Wilson Smith

Principal Investigator

Associate Professor,                   University of Colorado at Boulder

                       Department of Chemical & Biological Engineering

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Senior Research Scientist,    National Renewable Energy Laboratory

                                         Chemistry and Nanoscience Center

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Institute Fellow,            Renewable And Sustainable Energy Institute

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Associate Professor,                        Delft University of Technology

                                        Department of Chemical Engineering

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Wilson.Smith at colorado.edu

Recep KaŞ

Postdoctoral Fellow, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute

Ph.D., University of Twente, 2015

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Recep's research covers many aspects of electrochemistry; his current focus is on spectroelectrochemistry. He is an avid soccer fan and well-tauted cook.

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Recep.Kas at colorado.edu

Nathan Nesbitt

Postdoctoral Fellow,  National Renewable Energy Lab

Ph.D., Boston College, 2018

B.S., Worcester Polytechnic Institute, 2011

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Nate’s research is on the use of atomic force microscope scanning electrochemical microscopy in customized reactors to see what’s happening at a CO2 reduction electrode. He runs trails, bikes roads, and films the tiny hummingbird nest in his backyard.

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Ana Somoza Tornos

Postdoctoral Fellow, Renewable & Sustainable Energy Institute

Ph.D., Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, 2020

M.S., Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, 2016

B.S., Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya, 2014

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Ana is an expert in systems engineering: her research focuses on dynamic grid integration of CO2 electrolyzers, including load management and economic optimization. Ana is also co-advised by Dr. Bri-Mathias Hodge.

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Ana.SomozaTornos at Colorado.edu

Yaran zhao

Postdoctoral Fellow, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute

Ph.D., Nankai University, 2019

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Yaran's research focus on the investigation of electrochemical reaction mechanism from molecular level by using surface-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) and infrared spectroscopy. She joined us from 2021 after she completed her two-year postdoc at the University of Delaware. She likes playing badminton, swimming, and watching TV. Yaran is co-advised by Adam Holewinski.

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Yaran.Zhao at Colorado.edu

Hussain Almajed

M.S. Student

B.S., University of Colorado Boulder, 2019

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Hussain is a 2nd-year grad buff from our own CU Boulder Chemistry department. Hussain’s research focuses on theoretical investigations of metal N-doped graphene catalysts. He grew up in Saudi Arabia and likes volleyball, hiking, and football (not the American kind!) Hussain is co-advised by Dr. Charles Musgrave.

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Paige Brimley

Ph.D. Candidate

B.S., University of Utah, 2019

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Paige is a 2nd-year grad Buff from our neighbor state Utah. Paige’s research focuses on developing multi-scale models for CO2 and CO reduction. Paige enjoys the outdoors where she climbs, skis, and runs. Paige is co-advised by Dr. Charles Musgrave.

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Allison Crow

Ph.D. Student

B.S., Stanford University, 2016

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Allison is a 2nd-year graduate buff coming to the group from The Rocky Mountain Institute. Allison’s research focuses on the design of materials for scale-up of CO2 electrolyzers. When she is not doing big things in the lab, Allison races bikes for Orion Racing and the CU Cycling Team.

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Allison.Crow at Colorado.edu

Yuval Fishler

Ph.D. Student

B.S., Technion - Israel Institute of Technology, 2018

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Yuval is a 2nd-year grad buff joining the group from Intel Corp. Yuval’s research focuses on spectroelectrochemistry for CO2 and COR which provide mechanistic insights. Yuval grew up in Tel Aviv and enjoys hiking, snowboarding, and mushroom hunting in the CO mountains. Yuval is co-advised by Dr. Adam Holewinski.

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Maria Kelly

Ph.D. Student

B.S., University of New Mexico Albuquerque, 2018

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Maria is 1st year Ph.D. student planning to work in operando electrochemical characterization, with a focus on AFM and SECM. Maria worked as a systems engineer for two years before deciding to move up the rockies to Boulder, where she enjoys the mountain vistas with her trusty dogs, Mia and Lola.

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Maria.Kelly at Colorado.edu

Hunter Simonson

Ph.D. Student

B.S., Louisiana State University, 2019

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Hunter is a 2nd year grad Buff joining the group from Louisiana State University. Hunter’s research focuses on understanding and optimizing transport in CO2 electrolyzers. True to his roots, Hunter loves cooking cajun food and sharing his baking with his roommates, as well as enjoying the great wilderness of Colorado.

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Hunter.Simonson at Colorado.edu

Mark Sassenburg

Visiting Ph.D. Student, 2020

Ir., Technische Universiteit Delft, 2018

B.S. Technische Universiteit Delft, 2015

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Mark is a 3rd year Ph.D. student joining us for a year during his Ph.D. in TU Delft. Mark’s research focuses on designing CO2 reduction devices at larger scales. Mark grew up 10 ft below sea level in Rotterdam and has found new heights exploring Boulder. Mark is also a gifted painter.

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Danielle Salvatore

Postdoctoral Fellow, Renewable and Sustainable Energy Institute

Ph.D., The University of British Columbia, 2020

B.S., McGill University, 2013

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Danielle's research is on the reactor engineering of scaled CO2 electrolyzers. Outside of the lab, she enjoys the outdoors, from snowboarding in the Canadian Rockies to cycling around Colorado.

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