Cheer on this year’s Lightning Talk finalists as they present energy-related research in engaging TED-style talks for a live audience and panel of judges. You’ll get a lightning-fast look at energy through the disciplines of science, engineering, and policy.
This collaborative event is hosted by the Vagelos Integrated Program in Energy Research, Vagelos Institute for Energy Science and Technology, and Kleinman Center for Energy Policy.
Stick around afterwards for the annual Energy Week Student Poster Session and Reception taking place downstairs in the Singh Center lobby.
Student Speakers and Topics:
Peter Bazianos - Atomic-Scale Materials Innovation for Energy Storage
Chris Johnson - Using Ordered Surfactant Channels to Improve and Understand Charge Transport
Arwen Kozak - Nature Based Solutions: A Tool, not The Tool
Alina Ho - Opportunities for Rail in the Transport of Carbon Dioxide in the United States
Colby Snyder - Advancing Cool Roof Coatings for Urban Heat Resilience
Claire Zhang - Synthesis of Magnetic Nanocrystals for Inductively-Enhanced Catalysis
Peter Bazianos
Undergraduate Student
Vagelos Integrated Program in Energy Research (VIPER)
Peter Bazianos is a junior in the VIPER program studying materials science and engineering, physics, and nanotechnology. Through computational chemistry research in Dr. Andrew Rappe’s group, Peter has identified atomic-level mechanisms in fuel cells and discovered promising catalysts for lithium-CO2 batteries. He is an intern for Hydropore, a startup developing clean hydrogen technology to decarbonize industries reliant on fossil fuels. He strives to continue working on novel energy storage solutions after graduation.
Peter’s title: Atomic-Scale Materials Innovation for Energy Storage
Christopher Johnson
PhD Candidate
Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Christopher Johnson is a doctoral candidate in the Chemical Engineering department, working under Dr. Chinedum Osuji. His work focuses on the structure of matter, particularly that of highly ordered self-assembling materials. For the last several years, he has been focused on surfactant-based membrane materials for the next generation of separations processes. This work was funded through a multidisciplinary VIEST seed program involving the Osuji, Anna, Patel, and Winey research groups. He has presented his findings to the Penn Graduate Student Symposium, in addition to a talk at last years’ ACS Fall Meeting. You can find the scientific projects he has worked on in Advanced Materials Interfaces, Chemical Communications, and Polymer. He has been published in other mediums, such as A Guide to Professional Writing or the Caesura poetry magazine. For further experimental details or possible collaborative works, please reach out to chriswj@seas.upenn.edu or visit the lab website at osujilab.seas.upenn.edu.
Christopher’s title: Using Ordered Surfactant Channels to Improve and Understand Charge Transport
Arwen Kozak
Masters Student
Environmental Studies
Arwen Kozak is a second year Masters of Environmental Studies student at the University of Pennsylvania with a concentration in environmental policy. She is passionate about energy infrastructure resilience and the intersection between humanitarian and environmental concerns. In addition to her studies at Penn, she teaches high school physics and math at a high school in Germantown.
Arwen’s title: Nature Based Solutions: A Tool, not The Tool
Alina Ho
Undergraduate Student
Economics and Systems Engineering
Alina Ho is senior studying Economics and Systems Engineering with a minor in Math, and pursuing a Master’s in Systems Engineering. Following her experience at the DOE’s Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management, she is a research assistant at the Clean Energy Conversions Lab focused on multi-modal transport options for carbon capture. Her interests are focused on energy technology transitions and deployment, and she currently works for Distributed Sun on fleet electrification. She is a Kleinman Center Student Advisory Council Member and was 2022 Undergraduate Student Fellow.Alina’s title: Opportunities for Rail in the Transport of Carbon Dioxide in the United States
Colby Snyder
Undergraduate Student
Vagelos Integrated Program in Energy Research (VIPER)
Colby Snyder is an undergraduate studying Chemical Engineering and Physics in the VIPER program. His research with Professor Russell Composto focuses on using polymeric roof coatings to address extreme urban heat in Philadelphia and beyond. He is also a 2024 Kleinman Center Undergraduate Student Fellow.
Colby’s title: Advancing Cool Roof Coatings for Urban Heat Resilience
Claire Zhang
Undergraduate Student
Vagelos Integrated Program in Energy Research (VIPER)
Claire Zhang is a sophomore in the Vagelos Integrated Program for Energy Research (VIPER) studying Biology and Bioengineering. With energy research experience spanning biofuels, battery recycling, and catalysis, she hopes to play a role in advancing the global energy transition.
Claire’s title: Synthesis of Magnetic Nanocrystals for Inductively-Enhanced Catalysis