People — The McCloskey Lab at UC, Berkeley

Principal Investigator

Featured

Bryan D. McCloskey
Department Chair and Professor, Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering

B.S: Colorado School of Mines, 2003
Ph.D.: University of Texas, Austin, 2009
E: bmcclosk@berkeley.edu
UC CBE, LBNL ESDR, LinkedIn, Google Scholar

Bryan McCloskey is the Department Chair and Warren & Katharine Schlinger Distinguished Professor in Chemical Engineering in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of California, Berkeley. He also holds a joint appointment as a Faculty Engineer in the Energy Storage and Distributed Resources Division at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. His laboratory explores numerous applications of electrochemistry to energy sustainability, conversion, and storage. Current projects focus on electrochemical regeneration of alkaline sorbents for direct air CO2 capture, elucidating the fundamental electrochemistry of metal-air batteries, and understanding a variety of challenges facing Li-ion batteries, including high voltage cathode stability, advanced cathode material development (Ni-rich and Li- rich NMC oxides and Li-excess disordered rocksalt materials), extreme fast charging, and low temperature and high transference number electrolyte formulations. He has co-authored more than 175 articles and has won numerous awards for his research, including The Electrochemical Society Charles Tobias Award, The International Society of Electrochemistry Tajima Prize, and the VW/BASF Science Award- Electrochemistry.

Postdoctoral Researcher

Featured

Jeonghoon Lim
B.S. Hanyang University, 2015
M.S. KAIST, 2017
Ph.D. Georgia Institute of Technology, 2022
E: jeonghoonlim(at)lbl.gov
LinkedIn and Google Scholar

Jeonghoon’s current research focuses on understanding and development of robust, energy efficient, and cost-effective electrocatalysts for CO2 capture. In his free time, Jeonghoon loves playing tennis, soccer, and travel.

Bernardine (Didi) Rinkel
B.A. University of Cambridge, 2016
M.Sci. University of Cambridge 2017
Ph.D. University of Cambridge 2022
E: rinkel(a)berkeley.edu

Didi’s current research focuses on electrolyte degradation at positive cathodes.

Deyang Yu
B.S. Qingdao University of Science and Technology, 2010
M.E. Institute of Chemistry Chinese Academy of Sciences, 2014
Ph.D. Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 2021 Postdoctoral Scholar, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, 2021-2022
E: DeyangYu(at)lbl.gov
Google Scholar

Deyang has a background in organic chemistry, polymer, and NMR. He is interested in developing and understanding polymer-based solid electrolytes for batteries. In his free time, he enjoys photography

Kiwoong Lee
B.S. Seoul National University, 2013
M.S. Seoul National University, 2015
Ph.D. University of Michigan, 2023
E: kiwoonglee(at)lbl.gov

Kiwoong’s doctoral study focused on mechano-electrochemical understanding of Li/solid-electrolyte interfacial dynamics. Currently at LBNL, Kiwoong’s research aims to understand and develop the Zinc-air battery system.

Graduate Students

Featured

Karim Karouta
5th year graduate student
B.S. University of Texas, Austin, 2019

Karim is a fourth-year graduate student in the Reimer and McCloskey groups working to understand ion transport and solvation in electrolytes with PFG and ENMR. He enjoys team sports and small concerts. He has interned at P&G and Genetech and has worked briefly as a ski instructor.

Ning Guo
NSF Graduate Research Fellow
4th year graduate student
B.S. Texas A&M University, 2021
E: ningxguo(at)berkeley.edu
LinkedIn and Google Scholar

Ning’s current project focuses on developing novel liquid electrolytes to enable extreme fast charging of lithium-ion batteries. He received his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Texas A&M University in 2021. He performed his undergrad research with Dr. Perla Balbuena focusing on first-principle calculations and molecular dynamics simulations of SEI nucleation on lithium metal anodes. In his free time, he likes going on long hikes, geocaching, and cycling.

Zach Tronstad
4th year graduate student
B.S.E. Arizona State University, 2019
E: zachtronstad(at)berkeley.edu
LinkedIn and Google Scholar

Currently, Zach studies ion transport in composite solid electrolytes for lithium metal batteries. He received his B.S.E. in Chemical Engineering from Arizona State University in 2019. During his time as an undergraduate researcher, Zach worked with Dr. Matthew Green to investigate the effect of hydrophilicity on PVC/PVA electrospun membranes for water filtration. Outside the lab, Zach likes to read and play sports, especially frisbee and basketball.

Jaeheon Lee
3rd year graduate student
B.S. Pohang University of Science and Technology, 2019
E: jaeheon_lee(at)berkeley.edu
LinkedIn, Google Scholar, and Personal Website

Currently, Jaeheon studies the electrochemistry of solid-state lithium-air batteries using Differential Electrochemical Mass-Spectrometry (DEMS). Jaeheon received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and Chemical Engineering from POSTECH in 2019. Before coming to Berkeley, Jaeheon spent 3 years as a Researcher at the Agency for Defense Development, studying the synthesis of optimized porous materials and membranes for gas adsorption and numerical analysis of reaction-included gas flow structures. In his free time, Jaeheon enjoys watching an orchestra, cooking, and playing musical instruments.

Justin Rastinejad
3rd year graduate student
B.S. University of Connecticut, 2022
E: justin.rastinejad(at)berkeley.edu
LinkedIn

Justin's current research studies disordered rock salt (DRX) cathode materials and tuning the electrolyte to enhance their stability. Using the lab's Differential Electrochemical Mass Spectrometry (DEMS), Justin can analyze the gases evolved in situ during cycling. Outside of lab, Justin enjoys exploring the Bay Area's various restaurants and hiking trails, and performing STEM outreach through BASIS.

Devin Schinski
3rd year graduate student
B.S. University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, 2022
E: devin_schinski(at)berkeley.edu
LinkedIn

Devin's current research focuses on studying concentrated aqueous electrolytes at electrode interfaces. His work endeavors to better understand the effects of confinement on the structure and dynamics of the electrical double layer. In his free time, he likes to play guitar, go hiking, and cook.

Feben Wolde-Semayat
1st year graduate student
B.S./M.S. Drexel University, 2024
E: feben_wolde-semayat(at)berkeley.edu
LinkedIn

Feben currently studies the interfacial and transport limitations of sodium-ion batteries. She earned her B.S. in Chemical Engineering and her M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from Drexel University in 2024, where she worked with Dr. Maureen Tang on investigating the role of additives in enhancing hydrogen electrocatalysis. In her free time, Feben enjoys exploring coffee shops, going to museums, and live music.

Undergraduate Students

Featured

Rodrigo Hernandez
Senior, Chemical Engineering

Rodrigo studies ion transport in liquid electrolytes through NMR with Karim. In his free time, he likes to go skiing and relax on the glade whenever he can. LinkedIn

Noe Jean
Junior, Chemical Engineering

Noe works with Karim studying lithium and sodium electrolyte transport phenomena. Outside of the lab he enjoys going on walks, reading, and playing basketball. LinkedIn

Jiyun Kang
Junior, Chemical Engineering

Jiyun works with Jaeheon to study cathode materials for lithium-air batteries in humid conditions. She enjoys picnics, reading, and exploring new dessert places. LinkedIn

Visiting Scholars

Alumni

Featured

Triesha Singh (PhD 2024)
Thesis Title: Improving the Low Temperature Performance of Li-ion Batteries through Electrolyte Design and Interfacial Engineering
B.Tech. Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay, 2019

Post-lab position: Battery Engineer at Tesla

Hailey Boyer
B.S. University of South Carolina, 2020

Rania Ahmed

Dimitrios Fraggedakis
Miller Research Fellow
B.S. University of Patras, 2015
Ph.D. Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), 2021

Post-lab position: Assistant Professor, Princeton University

Jen Yu Lee (Visiting Scholar 2023-2024)
B.S. National Taiwan University of Science and Technology, 2018

Pranav Ramachandra

Helen Bergstrom (PhD 2023)
Thesis Title: Characterizing Ion Correlation and Transport in Next-Generation Lithium Battery Electrolytes
NSF Graduate Research Fellow
B.S. Brown University, 2015
LinkedIn and Google Scholar

Post-lab position: Battery Materials Scientist at Aluminio Inc.

Matthew Crafton (PhD 2023)
Thesis Title: Deciphering Electrochemistry of Li-Excess, Cation-Disordered Rocksalt Cathode Materials
B.S. Cornell University, 2018
LinkedIn

Post-lab position: Research Scientist at Sylvatex

Tzu-Yang Huang (PhD 2023)
Thesis Title: Advancing Titration and Mass Spectrometry to Quantify Mixed Redox Processes in Li-Excess Cation Disordered Rock Salt Cathodes
Berkeley Taiwan Fellow
B.S. National Taiwan University, 2013
M.S. National Taiwan University, 2015
LinkedIn and Google Scholar

Post-lab position: Battery Scientist at Anthro Energy

Zach Konz (PhD 2023)
Thesis Title: Lithium Plating Detection, Quantification, and Modeling to Enable Lithium-Ion Battery Fast-Charging
B.S. University of Wisconsin-Madison, 2018
LinkedIn

Post-lab position: Senior Battery Engineer at Form Energy

Fatima Yousuf (B.S. 2023)
Senior, Chemical Engineering

Post-lab position: Battery Engineer at Aluminio

Kylie Cheong (B.S. 2024)

Post-lab position:

Amanda Conde Del Moral (Amgen Summer Scholar, 2023)

Post-lab position: Materials Science Ph.D. student at Georgia Institute of Technology

Elyse Kedzie (PhD 2023)
Thesis title: Exploring Metal-Air Batteries with Quantitative Methods
B.S. University of Southern California, 2017
NSF Graduate Research Fellow

Post-lab position: California Energy Commission

Jingbo Wang (Postdoc 2022-2023)
B.S. Wuhan University, 2012
Ph.D. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 2018
Postdoctoral Scholar, University of California Los Angeles, 2018-2021
LinkedIn and Google Scholar

Post-lab position: Senior Scientist, Merck

David Brown (PhD, 2022)
Thesis title: Lithium-ion battery limitations under extreme operating conditions.
B.S. Columbia University, 2017
NSF Graduate Research Fellow

Post-lab position: Senior Member of the Technical Staff at QuantumScape

Kara Fong (PhD, 2022)
Thesis title: Ion correlations and transport in Li-ion battery electrolytes
B.S. Stanford University, 2016
M.Phil. University of Cambridge, 2017
NSF Graduate Research Fellow
Berkeley Graduate Study Fellow

Post-lab position: Trinity College Junior Research Fellow, University of Cambridge; Incoming Caltech Assistant Professor, 2025

Lori Kaufman (PhD, 2022)
Thesis title: Gas evolution studies on emerging cathode materials for lithium-ion batteries
B.S. Yale University, 2016

Post-lab position: Scientist, Redwood Materials

Donghun Lee

B.S. Yonsei University, 2007
M.S. Yonsei University, 2009

Current position: Cathode material development project, Battery R&D, LG Energy Solution

Ananya Subramani (BS, 2022)
Current Employer: Cuberg

Sarah Berlinger (PhD, 2021)
Thesis title: The governing interactions in fuel-cell catalyst-layer inks
B.S. Columbia University, 2016
NSF Graduate Research Fellow

Current position: Postdoctoral scholar in the lab of Prof. Joelle Frechette at UC Berkeley

Eric McShane (PhD, 2021)
Thesis title: “Quantitative analysis of graphite interphasial species and implications for fast charging”
B.S. Cornell University, 2016
NSF Graduate Research Fellow

Current position: CEO and Co-Founder, Electroflow Technologies

Elizabeth Corson (PhD, 2020)
Thesis title: “Plasmon-Enhanced Electrochemical Reduction of Carbon Dioxide“
B.S. Illinois Institute of Technology, 2011
NSF Graduate Research Fellow
LinkedIn and Google Scholar

Current position: Assistant Professor, University of Kansas

Lexi Ringsby (BS, 2021)
Current position: PhD student at Stanford University

Brendan Wirtz (BS, 2021)
Current position: PhD student at Stanford University

Joe Papp (PhD, 2020)
Thesis title: “High voltage reactivity in lithium batteries“
B.S. University of Kentucky, 2015
NSF Graduate Research Fellow
LinkedIn and Google Scholar

Current position: CTO at Anthro Energy

Srinivasan Ramakrishnan (Postdoc, 2018-2020)
B.Sc (Hons.) Chemistry, SSSIHL, 2010
M.Sc Chemistry, Indian Institute of Technology Madras, 2012
Ph.D. Chemistry, Stanford University, 2017
LinkedIn | Personal Website | CV

Current Position: Assistant Professor of Chemistry at IIT, Bombay

Peter Dudenas (PhD, 2020)
B.S. Penn State University, 2014
Primary Advisor: Adam Weber, LBNL

Thesis title: Method development for polymer thin film characterization with applications in perfluorinated sulfonic acid polymers

Current position: Postdoctoral researcher at NIST, Polymer Processing Group

Kristian Bastholm Knudsen (Postdoc, 2016-2019)
B.Sc. Aalborg University, 2010
M.Sc. Aalborg University, 2012
Ph.D. Technical University of Denmark, 2015
Postdoc. Technical University of Denmark, 2016
Visiting Scientist, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 2016
LinkedIn and Google Scholar

Current position: Product Developer at Unisense

Kyle Diederichsen (PhD, 2019)
Thesis title: “High transference number polymer-based electrolytes for lithium batteries“
B.S. University of Colorado, Boulder, 2014

Current position: Postdoc in Alan Hatton’s group at MIT.