Previous Officers Bios

President:
Christina Wark 

Christina Wark is a third-year PhD student in Chemical Engineering. She received dual bachelor’s degrees in Chemical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering in 2019 from Kettering University. Prior to joining ChEMS, she spent her gap year working as a project engineer for a manufacturing engineering consulting firm where she was involved in projects ranging from tooling design to chemical process design. She enjoys creative and active outlets, so she spends her free time painting, doing yoga, dancing, enjoying the outdoors, or hanging out with her two cats. She hopes to bring her creativity to GSA to help brainstorm alternative ways to connect with fellow members and colleagues.

Vice president:
Sunanda Dey

Sunanda Dey is a fourth-year PhD student in Chemical Engineering. She earned her bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering in 2018 from West Bengal University of Technology, India. Prior to joining ChEMS, she worked as a research assistant in a nanotechnology lab at her undergraduate school. She is currently working on fabricating an electrochemical biosensor under the supervision of Dr. Hickey and Dr. Woldring. She enjoys singing, reading fiction, cooking, and networking with fellow researchers. She hopes to help the GSA not only organize fun social events for the department but also bring active industrial collaborations.

Treasurer:
Brandon Howard

Brandon Howard is a second-year chemical engineering PhD student at Michigan State University. He recently finished his master’s in food science at Ohio State University where he studied the effect of shear fields on the structuring of crystalline materials. Through this experience, he developed a passion for the rigors of chemical engineering principles which led him to decide to pursue his PhD in chemical engineering at MSU. At MSU his work focuses on electrochemical energy conversion and synthesis. In his free time, he enjoys weightlifting, playing sports, and enjoying the outdoors. As part of the GSA, he hopes to organize fun events that bring the department together.

Secretary:
Nunzio Carducci 

Nunzio Carducci is a second-year PhD student in chemical engineering. He earned his B.S. in chemical engineering from the University of Wyoming in 2020. After graduation, he worked for a year as a post-bacc at the University of Wyoming characterizing algae cells and hydrogels with atomic force microscopy. His technical interests include combining biological and electrochemical systems for chemical synthesis and water treatment applications. In his free time, he manages his own photography and clothing brands. He is looking forward to getting more students involved in GSA events.

  Webmaster: 
Tanzilur Rahman 

Tanzilur Rahman is a third-year Ph.D. student in Materials Science and Engineering. He is investigating the relationship between the microstructure-processing parameters of severe plastic deformed (SPD) Ti-12Cr and Zinc-Magnesium alloys by high-pressure torsion. Tanzil is conducting research in the field of metallurgy since his undergraduate.  He received his B.Sc. degree in Materials and Metallurgical Engineering from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology and an M.Sc. degree in Mechanical Engineering from Tuskegee University, Alabama. Tanzil loves history and geography, and enjoys reading, hiking, and traveling. He hopes to organize interesting events as a member of GSA.

President:
Sharmilar Samaroo

Sharmila Samaroo is currently a first year chemical engineering PhD student at Michigan State University.  She earned her B.S. from the University of Michigan in chemical engineering. After graduation she worked for Phillips 66. For the first two years she worked in Research and Development in Oklahoma developing energy storage technologies. The following year she transitioned to a process engineering role at a Phillips 66 oil and gas refinery in California to develop experience in a traditional chemical engineering role. After recognizing that an operations role in an oil and gas facility was not a good fit, she chose to pursue her PhD and commit to a career in research. Her technical interests are in electrochemistry and its applications in grid scale energy storage – specifically redox flow batteries.

Vice president:
Danielle DeJonge

Danielle DeJonge is a second year PhD student in Materials Science and Engineering. She researches polymer materials with Dr. Shiwang Cheng and Dr. Robert Ferrier to characterize polymer electrolytes. In 2019, Danielle received her Bachelor's of Science in Chemistry with a minor in German from The University of Michigan-Flint. Her hobbies include listening to music, traveling, cooking one-pot meals, and video games.

Treasurer:
Christina Wark

Christina Wark is a first year PhD student in Chemical Engineering. She received dual bachelor’s degrees in Chemical Engineering and Mechanical Engineering in 2019 from Kettering University. Prior to joining ChEMS, she spent her gap year working as a project engineer for a manufacturing engineering consulting firm where she was involved in projects ranging from tooling design to chemical process design. She enjoys creative and active outlets, so she spends her free time painting, doing yoga, dancing, enjoying the outdoors, or hanging out with her two cats. She hopes to bring her creativity to GSA to help brainstorm alternative ways to connect with fellow members and colleagues in these virtual times.

Secretary:
Mayson Whipple 

Mayson Whipple is a first year PhD student in Chemical Engineering. She earned her B.S. in Chemistry from North Central College in Naperville, IL in 2018 where she also played basketball and ran track. She started at MSU in 2018 in the ChemE Masters program and participated in an Erasmus Mundus exchange program the following year to earn her Masters degree from Nova Universidade de Lisboa in Membrane Engineering. Her research is focused on using polymers to treat opioid addiction and combat the ongoing opioid crisis. Her goal as a GSA member is to promote friendships and foster a sense of community within the ChEMS department.

Webmaster:
Yan Xie 

Yan Xie is a third year PhD student in Materials Science. She earned her B.S. in Materials from University of Science and Technology Beijing in 2018. She is now working in Dr. Barton’s lab at MSU. Her research focuses on simulating bienzymatic reactions using molecular dynamics simulation technique. She likes swimming, running, watching movies, travelling in her spare time. As a member of GSA, she hopes to organize more interesting events and bring people more fun.

President:
Chase Bruggeman

Chase Bruggeman is a first year chemical engineering student working in energy transformation. Originally from the greater Chicago area, Chase received his B.S. in Chemistry from the University of Wisconsin-Madison, where he carried out research on dye-sensitized solar cells and later C-H to C-N bond transformation. After graduating Chase spent three years in flavor chemistry, working with the beverage and sweet flavor creation team at Kerry in Beloit, WI. His return to graduate school is motivated by a desire to further the field of renewable energy. Chase's favorite hobbies include reading, cooking, and being outside.

Vice President:
Badal Lodaya

Badal Lodaya is a first year PhD student in Chemical Engineering. He received his Bachelor’s in Chemical Engineering from Institute of Chemical Technology, Mumbai, in the year 2019.  As a member of GSA he organizes and decides on events that would include and attract folks in the ChEMS department, ensuring a cordial environment between faculty, students and staff. He loves watching and playing cricket, travelling and trying out new cuisines.

Treasurer:
Jiyun Park

Jiyun Park is a 2nd year PhD student in Materials Science and Engineering. She is working with Dr. Qi and studies interfaces between metals and ceramics for energy application. She received a B.S. in Chemical Engineering and a M.S. in Engineering from Yonsei University, South Korea. As Treasurer, her goal is to manage organizational resources appropriately. She enjoys investing, exercising, and traveling.

Secretary:
Sabrina Curley

Sabrina Curley is a first year PhD student in Materials Science and Engineering. Her research is involved with polymer materials, particularly regarding mixing and dispersion characteristics in these structures. She received her B.S in Metallurgical and Materials Engineering with a minor in Chemistry from The University of Alabama in 2019. In her free time, she enjoys reading, knitting, and story writing. Readily found in nature, she also tends to a multitude of plants along with several pet snails.

Webmaster:
Gouree Kumbhar

Gouree Kumbhar is a second year PhD student in Chemical Engineering. She is working with Dr. Robert Ferrier to synthesize polyether based desalination membranes. She received her Bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Institute of Chemical Technology, India in the year 2018. As a member of ChEMS GSA her goal is to bring together graduate students faculty and staff in a cordial environment. She enjoys Hiking, Travelling and learning new skills.

President:
Chauncey Splichal

Vice President:
Zhuowen Zhao

Treasurer:
Matthew Melton

Secretary:
Adam Marsh

Webmaster:
Gouree Kumbhar

Geeta Kumari is a joint doctoral program (JDP) student at Michigan State University and Indian Institute of Technology, Madras. She worked at Boehlert group as a research assistant for two and half years and returned to India to finish her Ph.D. dissertation. She completed her B.Tech from the National Institute of Technology, Jamshedpur, where she received a Ministry of Steel Authority scholarship consecutively for three years for her performance in academics. During her stay at MSU, she has served as a student representative for the College of Engineering Graduate Studies Committee. Geeta is also a graduate of the Leadership Academy at MSU. She organized several science outreach activities for K-12 students and women in engineering.

President:
Sabyasachi Das

Sabyasachi Das is a third year PhD student in Chemical Engineering. He is working with Dr. Christopher Saffron in the field of electrocatalytic reduction of bio-oil for biofuel production. He received his B.E. in Chemical Engineering from Jadavpur University, India in the year 2015. As a member of the GSA, he aims to organize events that are interesting, engaging and invite participation from all ChEMS graduate students. He is an extreme cricket enthusiast and loves visiting new places and trying out new cuisines.

Vice President:
Aritra Chakraborty

Aritra Chakraborty is a fourth year PhD student in Chemical Engineering under Dr. Philip Eisenlohr. He uses crystal plasticity and advanced muliti-physics constitutive models to predict deformation behavior under complex mechanical, chemical boundary conditions especially in ß-Sn thin films. He did his Bachelors in Chemical Engineering from National Institute of Technology, Durgapur, India. As a member of GSA, he organizes and decides on events that would include and attract folks in the ChEMS department, ensuring a cordial environment between faculty, students and staff. He is a avid soccer enthusiast and tries to kick the ball once a while.