Biography

I am an engineer and scientist researching fundamental membrane transport phenomena and nanofluidics applied at the water–energy nexus. By integrating precision nanofluidic platforms throughout the design process for novel nanoporous materials, I plan to develop fundamental synthesis–structure–performance relationships that translate from the molecular to the macroscopic scale. This approach will enable us to engineer bottom-up solutions to global water and energy challenges, including the production of renewable energy, recovery of critical energy minerals, and treatment of complex water resources

Education

Yale University | New Haven, CT

• Ph.D. in Chemical and Environmental Engineering, 2022

• M.Phil. in Chemical and Environmental Engineering, 2019

• M.S. in Chemical and Environmental Engineering, 2019

North Dakota State University (NDSU) | Fargo, ND

• M.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2017

• B.S. in Civil and Environmental Engineering, 2016

Normandale Community College | Bloomington, MN

• Attended 2012 – 2013

Experience

Postdoctoral Research associate | Mit, 09/2022 – PRESENT

• Advisor: Michael Strano

• Developing gas-impermeable two-dimensional (2D) polymer barriers

• Establishing theoretical framework for achieving nano-enhanced phytoremediators

• Creating nanobionic-based methanotrophic plants for environmental methane mitigation

• Fabricating nanosensors for detecting emerging contaminants down to ~ 1 ppt

• Studying fluid phase transition of water confined to single-digit carbon nanotubes

founding member | The open membrane database, 08/2021 – present

• Led an international collaboration to develop an open-access membrane database

• Produced performance and characterization calculators for database

nsf graduate research fellow | yale, 08/2017 – 08/2022

• Advisor: Menachem Elimelech

• Established a database for advancing the study of reverse osmosis membranes

• Elucidated fundamental structure–property–performance relationships in polymer membranes

• Developed approach for measuring surface reactions under nanoconfinement

• Identified defects as a limiting factor for novel material-based membranes via in silico techniques

• Developed optical technique for characterizing permeable materials with ultralow flow rates

• Created nanofluidic platforms to study slip flow in Å-scale channels

ndwrri graduate research fellow | ndsu, 05/2016 – 08/2017

• Advisor: Achintya Bezbaruah

• Designed, characterized, and modified molecularly imprinted polymers (MIPs) for phosphate remediation

engineering intern | hakanson anderson associates inc., 05/2015 – 08/2015

• Designed wastewater treatment facility expansion for the City of Bethel, MN

• Constructed AutoCAD watershed map to model flow habits and water quality

• Developed BMPs to reduce nutrient loading into lakes

• Created ArcMap exhibits to track municipal utilities, inspections, and ponds

nsf research experience for undergraduates | ndsu, 08/2013 – 05/2016

• Advisor: Achintya Bezbaruah

• Studied kinetics of biopolymer phosphate sorption to elucidate removal mechanisms

• Analyzed the impacts of nanoparticale introduction on soil physico-chemical properties

Awards and Honors

• AEESP Outstanding Doctoral Dissertation Award, 2023

• Schmidt Science Fellowship Finalist, 2022

• ACS C. Ellen Gonter Environmental Chemistry Award, 2021

• National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellowship, 2016

• North Dakota Water Resources Research Institute Fellowship, 2016

• Barry M. Goldwater Scholarship, 2015

• NDSU nominee for Astronaut Scholarship Foundation, 2015

• North Dakota Water Education Foundation Scholarship, 2015

• NDSU Class of 1939 Memorial Scholarship, 2015

• Minnesota Society of Professional Engineers – Traverse Des Sioux Chapter Scholarship, 2015

• North Dakota Society of Professional Engineers – Chapter 4 Scholarship, 2015

• Charlie Parnell Memorial Scholarship, 2015

• Minnesota Surveyors and Engineers Society Scholarship, 2014 & 2015

• Minnesota Society of Professional Engineers – Southwest Chapter Scholarship, 2014

• Frank Murphy Scholarship, 2014

• Verne E. Plath Scholarship, 2014

• American Public Works Association – Minnesota Chapter Scholarship, 2014

• Presidential Honor Scholarship, 2013 – 2016

• North Dakota State University Dean’s List, 2013 – 2016

• Hamel Lions Memorial Scholarship, 2013

Experimental and analytical

• Transmission electron microscopy (TEM)

• Microtome

• Scanning electron microscopy (SEM)

• Electron beam (E-beam) lithography

• Atomic force microscopy (AFM)

• Raman spectroscopy

• Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy

• Cleanroom microfabrication

Computational

• Python

• Autodesk AutoCAD

• ArcGIS

• COMSOL Multiphysics

• Origin

• Adobe Creative Suite

• Microsoft Suite

Beyond The Lab

Outside of the lab, I enjoy… well, being outside. I like to hike, hunt, fish, play rugby and much more. Being a Minnesota native, I’m always avidly cheering on my hometown teams and wearing shorts much further into Fall than I should. Of course, I would be remiss not to mention my better half, Nadeen. Whether it be lab group outings or spontaneous adventures around New England, my wife and dog, Mikko, are always by my side.