Graduate students

Xin Tang
PhD student (CSEM program)

Xin graduated in 2020 with a BS in Chemical Engineering and Computational Science, Magna cum Laude, from Rose-Hulman Institute of Technology, Indiana. For undergraduate research, she worked on computational phylogenetics, optimization of biochemical production, and analytical methods for packed bed reactors. Her current research interests include computational modeling and simulation, optimization as well as machine learning.

Joshua Hammond
PhD student

Joshua graduated from Brigham Young University in 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. While an undergraduate, his research focused on dynamic optimization applied to autonomous infrastructure monitoring. His current research interests include reduced order models, clean energy, and energy storage. Josh is co-advised by Drs. Brian Korgel and Michael Baldea.

Jorge Martorell
PhD student

Jorge graduated from the University of Houston in 2017 with a BS in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering with University Honors. His previous experience includes process and controls engineering in chemical manufacturing as well as undergraduate research in the phase relationships of metal alloys. His current research interests include modeling and optimization of carbon capture processes. Jorge is co-advised by Drs. Michael Baldea and Gary Rochelle.

Adhika Retnanto
PhD student

Originally from Indonesia, Adhika graduated from the Georgia Institute of Technology in 2021 with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and a minor in Computing and Intelligence. His past research experience includes studying machine learning applications in the development of catalytic processes. His current research include in modeling and optimization of novel energy systems. Adhika is co-advised by Drs. Michael Baldea and Mark Stadtherr. 

Jihun Jeong
PhD student
Jihun graduated from Brigham Young University in 2018 with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering. For undergraduate research, he studied catalyst preparation methods for Fischer-Tropsch synthesis. His current research interests include modeling and optimization of chemical processes.
Eivarth Caballero
PhD student

Eivarth obtained a BSc in Chemical Engineering (1998) and a MSc in Chemical Engineering (2014) from the Universidad Industrial de Santander, Colombia.  He has over 20 years of experience as a process engineer in the Oil, Gas and Refining industry.  He is proud of mentoring young engineers in process modeling for downstream optimization. He served as Lecturer for Process Simulation, Petroleum Refining, Synthesis and Process Design courses.

 His research interests include the energy transition, carbon capture and decarbonization, design and control of intensified processes and process integration, monitoring and optimizing process performance aided by process simulation models, data visualization and digital twins.

Jong Hyun (Ethan) Rho
PhD student

Ethan obtained a BSc in Chemical Engineering from Seoul National University in 2020, and worked as a Research Engineer for Samsung SDI until joining UT Austin in August 2022.

Sophia B. Shi
PhD student

Sophia obtained a BSc, Summa cum Laude, in Chemical Engineering (minor in Industrial and Systems Engineering) from North Carolina State University in 2022. She is co-advised by Drs. Brian Korgel and Michael Baldea.

Shashank Venkatesan
PhD student

Shashank obtained an integrated BTech / MTech in Chemical Engineering from IIT Madras in 2022.

Samuel Mercer
PhD student

Sam graduated from the University of New Hampshire (2023) with a Bachelor of Science in Chemical Engineering, Summa Cum Laude. His previous research involved catalyst synthesis and characterization at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory as well as density functional theory modeling at the University of Florida. Sam’s current research interests include process electrification, optimization and control, design of experiments, and machine learning. 

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