Graduate Student Researchers
Libby Brungardt (brungardt@wisc.edu)
PhD Student
B. S. Chemical Engineering (2021), University of Kansas
Project: Mechanisms of Nitrous Oxide Pollution Abatement over Metal-Zeolite Catalysts
My graduate work studies the selective catalytic reduction of N2O and NOx for pollution abatement using metal ion-exchanged zeolites. We aim to understand redox pathways and the role of catalyst structure. In undergrad, I worked for 3.5 years in the lab of Kevin Leonard on electrocatalysts and electrochemistry. In my free time, I like to paint, sew, watch YouTube videos, and go on hikes.
Awards: UW-Madison PPG Fellowship, Ragatz TA Award
Deepak Sonawat (sonawat@wisc.edu)
PhD Student
B. Tech. + M. Tech. Chemical Engineering (2021), Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi (IITD)
Project: Active Site Dynamics in Selective Oxidation Catalysis
My research investigates selective oxidations using metal-zeolite catalysts, including the effects of both catalyst structure and reaction environments. Previously, my research experience at IITD was in the field of purification of biotherapeutic proteins with Prof. Anurag S. Rathore. My master’s thesis involved working on developing an algorithm for processing images of monoclonal antibody aggregates under various stresses. I went to Washington University in St. Louis in the summer of 2019 for research internship, where I worked on Vanadium Redox Flow Batteries with Prof. Vijay Ramani. In my free time, I like to listen to music and watch movies.
Awards: UW-Madison BSL Fellowship; Silver Medal for securing Department Rank 1 at IITD.
Sara Ahsan (sahsan3@wisc.edu)
PhD Student
B.S. (Hons.) Chemical Engineering (2014), University of Engineering & Technology, Lahore (Pakistan)
MSc. Civil/Environmental Engineering (2021), Florida Atlantic University
Project: Controlling Reactivity through Nanoparticle Encapsulation
My graduate research aims to encapsulate metal nanoparticles within zeolites and investigate impacts on catalyst stability and reactivity. Previously, I worked as a process engineer for ~7 years at Engro Fertilizers Pakistan, and Vantage Specialty Chemicals, Illinois. My master’s thesis focused on the capture of CO2 from enclosed environments, including space applications, using different adsorbents such as zeolite-5A and amine-modified silica. I have received several awards including the 1st place award for my master’s thesis from the Air and Waste Management Association. In my free time, I love being outdoors and traveling to different places.
Awards: Grainger Wisconsin Distinguished Graduate Fellowship
Matt Edgar (mdedgar@wisc.edu)
PhD Student
B.S. Chemical Engineering (2022), University of Kentucky
Project: Hydrogen Storage in Liquid Carriers
My project focuses on catalysis for hydrogen storage in liquid organic hydrogen carriers (LOHCs). During undergrad, I did co-ops/internships with Marathon Petroleum Corporation and Beam Suntory. After joining Prof. Jonathan Pham’s soft materials and interfaces lab at the University of Kentucky, I shifted my attention to research and later developed an interest in sustainable fuels/energy. When not in the middle of coursework/research, I enjoy photography, disc golf, and playing music.
Awards: Ragatz TA Award (2x)
Shawn Stephens (sstephens8@wisc.edu)
PhD Student
B.S. Chemical Engineering (2023), West Virginia University
Project: Biomass Conversion to High-value chemicals
Before coming to UW-Madison, I completed a Co-Op with Optima Chemical and internships with MATRIC & AVN Corp where I got exposed to various forms of industrial research. I later joined Dr. Oishi Sanyal’s Molecular Transport and Separations lab at WVU which got me very interested in sustainable and green chemistry. When I have free time, I like to bake, read books and ski.
Awards: Ragatz TA Award
Toyin Daniel Shittu (tshittu@wisc.edu)
PhD Student
B.TECH. (Hons.) Chemical Engineering (2014), Ladoke Akintola University of Technology, Nigeria
MSc. Chemical Engineering (2018), Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria
Project: Catalysis for Sustainable Aviation Fuels
My undergraduate research was on bioremediation of polyaromatic hydrocarbons, and my graduate research was based on the synthesis, characterization, and application of biomass-based adsorbent for crude oil remediation. I have worked as a research assistant at both Obafemi Awolowo University and the United Arab Emirates University where I investigated hydrogenation reaction using heterogeneous catalysts. In my free time, I enjoy playing table tennis and reading books on history.
Shriya Sharma (shriya.sharma@wisc.edu)
PhD Student (co-advised w/George W. Huber)
B.Tech & M.Tech Chemical Engineering (2024), Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IITD)
Project: Production of high-value sugars from dairy waste
My graduate project intends to identify reaction routes for producing valuable sugars such as tagatose from lactose derived from acid whey waste, as well as scale up the technology to the pilot plant level. For my master’s thesis, I focused on machine learning modeling and experimental investigation of heterogeneous catalysts for CO2 hydrogenation to formic acid. During research internships at Rice University and Queen’s University, I also worked on electrocatalytic CO2 conversion to formic acid and CO respectively. In my free time, I like read books, listen to music and cook!
Awards: Institute Silver Medal for department rank 1 at IITD
Undergraduate Student Researchers
Grace Zhang (gzhang249@wisc.edu)
Undergraduate Student, Hilldale Undergraduate Research Fellow
B.S. Chemical Engineering (expected 2027)
Project: Hydrogen Storage in Liquid Carriers
I’m excited to start my first research experience in the Krishna Group. So far at UW-Madison, I was in the WISE learning community and my group’s INTEREGR 170 project focused on developing an occupancy tracking system. In my free time, I enjoy playing tennis and music.
Jack Tauscher (jtauscher@wisc.edu)
Undergraduate Student
B.S. Chemical Engineering and Chemistry (expected 2027)
Project: Hydrogen Storage in Liquid Carriers
I am very excited to conduct research with the Krishna Group. In my free time, I like to play hockey, exercise, and watch movies.
Stephen Sequira (sequira@wisc.edu)
2025 NSF REU Summer Undergraduate
B.S. Chemical Engineering & Aerospace Engineering (expected 2026), Worcester Polytechnic Institute
Project: Mechanisms of Nitrous Oxide Pollution Abatement over Metal-Zeolite Catalysts
At WPI I started as aerospace engineering and added chemical engineering within my first year. In my free time I enjoy reading, learning, and board games.
Santino Kaplan-Branchi (kaplanbranch@wisc.edu)
2025 Summer Undergraduate Research Experiences (SURE) Student
B.S. Chemical Engineering, University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez (expected 2027)
Project: Biomass conversion for hydrogen storage applications
My undergraduate experience consists of synthetic biology and inorganic chemistry research. Recently, I worked in the ChemE Cube UPRM Team developing a direct air capture device and I am thrilled to learn more about reactor kinetics in the Krishna Group. In my free time, I like to play music and go for walks.
Group Alumni
Paige Bakkestuen (pbakkestuen@wisc.edu)
Undergraduate Student
B.S. Chemical Engineering, UW-Madison (2025)
Project: Mechanisms of Nitrous Oxide Pollution Abatement over Metal-Zeolite Catalysts
Current Position: Graduate Student, Penn Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Sirinada Chanthachaiwat (chanthachaiw@wisc.edu)
Undergraduate Student, Hilldale Undergraduate Research Fellow
B.S. Chemical Engineering, UW-Madison (2025)
Project: Controlling Reactivity through Nanoparticle Encapsulation
Current Position: Graduate student, UC-Berkeley Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering
Patrick Granowski (pgranowski@wisc.edu)
Undergraduate Student
B.S. Chemical Engineering, UW-Madison (2025)
Project: Active Site Dynamics in Selective Oxidation Catalysis
Vaishnav Sunkireddy (sunkireddy@wisc.edu)
Undergraduate Student ,Sophomore & Hilldale Undergraduate Research Fellow
B.S. Chemical Engineering (2025)
Project: Mechanisms of Greenhouse Gas Pollution Abatement over Metal-Zeolite Catalysts
Current Position: Graduate Student, Johns Hopkins Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Genevieve Ansay (gansay@wisc.edu) 
Summer 2024 REU Student
B.S. Molecular Engineering, University of Chicago (expected Spring 2025)
Project: Hydrogen Storage in Liquid Carriers
Current Position: Graduate Student, Georgia Tech Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Alec Seco (aseco@wisc.edu) 
Summer 2024 RET
B.S. Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering (2015), Georgia Tech
M.S. Curriculum & Instruction (2022), University of Wisconsin-Madison
Project: Research Experience for Teachers 2024
Tara DuBridge (dubridge@wisc.edu)
Summer 2023 REU Student
B.S. Chemical Engineering, UC-Berkeley (2024)
Project: Selective Heterogeneous Oxidations for Renewable Chemicals
Current Position: Graduate Student, Princeton Chemical and Biological Engineering
Paola M. Urbina Ramos (urbinaramos@wisc.edu )
Summer 2023 REU Student
B.S. Chemical Engineering, University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez (2025)
Project: Controlling Reactivity in Biomass Conversion through Nanoparticle Encapsulation
Current Position: Graduate Student, Princeton Chemical and Biological Engineering
Mitchell Schroeder (maschroeder5@wisc.edu)
Undergraduate Researcher (1/22- 5/23)
B.S. Chemical Engineering, UW-Madison (2023)
Project: Hydrogenation of Biomass to High-value Chemicals
Current Position: Alfa Laval
Shiyu Liu (sliu626@wisc.edu)
Undergraduate Researcher (9/22-5/23)
B.S. Chemical Engineering, UW-Madison (2023)
Project: Controlling Reactivity through Nanoparticle Encapsulation
Current Position: Pyran, Inc.
Eva Wolfe (elw223@lehigh.edu)
Summer 2022 REU Student
B.S. Chemical Engineering, Lehigh University (2023)
Project: Stereoselective Hydrogenation of Biomass to High-value Chemicals
Current Position: Graduate Student, University of Minnesota Chemical Engineering and Materials Science
Andrew Nasr (anasr@wisc.edu)
Undergraduate Researcher (1/22-5/23)
B.S. Chemical Engineering (expected 2024)
Project: Active Site Dynamics in Selective Oxidation Catalysis
Rishav Chand (chand3@wisc.edu)
Visiting Scholar at UW-Madison, 9/23-12/23
PhD Student in Chemical Engineering, Technical University of Denmark (DTU)
B.Tech. Chemical Engineering (2016), National Institute of Technology, Rourkela (NIT-RKL)
M.Sc. Chemical Engineering (2020), University of Saskatchewan
Project: Catalytic removal of nitrogen oxides from ship flue gas using ammonia as fuel
Ryan Lauer (rtlauer@wisc.edu)
Undergraduate Student
B.S. Chemical Engineering (2024)
Project: Hydrogen Storage in Liquid Carriers