Meet the Team
Jaime Ayala

Jaime Ayala is a third-year graduate student pursuing a PhD degree in Chemistry at Texas A&M University working in Professor Sarbajit Banerjee’s group. He graduated cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the University of Texas at El Paso. In 2015, he joined the Chemistry Peer-Led Team Learning (PLTL) program at UTEP under the supervision of Prof. James Becvar, which sought to facilitate the learning process of underrepresented minority students enrolled in first-year chemistry courses. His dissertation research focusing on the synthesis of core—shell nanostructures for solar energy modulation and photocatalysis. In 2021, he became an Innovation in Buildings (IBUILD) Graduate Research Fellow. In his free time, he loves to play sports, his favorite one being soccer, and go on adventures such as hiking.
Cailey Carpenter

Cailey Carpenter is a third-year undergraduate at the Georgia Institute in Technology pursuing a major in Chemistry and a minor in Computational Data Analysis. She conducts research on the reductive coupling of carbon monoxide for conversion to fuel sources under the supervision of Dr. Joseph Sadighi. She has also performed research at the University of Oregon developing catalytic cycles for the remote functionalization of long chain alkenes under the supervision of Dr. Amanda Cook during the summer of 2022. Cailey is passionate about community outreach in the areas of science and sustainability; she is an active member of the sustainability club on campus and serves as the social media coordinator for the Georgia Tech chapter of the Student Affiliates of the American Chemical Society. Cailey is especially interested in the intersection of science and policy and hopes to pursue career in chemistry research that works towards developing sustainable energy sources that can be easily implemented through policy.
Shelby Dye

Shelby Dye is a senior in the Environmental Science Department at Baylor University pursuing a B.S. in Environmental Science with a concentration in Environmental Chemistry and a minor in Earth Science. She is a member of the Honors Program and is on the Pre-Law track. She dreams of working to solve complex environmental issues within the government and has a deep passion for helping others. Shelby serves as President of the Iota chapter Tau Beta Sigma, a national music service sorority as well as the Zeta Pi chapter of Sigma Gamma Epsilon, which is the National Earth Science Honorary Society. She is an Associate Justice for the Baylor Student Court, a part of the Baylor University Golden Wave Band leadership team, and the Treasurer and founding member of the Baylor chapter of Pi Epsilon, the National Environmental Science Honor Society. Through these organizations, she has promoted positive change with Baylor University and the Waco community alike. As a Gold Award Girl Scout, she believes that students should learn to “make the world a better place” and through her time at Baylor she has been able to effectively improve her community and hopes to continue that impact as she continues her higher education. Shelby’s research is currently focused on the politicization of climate change over time and she intends to complete her thesis by the Spring of 2023 on this topic. In her free time, Shelby enjoys reading, spending time with friends, playing board games, and hiking.
Brady Hill

Brady Hill is a part-time graduate student at Johns Hopkins University pursuing a Master’s of Systems Engineering, and a full-time working professional as an engineer at Ball Aerospace in Boulder, Colorado. His career at Ball has consisted of mechanical design, integration, and systems engineering associated with remote sensing satellites - the most notable of which is the Nancy Grace Roman Space Telescope. While designing observatories that study exoplanets and the mysteries of the universe was his dream growing up, his dream has shifted to focus his career on the climate crisis. He aims to utilize his graduate degree in systems engineering to conceptualize and design better systems associated with remote sensing satellites observing the Earth and gathering data such as greenhouse gas emissions, or to shift gears and utilize these skills in the renewable energy sector. In his free time, Brady enjoys playing music, skiing, and spending time with friends and family.
Jordon Horton

Jordon is a senior in Environmental Engineering at the University of Michigan. His interests lie in water, sanitation, and hygiene (WASH) in developing countries. Currently, Jordon is researching plasma-based water disinfection for implications in water reuse trains. Outside of engineering Jordon enjoys community engagement through diversity, equity and inclusion work on campus, traveling, cooking, and spending time with friends.
Emma Kocik

Emma Kocik is a recent graduate from Chapman University in Orange, CA with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and minor in Environmental Science. As an undergraduate, Emma developed a passion for environmental protection and advocacy, having broad research experiences ranging from marine biology to environmental geochemistry. She is a 2021 Goldwater Scholar and 2021-2022 Beckman Scholar. Emma also served as a leader on the board for Chapman's ACS chapter, the college's leadership committee, as well as the college's Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion committee. During her gap year, she will be improving her global literacy by traveling abroad. After which she will begin a PhD in Oceanography, a highly interdisciplinary and international field, and aid in developing ocean-centered climate solutions.
Anna Lisa
Anna Lisa is a fourth-year at the Ohio State University, majoring in Chemistry with minors in Environmental Economics and Public Policy. Her research in chemistry is focused on solid-state battery technology, for which she has been awarded the American Chemical Society Undergraduate Award in Analytical Chemistry in Spring of 2022. Anna also is very interested in public policy. The previous summer, she interned with the Peace Corps Office of Congressional Relations as a John Glenn Fellow, helping the agency with its Congressional budget approval and director confirmation. She also interned in a Congressional campaign in the summer of 2020. In her free time, Anna is an avid reader and hiker. Her favorite hiking spots are in Appalachia.
|
Julianne Rolf
Julianne Rolf is a 6th year Ph.D. Candidate in Chemical and Environmental Engineering at Yale University in Meny Elimelech's lab group. She graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Engineering from the University of California, Riverside (UCR), where she gained water treatment research experience as a UC LEADS Scholar and Goldwater Scholar. Following her graduation from UCR, Julianne served as a Fulbright Scholar in the northeast region of Germany analyzing lake trophic status due to the presence of cyanobacteria. Julianne's current research at Yale focuses on the water-energy nexus with NEWT, an NSF-funded engineering research center working to expand clean water access globally. Julianne was an NSF Graduate Research Fellow and is currently the Yao Ming Charitable Fund PEO Scholar and a Tau Beta Pi Fellow. Out of the lab, Julianne teaches engineering to middle and high school students with Eduexplora and participates in diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ) service with Equity in the Job Search Symposium, the Yale's Title IX Advisory Board, and NEWT DEIJ Book Club. Julianne also enjoys hiking, baking, traveling, and playing softball.
|
Tiffany Sill

Tiffany Sill is a third-year graduate student pursuing an interdisciplinary PhD in inorganic chemistry and materials science and engineering at Texas A&M University in Professor Sarbajit Banerjee’s materials chemistry research group. She graduated summa cum laude with a Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from California State University San Bernardino. During her undergraduate career, she created and implemented a STEM program which brought science into an afterschool program for underprivileged children in the heart of San Bernardino. She participates in the American Chemical Society National Chemistry Week events hosted at TAMU, and she volunteers at the local elementary and high schools in Bryan/College Station tutoring chemistry and creating STEM days for the gifted and talented program. Her dissertation research focuses on utilizing machine learning and automated synthesis to design nanocomposite coatings for a variety of energy relevant technologies including corrosion inhibition, desalination cells, and dynamically switchable fenestration elements. She is a 2020 Aviles and Johnson Fellow and a 2021 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow. She attended COP26 as a delegate and will attend COP27 as the student mentor. In her free time, Tiffany loves to spend time outdoors with her husband, three children, and two dogs.
Spencer Smith

Spencer Smith is a graduate student at Lehigh University pursuing a master’s
degree in Environmental Engineering. He received his bachelor’s degree in Civil
Engineering with a minor in Environmental Sustainability from York College of
Pennsylvania. In the future, Spencer plans to become an environmental engineer
fighting to make a positive impact on the environment. His studies have taken
him around the world from Costa Rica and Scotland, to now Sharm El Sheikh,
Egypt. Spencer previously served as a COP 26 Ambassador where he studied Life
Cycle Cost Analysis and how other countries put the environment first when
designing products. In his free time, Spencer can be found 3D printing or gaming
with friends. He leads with the mantra “Sustainability is Universal”
degree in Environmental Engineering. He received his bachelor’s degree in Civil
Engineering with a minor in Environmental Sustainability from York College of
Pennsylvania. In the future, Spencer plans to become an environmental engineer
fighting to make a positive impact on the environment. His studies have taken
him around the world from Costa Rica and Scotland, to now Sharm El Sheikh,
Egypt. Spencer previously served as a COP 26 Ambassador where he studied Life
Cycle Cost Analysis and how other countries put the environment first when
designing products. In his free time, Spencer can be found 3D printing or gaming
with friends. He leads with the mantra “Sustainability is Universal”