Xinyi Zhao
Department: Industrial & Systems Engineering Faculty Advisor: Chaoyue Zhao I am Xinyi Zhao, now pursuing my Ph.D. in industrial & systems engineering at UW, advised by Prof. Chaoyue Zhao. My research primarily revolves around addressing the power system planning challenge. My goal is to seamlessly integrate green energy solutions, such as energy storage and electric vehicles, into our existing power networks, while enhancing overall energy efficiency....
Zhihan Zhang
Department: Computer Science & Engineering Faculty Advisor: Vikram Iyer, Shwetak Patel I am a 2nd year PhD student at the University of Washington Paul G. Allen School of Computer Science & Engineering, advised by Prof. Vikram Iyer and Prof. Shwetak Patel. My research focuses on deploying ubiquitous sustainable computational things to environments. My research interests are highly interdisciplinary, combining sustainable materials, electronic devices, energy harvesting-enabled embedded systems, ubiquitous computing, and human-computer interaction. Prior to joining Allen School, I did my M.S. in Quantitative & Computational Finance and received my B.S. in Computer Engineering with highest honors from Georgia Institute of Technology....
Yusen Ye
Department: Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Advisor: Ting Cao, Di Xiao I'm currently in my third year pursuing a PhD in Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Washington, mentored by Prof. Ting Cao and Prof. Di Xiao. My research is centered on moiré systems that emerge when two layers of two-dimensional materials are stacked, resulting in a huge periodicity due to small lattice mismatches or twisted angles – sometimes up to 100 times the original lattice constant. The discovery of two-dimensional magnets has opened doors to an exciting subfield: moiré magnets. In this realm, magnetic behaviors can vary locally, and the combination of low...
Juan Antonio Vazquez Marquez
Department: Chemistry Faculty Advisor: Alshakim Nelson My current research in professor Al Nelson’s lab is focused on utilizing photoinitiated base-catalyzed polymerizations in vat photopolymerizations. Photobase generators could enable the use of a broader scope of monomers in vat photopolymerization. The resin I am currently developing uses an ionic liquid as the diluent which imparts the printed object ionic conductivity. This ionic conductivity allows for the material to function as a separation membrane in batteries. In the future, I plan to incorporate lithium salts to use this material in a semi-solid lithium battery. Developing new energy storage systems is important for the transition towards a clean energy grid....
Aaron Thomas
Department: Materials Science and Engineering Faculty Advisor: Jun Liu Aaron Thomas is a PhD student in Materials Science at the University of Washington, hailing from western New York. His research interests are in the development of clean energy storage mechanisms in the Jun Liu group, to support the growth of renewable energy. He is currently focusing on characterization of interphases formed in cycling of lithium metal-sulfur batteries, in the hopes of understanding the behavior at these interfaces through in-situ and ex-situ analysis. He began his work in energy storage as a second-year undergraduate at the Georgia Institute of Technology, where he later earned bachelor’s degrees in...
Mahdokht (Maddie) Soltani
Department: Chemical Engineering Faculty Advisor: Julie Rorrer I am a second-year Ph.D. student in Chemical Engineering at the University of Washington, where I work in the Rorrer lab on heterogeneous catalysis. In the Rorrer lab, my research is focused on developing inexpensive earth abundant catalysts that depolymerize and upcycle polyolefins that represent plastic waste in milder conditions while minimizing methane formation, which is an incentive for plastic waste recycling, reducing the severe burden of plastic waste globally. Along with research, I enjoy engaging in outreach activities. Recently, I was one of the directors for the Distinguished Young Scholars Seminar (DYSS), where I organized an NSF-style panel...
Morgan Skala
Department: Chemistry Faculty Advisor: Matthew Golder Morgan is a third-year chemistry graduate student working in the Golder lab. Her work currently focuses on mechanochemical upcycling of polystyrene (PS) waste into trifluoromethylated PS and sulfonated PS for applications in OFETs and PEDOT:PSS organic conductors. Outside of lab, she likes to explore coffee shops in Seattle, crochet, and go to concerts....
Lingnan Shen
Department: Physics Faculty Advisor: Di Xiao I am a third year Physics PhD student at University of Washington where I am advised by Prof. Di Xiao. I am broadly interested in the intersection between quantum information and quantum matter, especially in implementing theoretical condensed matter problem on actual quantum hardware. Previously, I had experience with using computational tools to explore the application of atomic defect in hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) in quantum sensing technology. I’m also involved in several outreach activities such as the UW Research Computing Club and the Climate & Diversity Committee of Physics Department....
Joelle Scott
Department: Chemical Engineering Faculty Advisor: David Bergsman I am a second-year Chemical Engineering PhD student in the Bergsman Lab. My research focuses on using molecular layer deposition to upgrade the synthesis of thin-film composite membranes for water treatment. I am a passionate advocate for sustainability and equity in STEM. Outside of work, I enjoy spending time outdoors hiking with friends, traveling, going to concerts, and watching movies with my cat Yoshi....
Ethan Schwartz
Department: Mechanical Engineering Faculty Advisor: Devin MacKenzie I am a second year Ph.D. student in mechanical engineering, working in the Washington Clean Energy Testbeds with Dr. Devin Mackenzie. My research focuses on process optimization of scalable thin film photovoltaic technology. As a mechanical engineer, I have a unique perspective working in a largely material space, spending my time optimizing manufacturing processes such as slot die coating and gas quenching to control crystallization mechanisms, laser scribing for circuit integration, and building a large throughput physical vapor deposition system to expedite experiments. My degree also focuses in data science, where I plan to take these unique tools I...
Anthony Romero
Department: Materials Science & Engineering Faculty Advisor: Jun Liu, Jihui Yang My name is Anthony Romero, a second year Materials Science and Engineering PhD student advised by Prof Jun Liu and Prof Jihui Yang. My research is focused around integrating Li metal into the negative electrode in Li-ion batteries. If done correctly, we can increase the theoretical gravimetric capacity ~10x versus industrially standardized carbon-based negative electrodes. However, there are many scientific/engineering challenges with using Li metal; the most prominent being uneven plating and stripping during repeated cycling – which ultimately leads to premature and/or unexpected cell failure. Various approaches currently exist to address this problem, ranging...
Devin Rollins
Department: Chemistry Faculty Advisor: Dianne Xiao I am a third year Ph.D. student in the Department of Chemistry. I study hybrid organic-inorganic materials in the lab of Professor Dianne Xiao where my research is focused on templating acid–base bifunctional sites in metal–organic framework (MOF) pores for cooperative catalysis, and ultimately developing robust catalysts for applications in biomass upgrading. I currently serve on the Chemistry Diversity and Equity Steering Committee, and hope to expand my outreach efforts with the Clean Energy Institute....