Andrew Mikes Email & Phone Number

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Thesis: Influence of Chabazite Zeolite Material Properties on Metal-Oxo Active Site Distribution for Partial Methane Oxidation•Designed kinetic studies to investigate influence of Cu zeolite composition and structure on partial methane oxidation rates to advance understanding of active site requirements for economically and environmentally important oxidation reactions•Characterized material structure by performing synchrotron x-ray absorption spectroscopy experiments at Argonne National Lab and Brookhaven National Lab•Collaborated with computational partners by comparing experimental results against density functional theory generated predictions to create an in-situ Cu speciation model•Created and optimized python scripts to automate post experiment data formatting and analysis and reduced time required to complete analysis from 2-3 hours to 5-10 minutes

West Lafayette, Indiana, United States

•Coordinated use of shared laboratory equipment between 10+ research groups including an X-ray diffraction (XRD) unit and an inductively coupled plasma (ICP) unit•Trained 100+ new users over 2 years on proper instrument usage, data collection, and data analysis techniques to ensure consistent unit operation•Established written standard operating procedures and performed routine maintenance to maximize instrument availability for users

•Developed a protocol for controlled functionalization of mesoporous membranes using ‘click’ chemistry to decrease fabrication time for membranes with targeted properties to under 3 minutes•Derived and experimentally validated a theoretical model of liquid transport to describe diffusion of reactant through membrane pores as a function of solution concentration and time

Doctor Of Philosophy - Phd, Chemical Engineering

Bachelor’S Degree, Chemical Engineering

High School

Activities and Societies: Science Club President, Varsity Wrestling Team Captain, Academic Integrity Team Member, Valedictorian