Principle Investigator
Postdoc Fellows
Dr. Heekwon Lee
Heekwon Lee received his Ph.D. degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Hong Kong under the supervision of Dr. Ji Tae Kim in 2022. His research interests lie in electrochemical additive manufacturing using scanning probes and its characterizations for catalyst applications.
Dr. Tamilselvi Gurusamy
Tamil received her doctorate in physical chemistry from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras, India, under the supervision of Prof. Kothandaraman Ramanujam. Her research focused on manipulating MWCNT’s electronic structure by non-covalent modification with various moieties for electrochemical biomolecule sensing and oxygen reduction reaction. She used a non-noble metal-based catalyst for the electrochemical synthesis of ammonia from nitrogen. Her current project at Dr. Ren’s lab involves studying the electrode-electrolyte interface using SECCM.
Dr. He Zhang
I received my Ph.D. from Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry (CIAC), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) & University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) under the supervision of Prof. Shaojun Dong in 2020. From 2021 to 2022, I was a research assistant in Dong’s Lab. My research interests were focused on enzyme-based bioelectrocatalysis, bio- photoelectrocatalysis, and biosensors. In Ren Lab, I will focus on single-entity electrochemistry.
Graduate Students
Changhyun Ryu
Graduate Student (Aug 2022 – Present)
Changhyun Ryu is from South Korea and obtained his B.S. and M.S. degrees in Chemistry from Yonsei University in Korea. During those days, he focused on studying electrocatalysts for the carbon dioxide reduction reaction and electrodes for the lithium-air battery using scanning electrochemical microscopy and COMSOL Multiphysics simulation. In his free time, Changhyun Ryu usually plays sports or online games.
Hyein Lee
Graduate Student (Aug 2022 – Present)
Hyein Lee received her B.S. and M.S. degrees in chemistry from Kyung Hee University, South Korea. Her research interest is in investigating mechanisms of nanomaterial electrocatalysis and in controlling the selectivity of electrocatalysis products by using surface resonance. She enjoys drawing with an iPad and exercising at the Gregory Gym in her spare time.
Iván ElÍas Mondaca-Medina
Graduate Student (Aug 2022 – Present)
Education: Colorado College (2017-2021) B.A. Chemistry
During his undergraduate studies, Elías research focused on developing electrochemical sensors, using bipolar electrodes and molecular imprint polymers for the detection of lead and PFAS in drinking water. He joined the Ren lab in 2022. In his spare time, Elías enjoys long-distance running.
Debasree Mandal
Graduate Student (Aug 2022 – Present)
Finished her Master’s from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, India. Under the guidance of Prof. Subramaniam Chandramouli, she explored magneto-electrocatalysis for her master’s thesis. Now in Dr. Ren’s group, Debasree focuses on understanding nanoelectrochemistry. In addition to her constant interest in sports, she also enjoys drawing and watching movies.
Sam Wenzel
Graduate Student (Aug 2023 – Present)
Sam Wenzel received his B.S. in Biochemistry from Florida State University in 2022. His undergraduate research under Dr. Robert Lazenby consisted of benchmarking bimetallic carbide nanomaterials as OER electrocatalysts, as well as fabricating low-cost, carbon-based nanoelectrodes using carbon pyrolysis techniques. In his spare time, he enjoys going to the gym, listening to music, cooking, and playing video games.
Roberto García Carrillo
Graduate Student (Aug 2023 – Present)
Roberto received his B.S. in Chemistry and Nanotechnology from Tecnológico de Monterrey in 2021. His undergraduate research under Dr. Marcelo Videa focused on simulations of galvanostatic deposition of metallic nanoparticles. He then completed his M.S. in Nanotechnology in the same institution working in electrochemical single-entity characterization of bimetallic nanoparticles in 2023. In his spare time, he likes to play the violin and play videogames.
Yang Tao
Graduate Student (Aug 2023 – Present)
Yang earned his B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC) in 2023. During his undergraduate studies, he conducted research under the guidance of Prof. Yanxia Chen and Prof. Jun Huang, focusing on theoretical simulations of electrode-electrolyte interfaces and the mechanisms of HER electrocatalysts. Following that, he joined the Ren lab in 2023 to work on nanoelectrochemistry. In his free time, Yang enjoys watching movies, cooking, and browsing through the supermarket.
Joseph Sampson
Graduate Student (Dec 2023 – Present)
Joseph Sampson received his B.S. in chemistry from Monmouth College in 2023. His undergraduate research was focused on studying the dimerization mechanism of lignin monomers. In Fall 2023, he was accepted into UT-Austin’s graduate chemistry program as a recipient of the Mentoring Fellowship. Currently, Joseph is a second year PhD student in the Ren electrochemistry group whose research is focused on studying the nanoscale delivery of different ions subject to various forces.
Undergraduate Students
Elise Freezer
Undergraduate Student
The University of Texas at Austin (2024 – Current)
Elise Freezer is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry, with a minor in Materials Science and Engineering, at the University of Texas at Austin. She joined the Ren Lab in 2024 as a sophomore in order to pursue her interest in nanoelectrochemistry. In her free time she enjoys sudoko, hiking, and other outdoor activities.
Elaine Chang
Undergraduate Student
The University of Texas at Austin (2022 – Current)
Thomas Pope
Undergraduate Student
The University of Texas at Austin (2023 – Current)
Awards
2023-2024
Yufei Wang
- Graduate School Dissertation Writing Fellowship
Sam Wenzel
- Henze Teaching Award
- Provost’s Graduate Excellence Fellowship
Elias Mondaca Medina
- Faraday Teaching Award
- Provost’s Graduate Excellence Fellowship
Joseph Sampson
- Mentoring Dean’s Strategic Fellowship