Leading the development and testing of next generation catalytic converters and particulate filters for the heavy duty diesel market.

Leading the formulation and scale up of novel catalytic converter materials for the light duty and heavy duty diesel industry.

Advisor: Rakesh AgrawalPurdue Solar Energy Research Laboratory1) Develop novel alternative solar absorption materials for sustainable solar cells. 2) Synthesize earth abundant solution-based nanocrystals. 3) Characterize nanocrystals by SEM, TEM, FTIR, UV-Vis, PL, PXRD, etc. 4) Construct solar devices and measure performance via optical characterizations.

(Mentor: Dr. Frances Hurwitz)Structures and Materials Division, Polymers Branch 1) Tailored heat transfer properties of aerogels for thermal protection systems. 2) Synthesized aluminosilicate aerogel monoliths and composite blankets via sol-gel chemistry. 3) Characterized aerogels using FTIR spectroscopy, pyncnometry, and SEM images.4) Investigated thermal conductivity measurement processes.

Senior research involved synthesis of nanoporous materials for the use in nanoscale castings, catalysis, and adsorption. Other research included carbon nanowire synthesis for their incorporation in conductive wax mixtures and subsequent thermal analysis.

Graduate Research Laboratory Assistant - Researched heat fluxes across copper substrates via carbon nanotube surface growth - Wrote pending publication summarizing research titled: “Coating Application Methodology for a Fourth Generation NH2/Fe+3 Dendrimer Catalyst on a Ti-Plated Cu Substrate” - Designed and performed spin and spray coating tests for catalyst application on substrates- Trained in clean room use, alpha-step, and calcination techniques