SENIOR RESEARCH SCIENTIST
pasquale
Dr. Pasquale Fulvio
Education:
Kent State University, Ph.D. Chemistry, 2009
Federal University of Espirito Santo, BSc. Chemistry, 2003
Bio: Pasquale Fernando Fulvio graduated with a BSc. in Chemistry from Federal University of Espirito Santo, Brazil, in 2003, and with a PhD in Chemistry in 2009 from Kent State University, Ohio, where he was a student of Prof. Mietek Jaroniec. During his graduate studies, Dr. Fulvio was a Pre-Doctoral Research intern at Saint-Gobain NorPro (2008-2009), developing in situ surface characterization methods for industrial catalyst supports. Dr. Fulvio held a Post-Doctoral Research Associate position in the Fluid Interface Reactions, Structures and Transport (FIRST) Energy Frontier Research Center funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) between 2009 and 2013, where he was mentored by Dr. Sheng Dai. Dr. Fulvio then served as Assistant Professor of Chemistry at the University of Puerto Rico, Rio Piedras Campus between 2014 and 2018, and was a visiting scholar at ORNL on multiple occasions. He joined the Department of Nuclear Engineering at Texas A&M University as a Research Associate Scientist between 2018 and 2019, and as Research Assistant Professor of the Departments of Nuclear Engineering and of Materials Sciences and Engineering since January 2020. He is now a senior research scientist in the Walton Group at the School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Georgia Tech. His research interests include the synthesis, surface modification and characterization of hierarchically porous, and of two-dimensional materials for energy storage, separations, sensors, biomedical, and environmental applications. His hobbies include playing tennis, binge watching TV series, and exploring the Atlanta metropolitan area.
Office: Bunger-Henry 306
Email: pfulvio@gatech.edu
RESEARCH ENGINEER II
MAHDI
Dr. MAHDI NIKNAM SHAHRAK
Education:
Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, Ph.D. Chemical Engineering, 2013
University of Sistan & Baluchestan, M.S. Chemical Engineering, 2008
Quchan Azad University, B.S. Chemical Engineering, 2005
Bio: Mahdi earned his Ph.D. from Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, where he focused on the design, simulation, and synthesis of novel porous adsorbents such as MOF, and COF materials for CH4 and CO2 adsorption. As a part of his Ph.D. program, he had the opportunity to take two sabbatical leaves in the US, spending a total of 12 months working at “New Mexico State University” and “University of California, Berkeley”. Since 2013, he has been working on various aspects of MOF applications in close collaboration with different research groups around the world. Building on his expertise, he joined Prof. Walton’s research group in August 2023 as a Research Engineer to delve deeper into the gas adsorption and separation field. Beyond his academic pursuits, he enjoys reading, listening to traditional music, and playing all types of sports.
Research Focus: Carbon dioxide capture from complex mixtures using pristine and functionalized MOF materials
Office: Bunger-Henry 319
Email: mshahrak3@gatech.edu
RESEARCH SCIENTIST II
ian
Dr. Ian Walton
Education:
University at Buffalo, Ph.D. Chemistry, 2016
Florida State University, M.S. Chemistry, 2011
University of West Florida, B.S. Chemistry, 2009
Bio: Ian obtained his Ph.D. from the University at Buffalo under the direction of Dr. Jason Benedict, working on the design and synthesis of novel photochromic linkers and subsequent photo-active metal-organic frameworks, as well as developing in situ single-crystal XRD techniques. He joined the Walton lab in August 2016 as a postdoctoral fellow and was promoted to Research Scientist II in the fall of 2022. In his free time he enjoys reading, rock climbing, and exploring Atlanta.
Research Focus: Study of the factors affecting stability and the degradation of metal-organic frameworks with respect to acid gas exposure
Office: Bunger-Henry 387
Email: ian.walton@chbe.gatech.edu
POSTDOCTORAL FELLOW
EMILIA
Dr. Emilia anna ganczar
Education: University of Wrocław, Ph.D. Chemical Sciences, 2022 University of Wrocław, M.S. Chemistry, Speciality: Organic Chemistry, 2018 University of Wrocław, B.S. Chemistry, Speciality: Medical Chemistry, 2016
Bio: Emilia obtained her PhD from University of Wrocław with a mentorship of Dr. Agata Białońska in 2022, where she studied copper(I) coordination compounds with sorption abilities. She continued her chemistry adventure at the same University, working as an assistant professor in the Crystallography Department. In 2021-2023 she was an intern in the R&D at Rigaku Polska. She joined Prof. Walton’s Group in October 2023 as a Postdoctoral Fellow. She loves music, and she also enjoys spending her free time outside the hustle and bustle of the city.
Research Focus: Crystal engineering, supramolecular host-guest chemistry
Office: Bunger-Henry 324
Email: eganczar3@gatech.edu
GRADUATE STUDENTS
BRANDON
Brandon Bout
Education: Vanderbilt University, B.E. Chemical Engineering and Applied Mathematics, 2017
Bio: Brandon was born and raised in a small town in Illinois until moving to Chattanooga, TN after which he attended Vanderbilt University. During his time at Vanderbilt, Brandon worked under Dr. Kane Jennings researching poly(ionic liquid)s before joining the Walton group in 2017. In his free time, he enjoys playing guitar and exploring Atlanta.
Research Focus: Metal-organic framework synthesis from insoluble materials
Office: Bunger-Henry 319
Email: bbout3@gatech.edu
Tania
Tania Evans
Education: University of Maryland, Baltimore County, B.S. Chemical Engineering, 2018
Bio: Tania was born and raised in Maryland. She graduated from UMBC in May 2018 and joined the Walton group in the fall of the same year. In her free time, she enjoys dancing, reading, shopping, and going to concerts.
Research Focus: Metal-organic frameworks for natural gas purification
Office: Bunger-Henry 319
Email: tania.evans@gatech.edu
Lape
Lape Oghenetega
Education: University of Lagos, B.Sc (First Class) Chemical Engineering, 2015
Bio: Ojuolape "'Lape" was born and raised in the vibrant city of Lagos. She graduated from the University of Lagos in 2015. Prior to joining the Walton Group in fall of 2019, she worked for the Lagos State Government advising on mechanised waste management solutions. She enjoys reading, traveling and business advisory.
Office: Bunger-Henry 320
Email: lape.oghenetega@gatech.edu
Mengjiao
Mengjiao Wu
Education: University of Delaware, B.S. Chemical Engineering, 2019
Bio: Mengjiao was born in Shijiazhuang, Hebei Province, China. She went to University of Delaware for her bachelor’s degree. After she graduated from UD, she became a master’s student in Professor Walton’s group. She enjoys movies, hotpot, and shopping.
Research Focus: Water adsorption performance of MOFs and composite salt in porous matrix (CSPM) materials
Office: Bunger-Henry 320
Email: mwu337@gatech.edu
Jamie
Jamie Salinger
Education: University of California, Los Angeles, B.S. Chemical Engineering, 2020
Bio: Jamie was born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She earned her bachelor's degree in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from UCLA in June 2020 and joined the Walton group in the fall of the same year. In her free time, she enjoys baking, shopping, hiking, traveling, and singing her heart out to some karaoke.
Office: Bunger-Henry 322
Email: jsalinger@gatech.edu
JAIR
JAIR COWIE-Williams
Education: Florida Institute of Technology, B.S. Chemical Engineering, 2021
Bio: Jair was born and raised in Trinidad and Tobago. He graduated from Florida Institute of Technology where he completed his bachelors in chemical engineering with a minor in nanotechnology. During that time, he tutored for the chemistry department and was community director for two years while being a resident assistant. In his free time, he enjoys video games, podcasts, audiobooks as well as working out.
Office: Bunger-Henry 324
Email: jmcw3@gatech.edu
JAY
JaY Lin
Education: New York University, B.S. Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering and Chemistry, 2016
Bio: Jay was born and raised in New York City in the borough of Queens. During his time at NYU, he did a research internship as an Amgen Scholar at UC Berkeley for investigating lithium-oxygen battery chemistry using chemical assays and an industry internship as an SCI Scholar at LyondellBasell for evaluating polyethylene resin blends for high-performance packaging films. After graduation from NYU in 2016, he worked as an analysis engineer supervisor and project manager at Innoveering, an R&D aerospace and defense company in Bohemia, NY. Jay joined the Walton group in the fall of 2022 as a Ph.D. candidate. Outside of research, he enjoys going hiking, playing badminton, and watching movies.
Office: Bunger-Henry 323
Email: jay.lin@gatech.edu
MARIO
MARIO ZORRILLA VALTIERRA
Education: University of Guanajuato, B.S. Sustainable Chemical Engineering, 2016; Universidad Internacional de la Rioja, M.B. Operations Management and Quality, 2020
Bio: Mario was born and raised in Guanajuato, Mexico. He graduated from UG in December 2016 where he was part of research on frontal polymerization of acrylic monomers. After graduating, he worked as a Metallurgy Engineer at American Axle and Techno Associe Mexico, and as Process Technology Engineer at Altuglas Mexico afterwards. Mario joined the Walton group in the fall of 2022. In his free time, he enjoys playing video games, watching series, reading, meditating, and exploring restaurants and food stands.
Research Focus: Metal-organic frameworks for improved CO2 direct air capture
Office: Bunger-Henry 323
Email: mvaltierra3@gatech.edu
kijeong
kijeong nam (tim)
Education: University of Virginia, B.S. Chemical Engineering, 2023
Bio: Tim was born in South Korea but moved to Texas, and later to Virginia. He graduated from University of Virginia in May 2023 where he took part in research on C-H activation complexes and NOx SCR catalyst. Kijeong joined the Walton group in the fall of 2023. Outside of research, Tim enjoys going to the gym, hanging out with friends, and going for a drive during the night.
Office: Bunger-Henry 319
Email: knam4@gatech.edu
surbhi
Surbhi K. A. Kumar
Education: Indian Institute of Technology (IIT-ISM) Dhanbad, B. Tech. Chemical Engineering, 2015; Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru, M. Tech. Chemical Engineering, 2018
Bio: Surbhi was born and raised in India. She graduated with a bachelor's and a master's degree in chemical engineering from universities in India. After her education, she worked as a research engineer in the materials division of an R&D company named Tata Research Design & Development Center (TRDDC), based in India. In Fall 2021, she joined the ChBE PhD program of Georgia Tech. She likes to spend her free time in nature and hiking around Atlanta. She also enjoys gardening, cooking, and dancing.
Research Focus: Computational study of heterometallic metal-organic frameworks using DFT-based techniques (co-advised with Dr. David Sholl)
Email: skumar634@gatech.edu
Dagny
Queen Dagness "Dagny" the First
Walton Group Mascot
Education: Dagny completed Obedience School Training with highest honors in Manhattan, KS, in March 2008.
Bio: Dags was born in Harper, KS, on December 10, 2007. She joined Dr. Walton's family in February 2008. She loves cheese, peanut butter, jumping on people until they pick her up, and generally being in the vicinity of humans at all times
Research Focus: Current repertoire of skills includes rolling over, playing dead, sitting, and dancing in circles. Also excellent at napping.
