Research
My work sits at the intersection of waste valorization, environmental assessment, and process systems engineering — with a growing focus on connecting molecular-scale chemistry to process-scale design decisions.
Sustainable Energy & Waste Valorization
I work on converting waste streams — including bio-slurry, municipal solid waste, and agricultural residues — into usable energy and materials through thermochemical processes such as hydrothermal carbonization (HTC), hydrothermal liquefaction (HTL), and pyrolysis. My work on bio-slurry HTC involved optimizing operating conditions (temperature, residence time) using Response Surface Methodology to maximize hydrochar yield and heating value.
Life Cycle Assessment
I evaluate the environmental performance of waste valorization and energy processes through Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), comparing pathways such as hydrothermal carbonization against conventional disposal methods. This work extends to comparative and process-level LCA across a range of materials and technologies, including biochar, phase-change materials, and hydrogels.
Process Systems Engineering & Multiscale Modeling
I'm expanding into process systems engineering and multiscale modeling — including superstructure-based frameworks for process and technology selection, and reactive molecular dynamics (using LAMMPS and ReaxFF) to study the chemistry underlying thermochemical conversion. The goal is to connect molecular-level mechanisms with process-scale optimization for more sustainable process design.