Bryan D. McCloskey
Department Chair and Professor, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering

B.S: Colorado School of Mines, 2003
Ph.D.: University of Texas, Austin, 2009
E: bmcclosk@berkeley.edu
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Bryan McCloskey is the Department Chair and Warren & Katharine Schlinger Distinguished Professor in Chemical Engineering in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley. He also holds a joint appointment as a Faculty Engineer in the Energy Storage and Distributed Resources Division at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. His laboratory explores numerous applications of electrochemistry to energy sustainability, conversion, and storage. Current projects focus on electrochemical regeneration of alkaline sorbents for direct air CO2 capture, elucidating the fundamental electrochemistry of metal-air batteries, and understanding a variety of challenges facing Li-ion batteries, including high voltage cathode stability, advanced cathode material development (Ni-rich and Li- rich NMC oxides and Li-excess disordered rocksalt materials), extreme fast charging, and low temperature and high transference number electrolyte formulations. He has co-authored more than 175 articles and has won numerous awards for his research, including The Electrochemical Society Charles Tobias Award, The International Society of Electrochemistry Tajima Prize, and the VW/BASF Science Award- Electrochemistry.

Karim Karouta
5th year graduate student
B.S. University of Texas, Austin, 2019

Karim is a fourth-year graduate student in the Reimer and McCloskey groups working to understand ion transport and solvation in electrolytes with PFG and ENMR. He enjoys team sports and small concerts. He has interned at P&G and Genetech and has worked briefly as a ski instructor.

Ning Guo
NSF Graduate Research Fellow
4th year graduate student
B.S. Texas A&M University, 2021
E: ningxguo(at)berkeley.edu
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Ning’s current project focuses on developing novel liquid electrolytes to enable extreme fast charging of lithium-ion batteries. He received his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Texas A&M University in 2021. He performed his undergrad research with Dr. Perla Balbuena focusing on first-principle calculations and molecular dynamics simulations of SEI nucleation on lithium metal anodes. In his free time, he likes going on long hikes, geocaching, and cycling.

Zach Tronstad
4th year graduate student
B.S.E. Arizona State University, 2019
E: zachtronstad(at)berkeley.edu
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Currently, Zach studies ion transport in composite solid electrolytes for lithium metal batteries. He received his B.S.E. in Chemical Engineering from Arizona State University in 2019. During his time as an undergraduate researcher, Zach worked with Dr. Matthew Green to investigate the effect of hydrophilicity on PVC/PVA electrospun membranes for water filtration. Outside the lab, Zach likes to read and play sports, especially frisbee and basketball.

Jaeheon Lee
3rd year graduate student
B.S. Pohang University of Science and Technology, 2019
E: jaeheon_lee(at)berkeley.edu
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Currently, Jaeheon studies the electrochemistry of solid-state lithium-air batteries using Differential Electrochemical Mass-Spectrometry (DEMS). Jaeheon received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and Chemical Engineering from POSTECH in 2019. Before coming to Berkeley, Jaeheon spent 3 years as a Researcher at the Agency for Defense Development, studying the synthesis of optimized porous materials and membranes for gas adsorption and numerical analysis of reaction-included gas flow structures. In his free time, Jaeheon enjoys watching an orchestra, cooking, and playing musical instruments.

Justin Rastinejad
3rd year graduate student
B.S. University of Connecticut, 2022
E: justin.rastinejad(at)berkeley.edu
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Justin's current research studies disordered rock salt (DRX) cathode materials and tuning the electrolyte to enhance their stability. Using the lab's Differential Electrochemical Mass Spectrometry (DEMS), Justin can analyze the gases evolved in situ during cycling. Outside of lab, Justin enjoys exploring the Bay Area's various restaurants and hiking trails, and performing STEM outreach through BASIS.

Devin Schinski
3rd year graduate student
B.S. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 2022
E: devin_schinski(at)berkeley.edu
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Devin's current research focuses on studying concentrated aqueous electrolytes at electrode interfaces. His work endeavors to better understand the effects of confinement on the structure and dynamics of the electrical double layer. In his free time, he likes to play guitar, go hiking, and cook.

Feben Wolde-Semayat
1st year graduate student
B.S./M.S. Drexel University, 2024
E: feben_wolde-semayat(at)berkeley.edu
LinkedIn

Feben currently studies the interfacial and transport limitations of sodium-ion batteries. She earned her B.S. in Chemical Engineering and her M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from Drexel University in 2024, where she worked with Dr. Maureen Tang on investigating the role of additives in enhancing hydrogen electrocatalysis. In her free time, Feben enjoys exploring coffee shops, going to museums, and live music.

Libby Katzman
1st year graduate student
B.S. Columbia University, 2024
E: libby_katzman(at)berkeley.edu
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Libby studies transport phenomena in complex electrolytes for next generation battery design. Libby gains insight into these systems by using a combination of fundamental electrochemical techniques and Electrophoretic Nuclear Magnetic Resonance Spectroscopy. Outside of lab, Libby enjoys homebrewing Kombucha, volunteering at a local community farm, engaging with grad student organizations, and exploring new places.