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Faculty
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Position at ASU: Professor & MotU Director
Research Interests:
Relating microscopic features of structure and bonding to macroscopic thermodynamic behavior in minerals, ceramics, and other complex materials.
Contact Email: Alexandra.Navrotsky@asu.edu
Country of Origin: USA
Fun Fact: I like to take in rescue-dogs and I have a mineral named after me, Navrotskyite
Position at ASU: Assistant Research Professor
Research Interest(s): Thermodynamics of bulk and nano non oxides (chalcogenides, alloys, arsenides, etc...)
Contact Email: klilova@asu.edu
Country of Origin: Bulgaria
Fun Fact: I have been a gamer for over 30 years and playing is still an important part of my life.
Position at ASU: Associate Research Professor
Research Interest(s): Structure and thermodynamics of refractory oxides, carbides and nitrides above 1500 °C using levitation techniques and high temperature diffraction.
Contact Email: sushakov@asu.edu
Country of Origin: Russia
Position at ASU: Assistant Research Scientist
Research Interests: synthesis, structural characterization and thermochemical properties of inorganic crystalline and amorphous materials (oxides, chalcogenides and other non-oxides) of interest in clean energy (nuclear waste disposal, environmental and energy storage), functional and drug delivery applications. Dr. Subramani performs various calorimetry experiments to understand the energetics of interaction between common organic/inorganic pollutants in water and activated surface of the materials relevant to environmental and drug delivery applications. The management and non-stop operation of the state-of-the-art high temperature calorimetry facility.
Contact Email: tsubram2@asu.edu
Country of Origin: India
Fun Fact: Cooking and sharing food, tea enthusiast
BENJAMIN BRUGMAN
Position at ASU: Assistant Research Professor
Research Interest(s): Strength and deformation behavior of solids, high pressure crystallography, materials at extreme conditions, mineralogy and mineral physics.
Contact Email: bbrugman@asu.edu
Country of Origin: United States
Fun Fact: I am an amateur confectioner!
CHRISTINE COULTER
Position at ASU: Executive Administrative Support Specialist
Contact Email: c.coulter@asu.edu
Country of Origin: USA
Fun Fact: I was born and raised in Hawaii and love to share local food recommendations and places to visit with anyone visiting.
Postdocs
JARED MATTEUCCI
Position at ASU: Postdoctoral Research Scholar
Research Interests: Experimental petrology, mineralogy, crystal chemistry, fluid-rock interactions. My current research involves using high temperature calorimetry to determine thermodynamic properties of molten salt solutions for use in nuclear reactors.
Contact Email: jmatteuc@asu.edu
Country of Origin: United States
Fun Fact: I am an amateur guitar player.
Hong Yang
Position at ASU: Postdoctoral Research Scholar
Research Interests: Earth Materials at atomic scales and high pressure; Mineralogy in the absence of O2; Materials under dynamic shock conditions; Materials for sustainability applications; Magnetic mineralogy and Paleomagnetism
Contact Email: hyang777@asu.edu
Country of Origin: China
Fun Fact: I have been to 38 states in the USA. See more at link.
Konrad Burkmann
Position at ASU: Postdoctoral Research Scholar
Research Interests: Thermodynamics of Rare Earth Compounds. Using thermal analysis and calorimetry to determine thermodynamic quantities which are then applied within thermodynamic models to understand their materials properties (stability and decomposition behaviour).
Contact Email: Konrad.burkmann@asu.edu
Country of Origin: Germany
Fun Fact: I studied chemistry but I am not a big fan of complicated synthesis procedures, because I am very impatient.
Ran Wang
Position at ASU: Postdoctoral Research Scholar
Research Interests: Hydrothermal synthesis, high-temperature Raman measurments, high-pressure mineral physics
Contact Email: rwang236@asu.edu
Country of Origin: China
Fun Fact: Gonna watch an NBA game live
MEGAN HOUSEHOLDER
Position at ASU: Postdoctoral Research Scholar
Research Interests: Megan got her B.S. in Physics and her Master's in Nanoscience, and is now pursuing her Astrophysics PhD at SESE (School of Earth and Space Exploration). Her research interests include the first condensates of the solar nebula as well as exoplanet atmospheres, with an emphasis on surface energies and nucleation, and the need for more experimental work in the field of cosmochemistry.
Contact Email: mhouseho@asu.edu
Country of Origin: USA
PhD Students
GODWIN AGBANGA
Position at ASU: Ph.D. Student
Research Interests: I'm interested in applying high-temperature reaction calorimetry to investigate the thermochemical effects of metal ions in high-temperature oxides for energy storage applications.
Contact Email: gagbanga@asu.edu
Country of Origin: Ghana
Fun Fact: The oceans produce the majority of the oxygen on Earth.
KATHARINE ROSE
Position at ASU: Ph.D. Student
Research Interests: At MotU I am working with Dr. Hongwu Xu, Dr. Alexandra Navrotsky, and the Navrotsky Group to develop and characterize refractory ceramics for aerospace applications. My overarching research interests take on two paths, (1) crystallization processes (e.g., nucleation, thermodynamic stability of intermediate phases, domain size controls), and (2) how to apply these to material synthesis problems or geologic processes.
Contact Email: kgrose2@asu.edu
Country of Origin: USA
Fun Fact: I am a potter and previously taught pottery.
Evans Avoka
Joshua Oladepo
Position at ASU: Ph.D. Student
Research Interests: I have conducted research in the past on extractive metallurgy, with an emphasis on mineral processing, and I am currently working with Professor Alexandra Navrotsky on the thermodynamic characterization and high-pressure synthesis of transition metal dichalcogenides.
Contact Email: Joladepo@asu.edu
Country of Origin: Nigeria
Bernard Gyabaah
Position at ASU: Ph.D. Student
Research Interests: Thermodynamics of hybrid halide perovskites,
focusing on formation and decomposition energetics, phase stability,
and how these energetic factors control optoelectronic behavior. My
work combines calorimetry and optical/electronic characterization to
develop stability–property relationships.
Contact Email: bgyabaah@asu.edu
Country of Origin: Ghana
Fun Fact: When I'm not in the lab, you can usually find me exploring
virtual worlds or leveling up in my favorite games
Position at ASU: Ph.D. Student
Research Interests: I am interested in enhancing the performance of Energy Storage units by optimizing energy density, thermal stability, and other factors that affect battery performance using thermodynamic studies
Contact Email: eavoka@asu.edu
Country of Origin: Ghana
Fun Fact: The true victory of science and technology is to add life to research
Position at ASU: PhD Student
Research Interests: Materials under extreme environments, mineralogy, planetary interiors, and mineral physics.
Contact Email: smarque6@asu.edu
Country of Origin: USA
Fun Fact: I have four bachelor's degrees from ASU, and I have been collecting Pokémon figures since 1997.
Steve Marquez
Sadia Homyra
Position at ASU: PhD Student
Research Interests: I am interested in the thermodynamic stability of lead-free halide perovskites using calorimetry, with the goal of guiding the design of more durable, non-toxic materials for solar energy applications. My previous research focused on Chemical Bath Deposition of Electron Transport Layers for Perovskite solar cells, where I studied how synthesis conditions shape film structure and performance.
Contact Email: shomyra@asu.edu
Country of Origin: Bangladesh
Fun Fact: Team Sustainability always; whether it's zero food waste in my kitchen or zero lead in my perovskites!
Victor Kelly
Position at ASU: Undergraduate research associate
Research Interests: Thermodynamics of high temperature rare earth compounds, Solvent extraction and separation of rare earths, Hydrothermal liquefaction of biomass
Contact Email: vakelly1@asu.edu
Country of Origin: USA
Fun Fact: I am half Brazilian and lived in Austria for 15 years.
Masters Students and Undergraduates
Breck Sanchez
Position at ASU: Undergraduate research associate
Research Interests: Environmental, sustainable, and medical research.
Contact Email: esanc12@asu.edu
Country of Origin: USA
Fun Fact: I serve as Vice President of Marketing for ASU Panhellenic
AJ Woolson
Position at ASU: Graduate research associate
Research Interests: Structure and energetics focusing especially on crystallography and thermodynamics of heterogeneous materials.
Contact Email: anthony.woolson@asu.edu
Country of Origin: USA
Fun Fact: I love to listen to and make music and play multiple musical instruments!
Alexandra Weissmalik
Position at ASU: Undergraduate researcher
Research Interests: I am interested in quantum electrodynamics and condensed matter physics with a focus on electron manipulation, as well as particle movement through the cerebrospinal fluid. I also have a fascination with prion degeneration and the progression of alzheimers and parkinsons.
Contact Email: aweissm4@asu.edu
Country of Origin: USA
Fun Fact: I did mixed martial arts for 11 years. I obtained a fourth degree black belt and completed internationally.
Cayden Loeffelholz
Position at ASU: Undergraduate Researcher
Research Interests: Materials Science, Rare Earth Nitrates, Sulfide Materials
Contact Email: ctloeffe@asu.edu
Country of Origin: USA
Fun Fact: I used to work at a movie theater
PAST MEMBERS OF MOTU
KJ MEISNER
JAYANTHI KUMAR
LANGSTON TILLMAN
GERSON LEONEL
SHUHAO YANG
Meghan Guild
Jiahong Li
ALBERT VOSKANYAN
Manuel Scharrer
Ismail Agcasulu
Michael Bustamante
Lutfun Nafar
Ivan Matyushov
Logan Leinbach
KEVIN MEISNER
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NICHOLAS TO
KHUSHI PANDEY
Sourish Murthy
William Kanitz
Vitaliy Goncharov
Yifeng Han
Mohit
Laura Bonatti
Tullio Geraci
Blaine Aberra
Isabella Montini
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