Current students

Chimezie Frank Onwudinjo is currently studying for a master's degree in chemical engineering at Bucknell University. His current research revolves around repurposing spent lithium-ion batteries for bifunctional material synthesis for climate change mitigation. He is passionate about advancing STEM education, sustainable process optimization and materials discovery through cutting-edge research. He is interested in designing more sustainable engineering operations, especially embedding the circular economy concept. Over the years, he has gained transboundary experience given his characteristic adaptability, resilience and proven track record of working comfortably in multidisciplinary teams. He has relished cognate stints with the energy and process industries as well as academia. Frank is a member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE), registered engineer (R.Engr.) with the Council for the Regulation of Engineering in Nigeria (COREN), a Corporate Member of the Nigerian Society of Engineers (NSE) and a Licensed Professional Teacher certified by the Teachers' Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN). At his leisure, he likes playing soccer and travelling adventurously.

Brooke Rogachuk is a Junior aerospace engineering student at the University of Oklahoma with a minor in environmental studies. Brooke picked her major based on her passion for space and airplanes. When she was a child, her father would take her to his work at an airplane hangar. When she was there, she became fascinated with the airplane engines and how they work. She hopes to work in the aerospace industry as a satellite engineer. She is also passionate about the environment and making environmentally conscience choices. Brooke is a member of the Sooner Rover team where she is currently working on building a camera mount and claw. She is also a member of the Women in engineering program and is a member of the Society of women engineers. She is from Colleyville, Texas. Brooke is passionate about animals and spends her summers working at an animal rescue facility. Her interests are boating with her family, fly fishing and hiking.  Brooke is currently working on process modeling and optimization of sustainable aviation fuel production pathways from hazardous solid waste. 

Makenzie Krance is a sophomore Chemical Engineering student at Bucknell University.  She loves math and science and participated in many science competitions throughout middle and high school.  In her free time she likes to hike, listen to music and podcasts, and do puzzles.  She is currently working on developing biochar based absorbent for pharmaceutical removal from waste water. 

Noah Thorpe is a sophomore studying chemical engineering at Bucknell University. His passion for science and mathematics began at an early age, and high school courses in chemistry and engineering solidified his interest in pursuing a career in chemical engineering. At Bucknell, Noah is an active member of the university’s Chem-E-Car Team, which qualified to compete at the 2024 national AIChE conference. Originally from Concord, Massachusetts, Noah balances his academic pursuits with interests in ice hockey, golf, and fitness. He is currently engaged in a project aimed at repurposing spent lithium batteries and functionalizing their materials for use in carbon dioxide capture.

 Sophia Ye is a sophomore Mechanical Engineering student at the University of Oklahoma. Since a very young age, she showed a strong interest in math, science, and art. Sophia pursued her major because she was fascinated by the innovative and problem-solving nature of engineering. In her free time, she liked to volunteer and seek new experiences. Sophia is currently working on applying computational fluid dynamics to simulate and analyze biomass gasification. 

Pravachan Patra is a freshman Computer Science student at the University of Oklahoma. His interests lie in the fields of data science, machine learning, deep learning, and artificial intelligence. His passion was sparked by his father who also works in the software space. He is passionate about applying machine learning and data analysis techniques to develop innovative solutions to real-world problems. Pravachan enjoys building things from scratch and gaining a deep understanding of low-level details of a concept. He likes attempting to build hard things and persevering through technological challenges. In his free time, he enjoys a variety of sports including basketball, crickets and MMA. His current research focus on the application of machine learning to predict student success or failure in introductory engineering classes.

Abasi-Ofon Tom is currently a PhD student in the School of Sustainable, Chemical, Materials and Biological Engineering at the University of Oklahoma. He is interested in the design of catalysts for sustainable energy production using computational, ML, and techno-economic approaches. In the Gunasooriya Lab, he is working on next-generation catalyst design for Carbon chemistry. In his free time, Tom enjoys playing racing games. 

Kaustubh Pandit is a sophomore pursuing an undergraduate degree in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Computer Science. He is originally from Pune, India. His childhood fascination with the intricate dance of gears and pulleys fueled his choice of Mechanical Engineering, viewing them as indices of creativity and innovation. He sees mechanical engineering as a means to unlock the secrets of the universe's machinery, from the delicate flutter of butterfly wings to the power of roaring engines. His research pursuits span robotics, engineering education, computer automation, bio instrumentation, and bioimaging. Kaustubh's journey into mechanical engineering stems from a profound fascination ignited by a simple birthday gift – a remote-controlled drone. Entranced by the complexities of flight and automation, he embarked on a quest to understand the mysteries behind these marvels and innovate. Inspired by visionary figures like Elon Musk, whose determined spirit and relentless pursuit of innovation resonated deeply, Kaustubh found a beacon of possibility in the vast expanse of engineering. He aspires to continue his academic journey by attending graduate school, viewing engineering not just as a career path, but as a lifelong journey of exploration. He is working on developing AI workflow for the optimization of chemical processes. 

Oluwadamilola Oyinloye is a PhD candidate (Co-supervised with Dr. Adekunle Adeleke at Nile University Nigeria). She holds both BSc and MSc in Industrial Chemistry from the University of ilorin, ilorin Kwara state. Oluwadamilola is currently running her PhD program in the department of Industrial Chemistry  at Nile University of Nigeria. She is working on " Enhanced biogas production from Agricultural and food waste through anaerobic digestion using Biochar as catalyst. Her research seeks to focus on the influence of biochar using  different temperature on the production of biogas in anaerobic digestion of agricultural  and food waste, techno- economic, and life cycle analysis of the integrated process.

Hauwau Kaoje is a PhD candidate (Co-supervised with Dr. Adekunle Adeleke at Nile University Nigeria). She holds a BSc in Applied Chemistry from Usmanu Danfodio University, Sokoto and MSc in Industrial Chemistry from Kebbi-State University of Science and Technology, Aleiru. Hauwau is now a PhD student in Department of Industrial Chemistry, Nile University of Nigeria. She is currently working on “Bio-oil production from hybrid lignocellulose biomass “.The research will also focus on integrating bio-oil production within broader bio refinery and circular economy frameworks to achieve holistic environmental and economic benefits. This work seeks to focus on feedstock diversification, innovative reactor designs, biochemical upgrading, and sustainability. These advancements will be crucial in realizing the full potential of bio-oil as renewable and sustainable energy source.