Hydrogen Workshop

• Dr. Jeff Gostick (Associate Professor, Chemical engineering) | Faculty of Engineering | University of Waterloo
• Dr. Xianguo Li (Professor, Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering) | Faculty of Engineering | University of Waterloo
• Dr. Antimo Graziano (Bipolar Plate Composites and Gasket Seals Engineering Specialist, Cummins Inc.)
• Dr. Samaneh Shahgaldi (Associate Professor, Hydrogen Research Institute) | Université du Québec à Trois-Rivières (UQTR)

• Dr. Michael Fowler (Professor, Chemical engineering) | Faculty of Engineering | University of Waterloo
• Dr. Ofelia Jianu (Associate Professor, Mechanical, Automotive & Materials Engineering) | Faculty of Engineering | University of Windsor
• Nelson Leite (COO | FuelPositive Corporation)
• John Kutsch (Executive Director) | Thorium Energy Alliance

• Dr. Maurice Dusseault (Professor, Earth and Environmental Sciences) | Faculty of Science | University of Waterloo
• Dr. XiaoYu Wu (Assistant Professor, Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering) | Faculty of Engineering | University of Waterloo
• Jai Duhan (Geo-mechanical Engineer | RESPEC)
• Robert Stasko (Executive Director and COO | Hydrogen Business Council (HBC))

Jeff Gostick is currently an Associate Professor in Chemical Engineering at the University of Waterloo. He received his undergraduate degree from Ryerson University in Toronto in 2000 and his Master’s degree from University of Waterloo in 2002. Prior to beginning his PhD, he worked as a Research Engineer at Teck Resources Inc. on the production of zinc powder and fiber for zinc-air flow batteries and large-scale alkaline batteries.

Xianguo Li is a Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering Professor at the University of Waterloo. Professor Li's main research interests and activities are in the area of thermal fluid/science, including energy systems and energy storage, various energy conversion devices, propulsion and power generation systems, aerosol generation and applications, and transportation fuel cell and battery systems. These research projects involve thermodynamics, fluid dynamics, hydrodynamic stability, multiphase flow, heat and mass transfer, liquid atomization and sprays, combustion, power generation and propulsion systems.

Antimo currently works at Cummins-Hydrogenics in Mississauga, Ontario. His role is composites specialist and he focuses on raw material formulation and large scale manufacturing of Fuel Cell Bipolar Plates. With more than 5 years of hands-on experience in polymer composites, he has worked, both independently and in multi-disciplinary teams, on complex and high-pressure projects for researching and developing advanced polymer composites for transportation, energy, and military industrial sectors. Moreover, he has led, supervised, trained, and coached teams of engineers, researchers, and graduate students to facilitate their academic and industrial success, along with their professional development.

Antimo holds Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Chemical Engineering from the University of Naples, Italy, and a PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from the University of Toronto. As a new PhD graduate, he worked as a post-doctoral research fellow at Carleton University, in Ottawa. Afterwards, he joined Ryerson University, in Toronto, for another post-doctoral research fellowship, before starting his career as a composites specialist at Cummins-Hydrogenics, where has been working for the past 1 year.

Dr. Samaneh Shahgaldi is an Associate Professor and Canada Research Chair Tier II at the University of Quebec à Trois-Rivières and also adjunct associate professor at University of Waterloo. She also worked as a Senior Research Scientist at Cummins/ Hydrogenics dealing with different PEM Fuel Cell and PEM Water electrolyzer projects. She has made foundational contributions to research in synthesis of novel nanomaterials and engineer the surface properties for fuel cells and hydrogen storage applications. She is also directed several R&D projects in the development of next-generation membrane electrode assembly (MEA) and components, shaped catalysts, novel nanofibers and ionomers. She has published more than 45 scientific papers with the citation of 1226 and h index of 21.

Michael Fowler is a Professor and is cross-appointed to the Department of Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering at the University of Waterloo. Professor Fowler’s research focuses on electrochemical power sources in vehicles, specifically degradation analysis and control of batteries in hybrid and plug-in hybrid power trains. His interest takes him into the modelling of fuel cells and requires simulating the performance and reliability of fuel cells and batteries. Professor Fowler’s research group is interested in performance evaluation, diagnostics, and forensics associated with fuel cell stacks, single cells and batteries. His study of fuel cell failure mode and reliability also encompasses the extensive development of polymers due to their function as the fuel cells’ electrolyte, gas diffusion layer and blending of polymers for conductive bipolar plates.

Dr. Jianu is an Assistant Professor of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Windsor in the Department of Mechanical, Automotive and Materials Engineering. Her area of expertise involves energy systems, specifically multiphase chemically reacting flows, hydrogen production, and the thermochemical copper-chlorine cycle for water splitting. She has published over 20 journal and conference papers, involving particle dynamics, dissolution and transport processes for hydrogen production. She is the recipient of the Canadian Foundation for Innovation John R. Evans Leader’s Fund. Dr. Jianu’s research benefits Canada’s efforts in reducing greenhouse gas emissions and support economic growth of clean technology leading to the creation of new jobs, economic incentives for new investment and commercialization opportunities in the clean energy sector.

John Kutsch is Executive Director and President of Thorium Energy alliance (501c3 Research Non-profit) & Whole World LLC (engineering company) Engineering partner and co-developer of hydrocarbon free ammonia and steel plans. Mr. Kutsch has managed Green Energy research projects for Excel Energy, in conjunction with NREL, managed commercial Properties, Plant and Equipment Optimization programs for an ADM Marathon Oil advanced-design Ethanol facility, lead programs on Nuclear Process Heat Techno economic analysis of nuclear Hydrogen, nuclear liquid fuels, Nuclear Hydrogen and Heat derived Ammonia with Idaho National Laboratory. Mr Kutsch lead Commercialization study of Sulphur Acid Hydrogen Project with INL, Sandia Labs & Southern Company, Fuel Salts characterization studies at Argonne National Laboratory and the University of Wisconsin Madison. He was a founder of Terrestrial Energy Inc and developed Nuclear Molten Salt Reactor designs, assisted Characterization and Properties studies with Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Thorium Energy Alliance (TEA) has been the main supporter and managed the American Nuclear Society ANS 20.2 Definition Writing Program to define Molten Salt Reactors and their Design and Safety Requirements. TEA is the world leader in promoting industrial material uses for Thorium beyond uses as a fuel. Mr. Kutsch has worked on critical material supply chains, advanced nuclear issues and various industrial projects with Mr. Kennedy for over a decade.

Dr. Maurice Dusseault
Professor, Earth and Environmental Sciences,
Faculty of Engineering, University of Waterloo

Maurice B Dusseault is a professor of Geological Engineering in the Earth and Environmental Sciences Department, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. He spent three years as a roughneck and drilling mud technician prior to completing his BSc (1971) and PhD (1977). From 1977 to 1982, he occupied a Research Professor Chair at the University of Alberta funded by the Alberta Oil Sands Technology and Research Authority. During this period, he developed novel skills and broad experience in new production technologies and drilling rock mechanics. In 1982, he became Chairman of the Geological Engineering Program at Waterloo and was Director of the Porous Media Research Institute from 1995 to 2000.

XiaoYu is an Assistant Professor at University of Waterloo. He was a postdoctoral associate in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where he also obtained his Ph.D. degree. He has published papers in journals such as Progress in Energy and Combustion Science, the Proceedings of the Combustion Institute, AIChE Journal and ChemSusChem. Professor XiaoYu Wu’s research group, Greener Production @ Waterloo combines expertise in thermal science, material engineering and techno-economics to develop sustainable technologies for energy conversion and chemical production. Both experimental and numerical methods will be applied to develop a fundamental understanding of the thermodynamics and kinetics in the processes.

Geo-mechanical Engineer, RESPEC

Mr. Duhan has more than 5 years of experience in applying rock-mechanics principles in underground storage and disposal applications. He specializes in emerging energy storage technologies and has worked on multiple projects with industry, government, and academia in solving challenges encountered during underground compressed air energy storage and hydrogen storage in salt caverns and reservoirs. His industrial experience is complemented by graduate research in compressed air energy storage. In addition to underground storage applications, Mr. Duhan is skilled in geological site screening, subsidence evaluation, deep brine disposal, salt cavern solution mining simulation, and mechanical earth model.

Robert is a business development professional with a track record of success in the electricity sector where he has a wide body of experience in Canada. He is also an energy technology specialist who has worked in a wide range of management positions involving energy systems R&D, product development, market assessment and project implementation. He has worked with the Ontario government to assist in the development and delivery of major energy policy and project initiatives. Robert has been responsible for managing energy research and demonstration projects in both national and international environments. Robert is focused on developments in the ‘Clean Technology’ arena and is presently the Executive Director of the Hydrogen Business Council of Canada (HBC). Projects of special interest are those that demonstrate hydrogen technology solutions that will reduce or eliminate the use of fossil fuels as part of a general de-carbonization strategy.