Principal Investigator
Dr. Greeshma Gadikota
Research Interests: Developing clean methods for producing clean energy carriers such as hydrogen, while at the same time capturing and converting the carbon dioxide created into a useful and environmentally harmless solid. One thread of her research involves using X-ray scattering, tomography and spectroscopy techniques to observe chemical reactions as they happen, possible allowing researchers to develop a method of producing hydrogen without creating greenhouse gases. More broadly, Gadikota would like to develop a method for observing the reaction environments for any solid-liquid-gas system. Gadikota is also studying the feasibility of pulling acid gases from dilute and heterogeneous gas streams and understanding how reactive fluids and solids behave in extreme subsurface and engineered environments.
Postdoctoral Research Associates
Zihao Li
Sohaib Mohammed
Sohaib holds an MSc in chemical engineering from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a BSc in chemical engineering from Tikrit University in Iraq. Sohaib‘s research focuses on understanding the properties and phase change of confined fluids and the driven- and self-assembly of colloids at immiscible liquids interfaces. He utilizes computational tools, such as Density Functional Theory and Molecular Dynamics Simulations, and advanced experimental techniques, such as in-operand X-ray scattering, to probe the multi-scale morphological, dynamical, and reactivity details of the systems of interest.
email: sm2793@cornell.edu
Ph.D. Students
Hassnain Asgar
Hassnain Asgar is a Ph.D. candidate in Prof. Gadikota’s research group. He obtained his master’s degree in Engineering from Central Michigan University and undergraduate in Metallurgy and Materials Engineering from University of the Punjab, Lahore. His research work in Prof. Gadikota’s group involves understanding the influence of confinement geometry and chemistry on the organization of confined fluids for different energy and environmental applications.
email: ha356@cornell.edu
Xun Gao
Xun received his bachelor’s degree from Harbin Institute of Technology in 2017 and his MS degree from Columbia University in 2019. After that, he joined Professor Gadikota’s research group for his doctoral degree. Now, Xun is working on the carbon mineralization project, especially the carbon capture mechanism of magnesium-based minerals.
email: xg287@cornell.edu
Peilong Lu
The efficient use of CO2 in atmosphere is still challenging especially in view of the increasing emission of CO2. Peilong Lu focuses on electrochemical carbon dioxide conversion and mineralization, involving development of robust catalysts and design of novel conversion pathways for carbon dioxide converting/transforming to value-added substances. After completing a MS in chemical technology from the University of Chinese Academy of Sciences and a BS in Metallurgical Engineering from Central South University, Peilong Lu is pursuing a Ph.D. degree in Environmental Engineering at Cornell University.
email: pl596@cornell.edu
Prince Ochonma
Prince Ochonma was born in Lagos Nigeria and is currently pursuing a PhD in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. Prince earned a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Lagos, Nigeria. After, college, he worked as an analyst in the Energy and Natural Resources Department at KPMG. His research work in Professor Gadikota’s group involves the directed synthesis of bioproducts, bioenergy and energy carriers such as Hydrogen, from heterogeneous biomass sources. Prince is also investigating the integrated reuse and co-utilization of waste streams for CO2 recycle and metal recovery from steel plants.
email: pio6@cornell.edu
Victor Ruan
email: vr275@cornell.edu
Tianhe Yin
Tianhe Yin was born in Liaoning, China. Tianhe received his Bachelor’s degree in Materials Science and Engineering from Shandong University in 2017 and Master’s degree in Materials Science and Engineering in University of Pennsylvania in 2019. Right now, Tianhe is a member of Greeshma Gadikota research group and is currently pursuing his PhD degree in Civil and Environmental Engineering department at Cornell University. His current research’s interest focuses on the carbon dioxide capture based on calcium-contained materials as well as the synthesis and application of calcium carbonate product.
Educational background
Bachelor, Shandong University, Materials Science and Engineering, Materials Physics
Master, University of Pennsylvania, Materials Science and Engineering
email: ty376@cornell.edu
M.S. Students
Yang Jia
Yang received his Bachelor’s degree in Environmental Engineering from University of Science and Technology Beijing in 2020. He joined Professor Greeshma Gadikota’s research group for his MS degree in 2021. His research focuses on the capture, utilization and storage of carbon dioxide.
email: yj459@cornell.edu
Jinglin Li
Jinglin Li is a Master student in Prof.Gadikota/s research group. Her research work involves electrochemical hydrogenation and hydrogenolysis of biomass-derived oxygenates and aims to maximize hydrogen yields in the process. To better achieve the goal of executing an environmentally-friendly energy production system, machine learning algorithms are used for prediction of integrated CO2 capture and mineralization rate to minimize the concentration of CO2 as products in the system.
Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science and Management, University of California, Davis.
email: jl4342@cornell.edu
Ruiyi Zhang
Research explores how to convert carbon dioxide efficiently to carbon material.
email: rz282@cornell.edu
Undergrad students
Previous members
Meishen Liu
(Postdoc at OakRidge National Lab)
Rosalie Krasnoff
(Ph.D. student at Columbia University)
Claire Blaudeau