Profiles

A focus on sustainable energy conversion and chemical production processes

XiaoYu Wu is an assistant professor in the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering. He obtained his PhD at MIT, and his MS and BS degrees in Zhejiang University. He is enthusiastic about sustainability, especially how clean technologies can impact sustainability and how developing countries can incorporate sustainability in the development.

Laetitia Uwineza is a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering at the University of Waterloo. She obtained her Ph.D. in Renewable Energy Engineering at the University of Science and Technology in February 2023.

Jinhe Zhang is a PhD student in the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering at the University of Waterloo. He obtained his MS and BS degrees in Dalian University of Technology. Jinhe joined our research group in Spring 2022.

Carlo Cunanan is a MASc. student in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Waterloo. He obtained his BASc. in Chemical Engineering at the University of Waterloo in 2022. He joined the research group as a Master’s student in the Fall of 2022.

Pengcheng Zhao is a MASc student in the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering at the University of Waterloo. He obtained his BASc Mechanical Engineering at the University of Manitoba. He joined the research group as a Master’s student in the Winter of 2023 working on electrochemical cells for ammonia conversion. 

Aamer Akhand is a MASc. student in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Waterloo. He obtained his BASc. in Chemical Engineering at the University of Waterloo in 2023. His interests lies in mathematics and green accessible technology for all. He joined the research group in Spring of 2023.

Emily Smyth is a MASc. student in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Waterloo. She obtained her BASc. in Chemical Engineering at the University of Waterloo in 2023. She is very passionate about renewable energy and sustainability. She joined the research group as a Master’s student in the Fall of 2023.

Zhen Ye is a MASc. student in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of Waterloo. He obtained his BASc. in Chemical Engineering at the University of Waterloo in 2023. He joined the research group as a master student in Fall of 2023, co-supervised by Dr. John Wen.

Arda Mert Cetin is a MASc. student in the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering. He obtained his BASc. in Chemical Engineering, and his BA. in Economics at the Koc University. He joined the research group as a master’s student in the Fall of 2023. His research focuses on finding different approaches to renewable energy and sustainability.

Grace is a graduate student pursuing a master’s degree in chemical engineering at the University of Waterloo. She is Ecuadorian and did her bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering with a specialization in polymers at EPN University. Her research focuses on the electrochemistry and thermal management of an electric vehicle (EV) battery pack.

Matthew Lee is an MA student in the Department of Economics at the University of Waterloo.  He joined the research group as a Master's student in the Spring of 2024. Presently his research is focused on the economics of green ammonia production and the welfare benefits of green ammonia production, for the Canadian market. His other research has been in carbon taxes, and the politics of carbon taxes in Canada. He has previously worked as a software developer, and coding instructor in the past. His goal is use economics to show the conditions for when greener technologies implementations are certain, and how the government can create these scenarios.

Chenying Song is a PhD student in South China University of Technology, where she obtained her Master's degree. She joined the research group as an International Visiting Graduate Student in Winter of 2024, co-supervised with Dr. Xianguo Li.

Tolga Kocakulak is a PhD student at Gazi University in Ankara, at the same time, a lecturer at Burdur Mehmet Akif Ersoy University. He joined the research group as an International Visiting Graduate Student in the spring term of 2024, co-supervised with Dr. Xianguo Li. He continues his doctoral thesis on the production and characterization of polymer nanocomposite membranes for proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs). He currently focuses his research on PEMFCs parts, cell tests and systems.

Jodie Leung is a third year Chemical Engineering student at the University of Waterloo who has a passion for sustainable manufacturing. She is a co-op student in the group, working on furthering the possibility of using ammonia as a hydrogen carrier by modelling methane reforming.

Mulei Mao is a BASc. student in the Department of Mechatronics Engineering at the University of Waterloo. Currently, his research focuses on analyzing the environmental impact and technoeconomic feasibility of next generation bioethanol made from duckweed.

Martina Bubeqi is a undergraduate mechanical engineering student at the University of Waterloo. She has previous experience in mechanical design and is passionate about renewables. She joined the team as an Undergraduate Research Assistant in Spring 2024.

Magnus Scott is pursuing a BASc. in Mechatronics Engineering at the University of Waterloo. Magnus is currently working to design a nail penetration device for battery safety testing. Outside of research, he is a dedicated engineering ambassador and intramural athlete. He also enjoys 3D printing and hobby electronics. He has previous experience with manufacturing and mechanical design. He joined as an Undergraduate Research Assistant in Spring 2024.