Sarah Zaccarine
Chair
Program: PhD, Chemistry Year: First Research: characterizing catalysts and MEAs for ORR in PEMFC and OER in PEMWE Fun fact: I love animals!
Mike Dzara
Vice Chair
Program: PhD, Material Science – Chemistry
Year: Third year
Research Interests: In-situ XPS for electrocatalytic applications
Fun fact: Uses his chemistry background to brew beer!
Natalie Seitzman
Secretary
Program: PhD, Material Science – Chemistry
Year: Second
Research Interests: Solid electrolyte lithium batteries
Fun fact: Did an experiment to see which kind of candy was the most satisfying to break upon freezing with liquid nitrogen; Three Musketeers was the winner.
Samantha Medina
Treasurer
Program: PhD, Material Science – Chemistry
Year: First
Research Interests: Fuel cell electrode characterization
Fun fact: Fresh tortillas and avocados are her favorite foods
- Name: Margaret Fitzgerald
- Program: PhD, Material Science – Chemistry
- Year: First
- Research Interests: Catalyst characterization for clean energy
- Fun fact: Ultimate frisbee champion!
- Name: George Burton
- Program: PhD, Material Science – Metallurgical Engineering
- Year: Fourth year
- Research Interests: Advanced microscopy
- Fun fact: He can grow a new disguise in six months.
- Name: John Mangum
- Program: PhD, Material Science
- Year: Third year
- Research Interests: Microscopy and energy materials
- Fun fact: Enjoys photography and is very good at it but does not know it yet. And his dog is adorable. And photogenic. Was a collegiate jump-roper
- Name: Luke WIlliams
- Program: PhD, Material Science – Chemistry
- Year: Third
- Research Interests: [see email from Luke to Natalie]
- Fun fact: Once got a malaria pill stuck up his nose after an unfortunate sneezing incident
- Name: Allie York
- Program: PhD, Applied Chemistry
- Year: Second
- Research Interests: Nanoscale catalyst synthesis for biomass upgrading and methane coupling
- Fun fact: She enjoys solo road trips through the southwest in the summer
- Name: Celeste Melamed
- Program: PhD, Material Science – Physics
- Year: 3rd
- Research: Sputtering of ternary nitrides for optoelectronic applications
- Fun fact: Plays viola and rocks the crap outta it
- Name: Tommy Fuerst
- Program: PhD, Chemical Engineering
- Year: Fourth
- Research: hydrogen membranes
- Fun fact: He is a chicken farmer, and hates when dogs maul his chickens. Someone should go maul the dog.
- Name: Rafaiel Ovanesyan
- Program: PhD, Chemical Engineering
- Year: DEFENDED!
- Research: in-situ diagnostics
- Fun fact: Was born in Russia
- Name: Caleb Stetson
- Program: PhD, Material Science – Chemistry
- Year: Second
- Research: Scanning probe microscopy for characterization of battery materials
- Fun fact: Enjoys working with wood more than batteries
- Name: Wanxing Xu
- Program: PhD, Chemical Engineering
- Year: Third
- Research: Selective atomic layer deposition
- Fun fact: Life and work are the same funny dog.
- Name: Abigail Meyer
- Program: PhD, Chemical Engineering
- Year: First
- Research: Light-induced degradation in silicon solar cells
- Fun fact: Used to walk cattle at a fair in a circle and got judged.
- Name: Matt Hartenstein
- Program: PhD, Chemical Engineering
- Year: First
- Research: Carrier selective passivating contacts in solar cells
- Fun fact: Won the state competition for Scholar’s bowl and was the captain!
- Name: Ryan Gasvoda
- Program: PhD, Chemical Engineering
- Year: Second
- Research: Selective atomic layer etching
- Fun fact: Is an avid fly fisherman, and he ties his own flies. WUUUT.
- Name: Nolan Kovach
- Program: PhD, Chemistry
- Year: First
- Research: Mesoporous silica/carbon materials for various applications
- Fun fact: Kicked footballs in college
