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Research Faculty

Dr. J. Douglas Way

Professor Way is a world expert on metal membranes for use in gas separations, particularly those pertaining to hydrogen. After a distinguished career at Mines, Doug formally retired and took up an Emeritus position. We are delighted that Doug continues to collaborate and co-advise students on our hydrogen separation membrane projects for applications in fusion and ammonia decomposition.

 

 

 

 

Graduate Students

Saeed Ahmadi Vaselabadi

I was born and raised in Shiraz, Iran. I completed My BS in Chemical Engineering at Sharif University of Technology, Iran. I have moved to the US in 2012 when I joined the University of Houston to earn my MSc. degree in Chemical Engineering as well. I have recently joined Dr. Wolden’s group to work with Will on solid-state electrolytes for next-generation battery applications. Outside work, I enjoy spending time with friends, playing volleyball and occasional cooking.

 

 

 

Andrea Mathew

Andrea is a Materials Science PhD student who completed her bachelor's at University of Michigan. After four years working at Texas Instruments in semiconductor processing and failure analysis, she joined Dr. Wolden's group to study the front interface of CdTe thin film solar cells at NREL. In her free time, she likes to hike, climb, cook, and play with her dog.

 

 

 

 

 

Chao Li

Chao holds a bachelor's degree from Nanjing Tech University and a master's degree from Texas Tech University, both majoring in chemical engineering. He is currently a PhD student in Dr. Wolden's group, focusing on the development of novel hydrogen separation membranes used as metal foil pumps in fusion technology. He likes cooking very much in his free time, and his specialty is spicy boiled fish.

 

 

 

 

 

Nolan Kelley

Nolan obtained his BS in Chemical Engineering in May of 2018 from the University of Oklahoma. Unsure of what he wanted to do after college, he helped his parents relocate to Santa Rosa, California, where he found a job in the Biotech industry and worked in Petaluma, California for 2 and a half years before deciding it was time to go back to school. He is currently pursuing his master’s degree in Chemical Engineering and recently joined Dr. Wolden’s research group in spring of 2022 working on improving the CMR configuration for ammonia decomposition and applying this method to WGS, SMR and the reforming of other carbon neutral biofuels. In his free time, you could find him biking, skiing, hanging with friends, or eating a bowl of Homemade Vanilla Blue Bell ice cream.

 

 

Liz Golonski

Liz is a Colorado native and earned her BS in Chemical Engineering from the United States Military Academy in 2015. She is serving as a Captain in the U.S. Army Engineer branch. Liz started her M.S. studies at the Colorado School of Mines in the fall of 2022 and immediately joined Dr. Wolden's group to research NOx emissions from ammonia combustion. On her free time, Liz likes to play with her son and persuade her husband to stop telling bad "dad" jokes.

 

 

 

 

Sean Mathews

Sean was raised in Kansas City and recently completed his BS Chemical Engineering degree at the Colorado School of Mines. He is now a MS candidate developing earth abundant catalyts for ammonia decomposition. In his free time Sean enjoys baking and playing volleyball. Upon graduation, he plans to enter the renewable energy industry.

 

 

 

 

 

Ben Ivie

Ben obtained his BS and MS in Mechanical Engineering in 2016 and 2017 respectively from Lehigh University. A little while after graduating he secured a job at NASA Marshall Space Flight Center where he worked on testing fuel elements for in space nuclear thermal propulsion for about 5 years. While he was able to learn a lot, he decided to switch career fields into the energy sector to help tackle climate change. He is currently pursuing a PhD at Colorado School of Mines as a part of the Advanced Energy Systems program and is conducting research under Dr. Wolden on ammonia decomposition for use in the hydrogen economy. During his free time, he enjoys working out (especially running), reading about history and watching anime.

 

 

 

Undergraduate Researchers

Cameron Burst

Cameron is originally from New Orleans, Louisiana. He is pursuing a bachelor's degree in engineering physics. He is currently researching thin film structures for fusion energy applications to efficiently recapture released hydrogen isotopes. After graduation, he hopes to continue to work in renewable energy research. His favorite pastimes include hiking, climbing, and woodworking.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kagan Killough

Kagan is from Castle Rock, CO, and is here at Mines seeking a bachelor's in chemical engineering. Currently, Kagan's research involves the nanoscale engineering of membrane supports for hydrogen production, work that he hopes will transfer into a future career in the research and development of alternative energies. For fun, Kagan enjoys reading, playing D&D with his friends, and hiking.

 

 

 

 

 

Brynn Benham

I am from Colorado Springs, Colorado, and I have just finished my first year studying for my Bachelor's in chemical engineering at Colorado School of Mines. I play for the Mines Women's Club Soccer Team and enjoy reading and crocheting outside of school. Brynn is working on development of solid state battery materials.

 

 

 

 

Isabella Roszell

Isabella is a Colorado native and is currently pursuing her bachelor's degree in chemical engineering with a minor in energy. She loves travelling, backpacking, hiking, skiing, and any sort of outdoor adventure. Isabella is currently working on the characterization of NH3/H2 flames as a CO2-free alternative to natural gas. After graduation she hopes to have a career focused on the environmental aspects of chemical engineering, particularly dealing with alternative forms of energy.

 

 

 

Emma Neuroth

Emma is from Lakewood, CO and is finishing up her bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering while beginning her master’s degree in nuclear engineering. She is a captain of the Mines swim team and loves to spend time with friends outside at clear creek playing spikeball, tubing, or going on walks. She will be working on the technoeconomic analysis of a tritium vacuum permeator and after graduating, she hopes to work in the nuclear industry focusing on fuels.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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