Kai Zhu is a Research Fellow at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in the Chemistry and Nanoscience Center. His work focuses on advanced photovoltaic materials and electrochemical systems. PhD , Physics, Syracuse University Master , Physics, University of Science and Technology of China Bachelor , Physics, University of Science and Technology of China Dr. Zhu's research spans perovskite solar cells , photoelectrochemical hydrogen production , and energy storage electrodes . He investigates material development, charge-carrier dynamics, and device stability. Recent work includes 2D/3D heterostructures , dopant strategies for TiO2, and surface engineering of perovskite materials. His publications in journals like Advanced Materials and Science highlight breakthroughs in electron transport and device efficiency. Scientific Awards : NREL Distinguished Member of Research Staff (2021) Dr. Zhu collaborates globally on photovoltaic innovations , with over 326 research outputs. His lab focuses on renewable energy materials and semiconductor interfaces .
Avtar Singh is a Researcher III in Mechanical Engineering at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's Center for Energy Conversion and Storage Systems. He holds a PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee. His research focuses on enhancing safety and performance of next-generation batteries including lithium-ion, sodium-ion, potassium-ion, and solid-state systems through microstructure characterization, material property analysis, and multiphysics modeling. Key interests include: Microstructure characterization and reconstruction Thermal/mechanical property analysis Fracture mechanics and chemo-mechanical modeling Physics-based aging models for fast-charging scenarios Optimization of ion insertion/extraction processes His recent publications (2024-2025) demonstrate strong focus on silicon anode innovations, nanoparticle engineering for lithium-ion batteries, solid-state systems, and cobalt-free cathodes. Research consistently addresses fundamental material challenges in energy storage through experimental characterization and computational modeling. Awards: NREL Director's Award (2023)
Nikita Dutta is a Materials Science Researcher at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), specializing in cryogenic and in situ scanning transmission electron microscopy (S/TEM) to study structural evolution in energy materials. Her work focuses on beam-sensitive systems like halide perovskites, battery materials, and polymers. Education: PhD in Materials Science and Mechanical Engineering (2020) and Bachelor of Physics from Yale University (2016). Research interests center on novel electron microscopy techniques for dynamic structural analysis and structure-property relationships in energy materials. Her 2024 publications highlight applications in lithium-ion battery degradation, CO2 capture, and laser-based electrode recycling. Recent trends in her 2023-2024 work include operando cryo-EM for battery interfaces, zeolite-based CO2 capture systems, and sustainable reuse of laser-ablated battery components. These studies emphasize nanoscale characterization under operational conditions. Scientific awards: Joseph Goldstein Scholar Award (2023) MRS Arthur Nowick & Silver Graduate Student Awards (2021) Princeton Procter & Wu Fellowships (2020, 2016) Professional activities include memberships in the Materials Research Society and Microscopy Society of America. Her work has received over 50 Scopus citations and media attention from 5 news outlets.
Pedro López-Aranguren Oliver is a Research Fellow at CIC energiGUNE , specializing in Solid-State Battery Technology . His work focuses on electrochemical energy storage, with a particular emphasis on ceramic and polymer-ceramic electrolytes for high-voltage Li-metal batteries. Education: PhD in Materials Science (Instituto de Ciencia de Materiales de Barcelona, Autonomous University of Barcelona) Research interests include: Electrochemistry , Interfacial Chemistry , Dendrite Propagation , High-Voltage Battery Design , and Electrochemical Stability . His recent publications highlight advancements in polymer composite electrolytes, oxide electrolyte synthesis, and interfacial engineering for solid-state batteries. Scientific Awards : Finalist, European Forum of Young Innovative Companies 2010 First Prize, International Year of Light (Catalan Physical Society) 2014 Extraordinary Doctorate Prize, Autonomous University of Barcelona 2018 Pedro co-supervised one PhD thesis during his Marie Curie postdoctoral work and currently supervises a PhD thesis at CIC energiGUNE. He has contributed to 30+ conferences and holds 2 filed patents with several more in submission. Labs/Teams: Cell and Electrochemical Testing Group at CIC energiGUNE; collaborations with CNRS, Université de Genève, University of Stuttgart, and University of Aarhus through the ECOSTORE project.
Dr. Roman Mysyk is a Senior Researcher at CIC energiGUNE (Spain) since 2012, focusing on electrochemical energy storage. He received his PhD in Chemistry from the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine (2005) and held postdoctoral positions at Dalhousie University (Canada) and CNRS Research Centre (France). Research Areas: Carbon materials, supercapacitors, graphene, Li/Na ion capacitors, electrolyte-carbon interactions Key Projects: Industrial collaborations, biomass-derived electrode materials, ionic liquid systems His recent work analyzes nanoporous carbon textures, explores mechanochemical activation, and develops scalable fabrication methods for aqueous supercapacitors. He has co-authored over 40 papers and supervised doctoral students. Notable awards include Marie Curie Fellowship (2006) and Ikerkortasuna Fellowship (2018). Scientific Leadership: Chairman of international workshop sessions, invited talks at EMN Supercapacitors Meeting and Le Stadium conference Methodologies: Solid-state NMR, in situ XPS, hydrothermal synthesis
Dr. Zhengcheng Zhang is a senior chemist and group leader at Argonne National Laboratory's Chemical Sciences and Engineering division, leading research in organic energy material innovation for next-generation lithium-ion batteries with over 20 years of experience. He earned his Ph.D. in polymer chemistry from the Institute of Chemistry, Chinese Academy of Sciences (2000), followed by postdoctoral research at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (2000-2005). Prior to joining Argonne in 2007, he worked as a senior battery engineer at Quallion LLC. His research spans molecular design, theoretical simulation, organic synthesis, and electrochemical evaluation to develop stable electrolytes and interfaces for high-energy batteries. Key interests include fluorinated electrolytes for high-voltage/low-temperature lithium-ion systems, fluorinated deep eutectic solvents for lithium metal chemistry, solid-state electrolytes for lithium-sulfur batteries, silicon anode surface engineering, and nature-inspired organic redox flow batteries. Recent publications demonstrate a consistent focus on fluorination strategies to enable high-voltage operation, silicon anode stabilization, and novel electrolytes for emerging battery chemistries like lithium-sulfur and redox flow systems, targeting enhanced energy density, safety, and cycle life through molecular engineering. Scientific awards include: R&D 100 Award (2005) for organic siloxane-based electrolyte technology R&D 100 Award (2014) for advanced organic chemical shuttles for overcharge protection R&D 100 Award Finalist (2017) for high-voltage fluorinated electrolyte technology He has secured multiple DOE-funded projects on next-generation battery technologies and serves as editor of 'Rechargeable Batteries: Materials, Technologies and New Trends' (Springer), associate editor for Frontiers in Energy Research and Advances in Chemistry, and organized the 2014 MRS Fall Meeting Symposium on energy storage materials challenges. As group leader, he directs a research team at Argonne utilizing state-of-the-art synthesis, characterization, and electrochemical testing facilities to advance energy storage materials for electric vehicles and grid applications.
Troy K. Townsend is an Associate Professor of Chemistry at St. Mary's College of Maryland (SMCM), currently on sabbatical from August 2023 to August 2024. He received his B.A. in Biology and Chemistry from SMCM in 2007 and his Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry from the University of California, Davis, in 2012, supported by an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship. Education B.A. in Biology and Chemistry at St. Mary's College of Maryland, 2007 Ph.D. in Inorganic Chemistry at University of California, Davis, 2012 Post Doctoral Fellowship in Materials Science at U.S. Naval Research Laboratory, 2014 Dr. Townsend's research focuses on applied nanomaterials for printed electronics and functional fluorescent metal coatings. His work involves synthesizing inorganic nanocrystals for ink-jet printing, enabling fabrication of photovoltaics, LEDs, and batteries. He also explores electrochemical deposition of metal composites to enhance hardness, durability, and fluorescence. His publications highlight advancements in solution-processed electronics, such as fully inorganic solar cells fabricated in ambient conditions and non-toxic alternatives for CdTe nanocrystal processing. These studies emphasize scalable, low-cost methods like spin- and spray-coating for irregular surfaces. Scientific Awards NSF Graduate Research Fellowship (2010) National Research Council Fellowship (2012) Office of Naval Research Summer Faculty Research Fellowships (2016, 2018, 2021) Dr. Townsend mentors students in electrochemistry, nanomaterial synthesis, and redox reactions, contributing to the Materials Science Minor at SMCM. He leads partnerships with institutions like NAVSEA, NAVAIR, and SolarCube LLC, and coordinates community outreach initiatives such as 3D printing 1000 face shields during the pandemic. His Townsend Research Group investigates nanoscale energy systems, including solar fuel generation and sprayable solar cells developed during his postdoctoral fellowship at the U.S. Naval Research Laboratory.
Katsuyo Thornton is the L.H. and F.E. Van Vlack Professor in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Michigan's College of Engineering. She has held this named professorship since 2018, following promotions from Associate Professor (2010-2015) and Assistant Professor (2004-2010) at the same institution. Prior to joining Michigan, she was a Research Assistant Professor at Northwestern University (2001-2004) and completed her postdoctoral work there (1997-2001), with additional experience as a Visiting Lecturer and Scientist at MIT. Her educational background includes a B.S. with Honors in Physics from Iowa State University (1991), followed by an M.S. (1993) and Ph.D. (1997) in Astronomy and Astrophysics from The University of Chicago. This unique interdisciplinary foundation has informed her distinctive approach to materials science problems. Dr. Thornton's research focuses on computational and theoretical investigations of microstructure and nanostructure evolution during materials processing and operation. Her work employs advanced phase-field modeling techniques to study coarsening in elastically stressed solids, three-dimensional topologically complex systems, electrochemical systems, and self-assembly phenomena during semiconductor heteroepitaxy. Her research group has developed sophisticated computational frameworks that bridge atomistic to continuum scales, enabling predictive modeling of complex materials phenomena. Analysis of her recent publications reveals a strong trend toward energy applications, particularly in solid oxide fuel cells and battery technologies. Her work increasingly integrates experimental data with computational modeling, as evidenced by publications combining phase-field simulations with in situ tomography and other advanced characterization techniques. The research spans fundamental materials science questions to applied engineering challenges in energy conversion and storage. Fellow of ASM, 2018 TMS Brimacombe Medal, 2018 Eschbach Fellow, Northwestern, 2018 Ted Kennedy Family Faculty Team Excellence Award, 2016 NSF CAREER Award, 2008 TMS Early Career Faculty Fellow Award, 2008 Dr. Thornton has secured substantial research funding from NSF, DOE, and AFOSR for projects including the Center for Radiative Shock Hydrodynamics (CRASH), computational materials research, and solid oxide fuel cell development. Her group has developed the PRISMS-PF framework, a general matrix-free finite element method for phase-field modeling. She also leads educational initiatives in computational materials science, including the Summer School for Integrated Computational Materials Education. The Thornton Research Group operates within the Michigan Materials Research Institute and collaborates extensively with researchers at Northwestern University, MIT, and other institutions. Their work combines advanced computational methods with experimental validation, creating a powerful integrated approach to materials discovery and design. Current efforts focus on applying these methodologies to next-generation energy storage and conversion technologies.
Chibueze Amanchukwu serves as the Neubauer Family Assistant Professor in the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering at the University of Chicago with a joint appointment in the Chemical Sciences and Engineering division at Argonne National Laboratory. His research program bridges sustainable energy innovation and advanced materials science. Educational background: PhD in Chemical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (NDSEG Fellow) Postdoctoral Fellowship, Stanford University (TomKat Center for Sustainable Energy) Research Interests: Dr. Amanchukwu leads pioneering work in sustainable energy systems with emphasis on electrolyte engineering for next-generation batteries and electrocatalytic devices. His group integrates data science and machine learning algorithms with computational modeling and advanced characterization techniques to decode ion transport mechanisms and solvation-electrochemical relationships. Key focus areas include solid-state battery development, interfacial phenomena analysis, and AI-driven materials discovery for energy storage applications. Scientific Awards: NDSEG Fellowship during doctoral studies at MIT TomKat Center Postdoctoral Fellowship in Sustainable Energy at Stanford His research group leverages institutional synergies between the University of Chicago and Argonne National Laboratory, utilizing advanced facilities for materials synthesis and characterization. Current projects focus on correlating bulk electrolyte properties with interfacial electrochemical behavior through multimodal experimental-computational frameworks. While specific grant details aren't provided, his work aligns with national priorities in energy storage innovation. Operating at the intersection of molecular engineering and national laboratory resources, his team develops novel characterization methodologies to bridge molecular-scale electrolyte design with device-level energy storage performance.
Laura E. Brown is Associate Professor of Computer Science at Michigan Technological University, also serving as Associate Dean for Data Science Initiatives in the College of Computing and Director of the university’s M.S. and B.S. Data Science programs. She is a core member of the Institute of Computing and Cybersystems (ICC), the Ecosystem Science Center (ESC), and the Center for Agile Interconnected Microgrids (AIM). Education Ph.D., Biomedical Informatics — Vanderbilt University M.S., Biomedical Informatics — Vanderbilt University M.S.E., Electrical Engineering & Computer Science — University of Michigan B.S., Engineering — Swarthmore College Research Interests Laura’s scholarship spans artificial intelligence, machine learning, and data science, with theoretical advances tightly coupled to high-impact applications in energy systems (microgrids, power analytics), health and biomedical informatics, and computer science pedagogy. She is passionate about translating algorithmic innovations into real-world deployments that improve sustainability, clinical decision-making, and equitable education. A second major strand of her work centers on educational innovation: developing automated code-critiquing systems, studying their influence on student self-efficacy—especially for women in engineering—and leading campus-wide initiatives such as Carpentries workshops and ICPC programming competitions. Publication Trends Brown’s 2018–2025 publication record reveals sustained productivity in three overlapping domains: (1) AI/ML methodology—hardware prefetching, neural architectures, transfer learning; (2) energy analytics—forecasting coincident peak load, solar irradiance, battery degradation; and (3) computing education—automated feedback, gender studies, curriculum design. Recent emphasis has shifted toward educational technology, with multiple 2023–2025 papers on code critiquers and their psychological impact. Research Funding & Grants NSF Revolution through Evolution: $699 K, PI (2015–2019) DoD Distributed Agent-Based Management of Agile Microgrids: ~$1 M, co-PI (2013–2017) NSF Adaptive Memory Resource Management in a Data Center: $299 K, PI (2014–2017) NSF Microdevice for Rapid Blood Typing without Reagents: $300 K, co-PI (2016–2019) Google Explore CS Research Workshops: $18 K PI / $35 K co-PI (2018–2020) Student Engagement & Leadership Laura co-advises Women in Computing Science (WiCS) , organizes Michigan Tech’s ICPC regional site, and has led Google-sponsored undergraduate research workshops, Summer Youth Programs, and multiple Carpentries training events.
Thomas Rath is a Senior Scientist at the Institute for Chemical Technology of Materials (ICTM) at Graz University of Technology, Austria. He holds a PhD in Industrial Chemistry and has conducted postdoctoral research at Imperial College London and within the Christian Doppler Laboratory for Nanocomposite Solar Cells. His work focuses on organic and hybrid solar cells, particularly lead-free perovskite systems and solution-processable nanomaterials. His research integrates X-ray scattering , interface engineering , and photovoltaic performance analysis . Key projects include PorM@S (FWF) and HALOMAT (Horizon Europe). He has co-authored over 80 peer-reviewed articles, emphasizing non-fullerene acceptors , semiconductor synthesis , and device stability . Major collaborations span Imperial College London , TU Graz , and FFG-funded initiatives . Current efforts target biocompatible solar cells , crystallization mediators for tin perovskites, and multifunctional energy systems combining storage and conversion. His 2025 publications highlight advancements in fluorene-based acceptors and nickel sulfide synthesis .
Joao L. Afonso is a Full Professor at the Department of Industrial Electronics, Engineering School, University of Minho, Portugal. He has been with the University since 1993 and served as Department Director from January 2017 to January 2021. He is also Vice-President of TMOB-HUB (Transportation and Mobility Research Hub) and coordinates the Group of Energy and Power Electronics (GEPE). His educational background includes a B.Sc. and M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (1986 and 1991), and a Ph.D. in Industrial Electronics from the University of Minho, Portugal (2000). He received his Habilitation degree in Electronics and Computers Engineering from the University of Minho in 2016. Professor Afonso's research focuses on Power Electronics applications across multiple domains including Power Quality, Active Power Filters, Renewable Energy, Electric Vehicles, Energy Efficiency, Energy Storage Systems, Innovative Railway Systems, Smart Grids, Smart Cities and Aerospace. His work bridges theoretical advancements with practical implementations in sustainable energy systems. His publication record shows a clear trend toward interdisciplinary research connecting power electronics with renewable energy integration, electric mobility, and smart grid technologies. Recent work demonstrates increasing focus on hydrogen applications, wireless power transfer for medical devices, and advanced converter topologies for grid integration. His research shows strong continuity in power quality improvement while expanding into emerging areas like green hydrogen and biomedical applications of power electronics. World's Top 2% Scientists (2021, 2022) IEEE Senior Member (2016) Member of Editorial Boards for MDPI Energies, MDPI Electronics, and EAI Endorsed Transactions on Energy Web Professor Afonso has supervised 17 Ph.D. and 74 M.Sc. theses. He has participated in 32 research projects, coordinating 21 of them. His funding portfolio includes significant projects like DAIPESEV, newERA4GRIDs, Quality4Power, and IN2STEMPO, reflecting strong connections with both national and European funding bodies. His research group GEPE maintains active collaboration with industry partners in the energy sector. As coordinator of GEPE (Group of Energy and Power Electronics), he leads a research team focused on power electronics applications for sustainable energy systems. The group is part of the ALGORITMI research center's thematic line 'Smart Cities and People.' His leadership extends to the TMOB-HUB, where he contributes to transportation and mobility research initiatives at the University of Minho.
Dr. Gangbing Song is a Moores Professor in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Houston , where he has been a tenured Full Professor since 2008. He previously served as an Assistant Professor (1998–2002) and Associate Professor with Tenure (2002–2008) at the University of Houston. Ph.D. , Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, 1995 M.S. , Mechanical Engineering, Columbia University, 1991 B.S. , Energy Engineering, Zhejiang University, 1989 His research spans structural health monitoring , machine learning , and smart materials , focusing on non-destructive testing , wind energy , and structural vibration control . Recent work includes entropy-based fault diagnosis , underwater bolt monitoring , and upcycling of wind turbine blades in a circular economy framework. Dr. Song has secured over $3.2 million in external funding (including 13 NSF awards) and established the Smart Materials and Structures Laboratory . He has published 96 peer-reviewed journal papers , 191 conference papers , and holds 3 U.S. patents . Outstanding Technical Contribution Award (ASCE, 2008) NSF CAREER Award (2001) Best Paper Award (Earth and Space’08) General Chair, ASCE Earth and Space Conference (2010) He has advised 13 Ph.D. and 31 M.S. students , delivered 10 keynote speeches , and developed educational programs including a remote laboratory and REU initiative . His work integrates robotics , smart sensors , and data-driven algorithms for structural integrity and sustainability applications.
Raffaella Carloni is a Professor at the Faculty of Medical Sciences and Faculty of Science and Engineering of the University of Groningen, holding the chair in Artificial Intelligence and leading the Robotics and image-guided minimally-invasive surgery group. Her work bridges robotics , biomedical engineering , and artificial intelligence , focusing on prosthetics , soft actuators , and human-robot interaction . Research Interests : Robotics, Soft Actuators, Prosthetic Design, Biomechanics, Artificial Intelligence, Mechatronics Her recent research explores variable stiffness actuators for prosthetic limbs, piezoelectric nanofibers in self-sensing materials, and deep reinforcement learning for musculoskeletal simulations. Publications emphasize energy-efficient designs , rehabilitation technologies , and adaptive control systems for amputees and robotic platforms.
Jung Hwan Kim is a Professor in the Department of Energy Resources and Geosystems Engineering at Sejong University. He holds a Ph.D. in Chemical Physics from the University of Maryland at College Park (2001), M.S. (1992) and B.S. (1990) in Physics from Yonsei University. His academic career includes positions as Assistant Research Scientist (2004-2010) and Research Associate (2001-2004) at the University of Maryland/Laboratory for Physical Sciences before joining Sejong University in 2010. Education: Ph.D., University of Maryland at College Park (Chemical Physics, 2001) M.S., Yonsei University (Physics, 1992) B.S., Yonsei University (Physics, 1990) His research focuses on compound semiconductor photovoltaic cells , energy-efficient photonic devices , and high-speed semiconductor devices . Recent work spans battery recycling (closed-loop cathode resynthesis), electrochemical energy systems (CO2 reduction, fuel cells), and advanced photovoltaic device engineering. Articles show trends in semiconductor heterostructures , electrochemical modeling , and sustainable energy materials . Scientific contributions include: Developing heterojunction photovoltaic cells with quantum well structures in GaP 60 GHz optical gain cutoff frequency and 20dB up-conversion gain in phototransistors Monolithic distributed traveling wave photodetectors integrated with polymer waveguides Leading Li-ion battery recycling technologies Developing prototype fuel cell systems He has received multiple Research Excellence Awards (2011-2024) and the Sejong Merit Award (2015). His Electrochemical Energy Conversion & Storage Lab at Sejong University advances energy system technologies, with significant contributions to UN Sustainable Development Goals 7 (Affordable and Clean Energy) and 13 (Climate Action).
