Graduates of MER Lab
Dr. Akira Nordmeier
Ph.D - Graduated December 2017
Dissertation: Enhancing the Efficiency of Bioreactors
Ph.D - Materials Science and Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 2017
B.S. - Biochemistry, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 2010
Akira Nordmeier graduated from the University of Nevada, Reno in 2010 with bachelor’s degrees in biochemistry. He returned to the university in 2012 to pursue a Ph.D. in materials science and engineering. Akira has mentored 5 undergraduate students while maintaining several projects in microbial synthesis of nanoparticles and continuous flow reactors for bio-ethanol production.
Akira is currently a Senior Engineer at Seagate Technology in Fremont, CA.
Dr. David Rodriguez
Ph.D - Graduated May 2017
Ph.D - Materials Science and Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 2017
M.S. - Materials Science and Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 2012
Thesis: Molybdate-based conversion coatings for corrosion protection of aluminum alloys
B.S. - Chemical Engineering, California State Polytechnic University - Pomona, 2010
David joined Los Alamos National Laboratory as a Postdoctoral Research Associate within the Inorganic, Isotope and Actinide Chemistry (C-IIAC) group in 2017. He is currently working on projects that focus on the electrolytic reduction of plutonium surrogates and material degradation in molten salts for power producing facilities. David earned a B.S. in chemical engineering at California State Polytechnic University as well as a M.S. and Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Nevada, Reno where he was a Nuclear Regulatory Commission Graduate Research Fellow. His dissertation studies focused on the characterization of material corrosion in supercritical water for Generation IV nuclear reactor applications.
David is currently a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Los Alamos National Laboratory in Los Alamos, NM.
Mary Lou Lindstrom
M.S. - Graduated December 2016
M.S. - Materials Science and Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 2016
B.S. - Chemistry, Fort Lewis College, 2011
Mary Lou is currently a Quality Control Engineer at Panasonic Energy of North America in Sparks, NV.
James Mulcahy
M.S. - Graduated December 2016
Dissertation: Enhancing the Performance of Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries using Quinones
M.S. - Materials Science and Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 2016
B.ASc. - Applied Mathematics, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 2014
B.ASc. - Mechanical Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 2014
James is currently a Product Specialist at Server Technology in Reno, NV.
Kodi Summers
M.S. - Graduated August 2016
M.S. - Materials Science and Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 2016
B.S. - Materials Science and Engineering, University of Nevadam Reno, NV, 2015
Kodi is continuing his education toward a Ph.D in Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Nevada, Reno. For more information about his current work, please click here.
Dr. Dharshini D. Bala
Ph.D - Graduated August 2016
Dissertation:
Ph.D - Materials Science and Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 2016
M.S. - Materials Science and Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 2011
Thesis: Anaerobic Extracellular Corrosion of Steel
B.Tech. - Chemical and Electrochemical Engineering, Central Electrochemical Research Institute, India, 2010
Dharshini is currently a TFPP Engineer V at Syngenta in Greensboro, NC.
Dr. Augustus Merwin
Ph.D - Graduated May 2016
Dissertation: Material Interactions with Molten LiCl-Li2O-Li
Ph.D - Materials Science and Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 2017
M.S. - Materials Science and Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 2013
Thesis: Alternative Anodes for the Electrolytic Reduction of Uranium Dioxide
B.S. - Physics, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 2012
Gus's research has focused on material degradation in extreme environments applied to nuclear energy systems including molten salts, liquid metals and supercritical fluids. These studies have included extensive high temperature systems engineering, as well as the application of advanced spectroscopy techniques including in situ Raman spectroscopy. I have authored / co-authored twelve peer reviewed publications and was the recipient of the 2015 Nevada System of Higher Education Regent’s Scholar Award.
Gus is currently a Maria Goeppert-Mayer Postdoctoral Fellow at Argonne National Laboratory in Chicago, IL.
William Phillips
M.S. - Graduated December 2015
M.S. - Materials Science and Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 2015
B.S. - Materials Science and Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 2014
Bill is continuing his education toward a Ph.D in Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Nevada, Reno. For more information about his current work, please click here.
Ruchi Gakhar
Ph.D - Graduated December 2015
Ph.D - Materials Science and Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 2015
M.S. - Nanoscience and Nanotechnology, Panjab University, India, 2009
M.S. - Organic Chemistry, Kurukshetra University, India, 2006
B.S. - Physics, Chemistry, Maths, Maharshi Dayanand University, India, 2004
Ruchi is currently a Russell L. Heath Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellow at Idaho National Laboratory in Idaho Falls, ID.
Zachary Karmiol
M.S. - Graduated May 2014
Thesis: Comparison of Nitronic 50 and Stainless Steel 316 for use in Supercritical Water Environments
M.S. - Materials Science and Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 2014
B.S. - Materials Science and Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 2012
Zach is currently a Research Scientist at the University of Nevada, Reno in the Chemical and Materials Engineering Department and the primary contact for Materials Characterization Nevada (MCNV). For more information about MCNV, please click here.
Zach is also continuing toward a Ph.D in Materials Science and Engineering focusing on high temperature exposure and mechanical testing of structural steels for use in supercritical water environments.
Sanjeev Rayaprolu
M.S. - Graduated August 2013
Thesis: Electrochemical Deposition of Terbium from Molten Salts
M.S. - Materials Science and Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 2013
Sanjeev is currently a Developer at Tanisha Systems, Inc. in Seattle, WA.
Kimberley De Souza
M.S. - Graduated December 2012
M.S. - Chemical Engineering, New Jersey Institute of Technology, NJ, 2015
M.S. - Materials Science and Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 2012
B.S. - Chemical Engineering, Savitribai Phule Pune University, India, 2011
Kimberley is currently a Pilot Plant Technologist at Flavourtech Pty Ltd in New South Wales, Australia.
John Grant
M.S. - Graduated August 2012
Thesis: Corrosion behavior of nuclear waste storage canister materials
M.S. - Materials Science and Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 2012
John is currently a materials engineer at US Navy Naval Air (NAVAIR) Systems Command.
Jason Hastings
Ph.D - Graduated August 2012
Dissertation: Microbial electrochemistry and its application to energy and environmental issues
Ph.D - Materials Science and Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 2012
M.S. - Materials Science and Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 2010
Thesis: Nanobiocatalytic Degradation of Acid Orange 7
B.S. - Chemical Engineering, University of Nevada, Reno, NV, 2008
Jason Hastings is currently a Technical Director at AEMTEK, Inc. in Fremont, CA.