes RESEARCH PROJECTS Removal of perfluorocarboxylic acids by structural modification
Susanna Maisto
BACKGROUND NIH Postbaccalaureate Research Fellow, 2020-2021 BS Chemistry, The College of William & Mary 2020
susanna.maisto@yale.edu LinkedIn Multi-Functional Nanomaterials
GOALS Utilize all resources within water and wastewater to their maximum value. Improve global access to clean and safely managed drinking water. RESEARCH PROJECTS Precise ion separations in electrodialysis using multilayered polymer membranes.
Lauren Mazurowski
lauren.mazurowski@yale.edu LinkedIn Thrust 3
BACKGROUND US Fulbright Fellow; Ben-Gurion University, 2023 MS Civil and Environmental Engineering; UNR 2021; GPA 3.80/4.0 NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Recipient; 2020 BS Environmental Engineering; UNR 2019; GPA 3.78/4.0
NEWT CENTER STUDENT BIO BOOK
GOALS My goals lies in the progression of knowledge within the field of nanotechnology, sustainability, and environmental justices. RESEARCH PROJECTS Investigate the antimicrobial properties on different substances. Increasing the stability of silver coated surface on metallic materials for space application.
Afsana Munni amunni@asu.edu Linkedin Thrust 3
Investigating materials recovery from brines. BACKGROUND BSc in Textile Engineering, Bangladesh University of Textiles, Bangladesh. MSc in Biomedical Engineering , University of Bedfordshire. United Kingdom Former Assistant Professor , Primeasia University ,Dhaka, Bangladesh
GOALS Application of computational chemistry techniques toward understanding and designing highly selective adsorbent materials via hybrid electronic and atomistic scale simulations. RESEARCH PROJECTS Ab initio investigation of transition–metal crosslinked chitosan for selective removal of target contaminants e.g Arsenic from competitive water matrices. Simulations to understand and induce the selective removal of heavy metal oxyanions from water using functionalized small molecule organometallics such as Ferrocene.
Obinna Nwokonkwo onwokonk@asu.edu LinkedIn Thrust 1
Atomistic and coarse-grained Molecular dynamics simulations to understand the mesoscale structure of polymeric systems for informed electronic scale simulations. BACKGROUND B. Eng. Chemical Engineering, 2014 Federal University of Technology Owerri, Nigeria MS, Mechanical Engineering, 2020 Southern University and A&M College Baton Rouge
NEWT CENTER STUDENT BIO BOOK
GOALS Provide alternative electrocatalysts for sustainable energy conversion and water treatment. RESEARCH PROJECTS Development of molecular-based electrocatalysts for water splitting reaction. Development of nanoporous molecular-based catalysts for electrochemical degradation of PFAS.
Neidy Ocuane
Ndocuane@miners.utep.edu Thrust 1
BACKGROUND PhD Chemistry, The University of Texas at El Paso - 2021- present BS Chemistry, The University of Texas at El Paso - 2020
GOALS Lower the cost of desalination. Evaluate technologies for desalination concentrate management. RESEARCH PROJECTS Salt-free electrodialysis metathesis for high-recovery RO concentrate management. Copper recovery from mining process waters with ion-selective electrodialysis.
Tayia Oddonetto tloddonetto@miners.utep.edu Thrust 3
BACKGROUND PhD. Environmental Science and Engineering in Progress; UTEP B.S. Environmental Science and Mathematics; UTSA 2017-2020
NEWT CENTER STUDENT BIO BOOK
GOALS Investigate transport mechanisms of membrane-based processes to facilitate wider adoption of desalination and water reuse technologies. RESEARCH PROJECTS Fundamental modelling of RO membranes in high salinities and pressures. Testing and characterization of compaction-resistant membranes for brine management applications.
Kevin Pataroque Kevin.pataroque@yale.edu LinkedIn Thrust 2
BACKGROUND M.S. Environmental Engineering; 2023 Yale University NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Recipient; 2022 B.A. English; 2021 Case Western Reserve University B.S. Chemical Engineering; 2021 Case Western Reserve University
GOALS Develop methods to evaluate the concentration/occurrence of some newgeneration PFAS. Design materials for the removal of the same pollutants as a water treatment alternative. RESEARCH PROJECTS Development of a sensor based on Electrode modifications with nanomaterials.
Diego Puerto
dcpuertodia@miners.utep.edu LinkedIn Thrust 1
Use of different materials and functionalization methods to use them to degrade Legacy PFAS. Computational calculations to gain insight into the sensing/degradation mechanism involved in those processes. BACKGROUND PhD Chemistry, The University of Texas at El Paso - 2021- present BS Chemistry; Universidad del Valle, Cali-Colombia 2010; GPA 4.12/5.0
NEWT CENTER STUDENT BIO BOOK
GOALS Improve the understanding of pollutant degradation mechanisms, HER and OER using computational chemistry methods Develop computational chemistry models for the calculation of electrochemical properties of transition metal complexes RESEARCH PROJECTS In silico study of the degradation mechanisms of PFAS and electrocatalytic HER and OER catalyzed by molecular inspired nanoporous materials
Christian Sandoval Pauker csandovalp@miners.utep.edu Google Scholar LinkedIn Thrust 1
BACKGROUND Chemistry Ph.D., University of Texas at El Paso, El Paso, TX, 2019-present Master’s degree in HSEQ Management Systems, UNIR, Quito, Ecuador, 2018 Lecturer and Laboratory Technician, Department of Nuclear Sciences, Escuela Politécnica Nacional, Quito, Ecuador, 2016 - 2019 BS Chemical Engineering, Escuela Politécnica Nacional, Quito, Ecuador, 2016
GOALS Create technologies that enable a circular economy where chemical pollution is recycled back into useable—or harmless—chemical products Establish measurement controls for fiber optics based photocatalysis RESEARCH PROJECTS Develop measurement techniques and predictive models for UV-C Side Emitting Optical Fibers (SEOFs) for the prevention of biofilm formation in water systems
Nora Shapiro ndshapi1@asu.edu Thrust 1
In-Situ Resource Utilization (ISRU) production of hydrogen peroxide and hydrogen using nano-enable optical fibers BACKGROUND University of Michigan; 2021 B.S.E. Aerospace Engineering; GPA 3.6 University of Michigan; 2021 B.S. Earth & Environmental Sciences; GPA 4.0 NASA Pathways Undergraduate Intern; 2017-2020 NASA Pathways ISRU branch Graduate Intern; 2021-2022
NEWT CENTER STUDENT BIO BOOK
GOALS Developing materials and methods for improving water treatment performance via electrochemical processes Investigating the mechanism and critical factors contributing to the enhancement in material performance. RESEARCH PROJECTS Tuning local atomic structures in MoS2 based catalysts for electrochemical nitrate reduction.
Xiaoyin Tian xt14@rice.edu Thrust 3
Developed the composite materials for enhanced anti-scaling performance and delved into the underlying mechanisms. BACKGROUND PHD Material Science and NanoEngineering, 2019-Now Rice University MMSNE Material Science and NanoEngineering, 2019 Rice University; BS Functional Material, 2017 Lanzhou University;
GOALS Develop solutions for policy makers and companies to efficiently and sustainably manage water supply. RESEARCH PROJECTS Optimize processes used to scale membrane production.
Alicia Warlick warlick@rice.edu
BACKGROUND 14 years commercialization experience focused on digital platform companies. Pricing, deal structuring, quantitative analysis and executive advisory experience. Academic experience centers on pricing model research and cognitive psychology. Harvard University; 2006 B.A. Economics and Psychology Stanford University, Fellowship, Behavioral Economics,'07-’08 Rice University; 2025 M.S. Environmental Analysis
NEWT CENTER STUDENT BIO BOOK
GOALS Develop potential nanomaterials for water treatment. Reduce the cost of water treatment and improve treatment efficiency. RESEARCH PROJECTS Developing various nanomaterials for PFAS treatment, by different methods, including adsorption and degradation.
Sheng Yin
syin2@miners.utep.edu LinkedIn Thrust 1
BACKGROUND Ph.D. Chemistry; UTEP 2019 MS Agricultural, Environmental, and Sustainability Sciences; UTRGV 2017
GOALS Create and optimize new technologies for wastewater treatment process. RESEARCH PROJECTS Side-Emitting Optical Fibers for Delivery of UV-C Light to Disinfect Key Bacteria in Space Station Water Storage and Conveyance Systems.
Zhe Zhao
zzhao146@asu.edu LinkedIn Thrust 1
BACKGROUND B.S. Environmental Engineering, University of Science & Technology Beijing, China-2018 M.S. Environmental Engineering, University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China2019
