2023 Projects

Lauren S. Aguilar ’25

Mathematics

Advisor: Kristin Bergmann, D. Reid Weedon, Jr. ’41 Career Development Professor, Earth, Atmospheric, and Planetary Sciences
Direct Supervisor: Les Armstrong, Graduate Researcher, MIT Energy Initiative
Sponsor: Friends of MITEI UROP (IAP)

Cost analysis of long-term geological hydrogen storage

Advisor: Christoph Reinhart, Director, Building Technology Program; Professor, Architecture
Direct Supervisor: Zachary Berzolla, PhD Candidate, Architecture
Sponsor: Friends of MITEI UROP (fall)

Energy modeling and building retrofits in Addison County
Currently, buildings account for nearly 40% of global carbon emissions. Energy-saving retrofits are a necessity to mitigate the negative environmental impacts associated with the built environment. To advise about the strategic allocation of funding for these retrofitting initiatives, our work analyzes the effectiveness of clustering buildings based on physical characteristics and demographic information. By understanding the implications of different clustering methods on the effectiveness of retrofit packages, we hope to inform policymakers about the ideal way to design retrofitting incentives.

Joy Bhattacharya ’24

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Advisor: David G. Atkin, Professor, Economics; Co-chair, Firms, J-PAL
Direct Supervisor: Garg Tishara, Graduate Student, Economics
Sponsor: Friends of MITEI UROP

The impact of economic zones and related place-based polices

Daniel T. Brown ’25

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Advisor: Jessika Trancik, Professor, Institute for Data, Systems, and Society
Direct Supervisor: Aliza Khurram, Postdoctoral Associate, Institute for Data, Systems, and Society
Sponsor: Friends of MITEI UROP

Evaluating demand side management strategies on various energy systems

Jakob Byrd ’25

Mechanical Engineering

Advisor and Direct Supervisor: John E. Parsons, Senior Lecturer, Sloan School of Management; Deputy Director for Research, Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research
Sponsor: Friends of MITEI UROP

Siting a nuclear platform green fuels facility on the Gulf Coast
The aspiration for worldwide net-zero carbon emissions by 2050 is hindered by the inability of renewable energy sources to be competitive with conventional fossil fuels. In order to decarbonize fossil fuel–intensive industries, especially the maritime industry, our team is researching the implementation of a floating nuclear power platform that produces carbon-free fuel in the form of hydrogen and ammonia. The success of the project could potentially cause the maritime industry to drastically reduce their carbon emissions, as well as establish hydrogen and ammonia industries that will be instrumental in achieving a net-zero future.

Shealy Callahan ’26

Mechanical Engineering

Advisor and Direct Supervisor: John E. Parsons, Senior Lecturer, Sloan School of Management; Deputy Director for Research, Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research
Sponsor: Friends of MITEI UROP

Environmental regulations for desalination on- and offshore in the Gulf of Mexico

Shreya Chaudhary ’26

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Advisor: Robert C. Armstrong, Director, MIT Energy Initiative
Direct Supervisor: Vladimir Dvorkin, Postdoctoral Fellow, MIT Energy Initiative
Sponsor: Friends of MITEI UROP

Synthetic dataset generation to support the energy transition

Ernesto Gomez ’26

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Advisor: Lawrence Susskind, Ford Professor of Urban and Environmental Planning, Urban Studies and Planning
Direct Supervisor: Jungwoo Chun, Graduate Student, Urban Studies and Planning
Sponsor: Friends of MITEI UROP

Renewable energy facilities siting conflict analysis and engagement
Developing a database of efforts by local stakeholders to block renewable energy projects can inform prevention and/or resolution of conflict among renewable energy developers, regulators, and local communities, fostering the engagement necessary to pursue a greener, renewable future, together.

Victoria Hagenlocker ’26

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Advisor: Siqi Zheng, STL Champion Professor of Urban and Real Estate Sustainability; Faculty Director, MIT Center for Real Estate; Faculty Director, MIT Sustainable Urbanization Lab
Direct Supervisor: Juan Palacios, Postdoctoral Researcher; Director, CRE Climate and Real Estate Initiative; Head of Research, Sustainable Urbanization Lab
Sponsor: Shell (summer) and Friends of MITEI UROP (fall)

Building decarbonization policy tracker to support large-scale commercial retrofits
Emissions from on-site natural gas and oil heating systems in buildings pose significant obstacles to achieving a net-zero society, and while high-efficiency electric heat pumps offer a promising solution, their adoption is hindered by higher installation costs and a shortage of skilled installers. We’re developing a framework that combines energy modeling and financial analysis to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of heat pump installations. Our ongoing research investigates the impact of contractors on installation costs and performance, offering valuable insights into their practices and the resulting installation quality.

Eric Kim ’25, KENTECH

Energy Engineering

Advisor and Direct Supervisor: Christoph Reinhart, Director, Building Technology Program; Professor, Architecture

City-wide rooftop PV potential maps
As the world shifts toward carbon-zero energy systems, making buildings more efficient will play a crucial role. However, there is essential data needed to understand the uptake of building enhancements, especially surrounding costs and budgeting. Our project combines census data, geographic data, and building information to inform the “willingness to pay” for building efficiency upgrades.

Colin Klick ’24

Management

Advisor: Robert C. Armstrong, Director, MIT Energy Initiative
Direct Supervisor: Antje Danielson, Director of Education, MIT Energy Initiative
Sponsor: Shell

Network analysis on wind energy in Maine
Offshore wind (OSW) will play a crucial role in meeting Maine’s energy and climate goals. Opposition to offshore wind turbines being built in Maine has hindered the development of offshore wind within the state. A comprehensive literature review of the stakeholders involved in offshore wind in Maine was conducted to form a framework for a social network analysis. Through this analysis we will identify and understand the relationships between OSW stakeholders, the characteristics of OSW stakeholders, and help Maine transition towards OSW.

Selin Kocalar ’26

Mechanical Engineering

Advisor: Feng Zhang, James and Patricia Poitras Professor in Neuroscience, Department of Brain and Cognitive Sciences
Direct Supervisor: Soumya Kannan, PhD Candidate, Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard
Sponsor: Friends of MITEI UROP

Characterization and functional elucidation of diverse CRISPR-Cas systems

Lesley L. Lambaric ’26

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Advisor: Desirée Plata, Gilbert W. Winslow (1937) Career Development Professor in Civil Engineering; Associate Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Direct Supervisor: Yunpo Li, Graduate Student, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Sponsor: Friends of MITEI UROP

Evaluation and monitoring of methane gas emission by oil and gas development

Dohyeon Lee ’25, KENTECH

Energy Engineering

Advisor and Direct Supervisor: Andy Sun, Iberdrola-Avangrid Professor in Electric Power Systems; Associate Professor, Operations Research

Data analytics for the planning and operation of a highly renewable power system
The aim of the research is to synthesize accurate, high-resolution data on the output of wind and solar farms to facilitate the integration of renewable energy sources effectively into our energy systems. Through my research, which utilizes advanced optimization techniques and the ERA5 reanalysis dataset, we can create highly realistic models of hourly capacity factors for wind and solar farms in key locations identified by existing studies. This research not only helps the utilization of renewable energy output while reducing costs, but also provides data-backed insights for planning and operation and ensures the reliability of our electricity grid as we transition towards a sustainable energy future.

Trent Lee ’26

Mechanical Engineering

Advisor: John H. Lienhard, Abdul Latif Jameel Professor of Water, Mechanical Engineering
Direct Supervisor: Zi Hao Foo, Graduate Student, Mechanical Engineering
Sponsor: Friends of MITEI UROP

Harvesting lithium through the nanofiltration of salt-lake brines/Electrodialysis for lithium production from battery leachates (summer)
With an impending green transition, the need for lithium to be used in rechargeable batteries has grown tremendously. As a result, we must find a reliable and renewable way to produce lithium. Our project is developing a sustainable system to produce lithium from recycled batteries using various membrane separation processes.

Harvesting lithium through the nanofiltration of salt-lake brines (fall)
With an impending green energy transition, the need for lithium to be used in rechargeable batteries is projected to grow tremendously. Given that lithium is a nonrenewable resource, recycling lithium-ion batteries will be critical in not only helping meet this demand, but also in processing the expected growing waste stream of end-of-life batteries. Our project is developing a closed-loop system to produce battery-grade lithium from recycled batteries using electrodialysis processes that is both environmentally friendly and economically viable. From our experiments and analysis, we can produce battery grade lithium hydroxide at a price that is up to 30x cheaper than the current market price.

Elaine Liu ’24

Mathematics

Advisor and Direct Supervisor: Marija Ilić, Senior Research Scientist, Laboratory for Information and Decision Systems
Sponsor: Shell

Optimal EV charging station allocation for grid reliability and consumer satisfaction
The rapid adoption of electric vehicles introduces higher demand for electricity when drivers come home from work in the evening. In order to alleviate stress on the power grid, we need to encourage drivers to charge at different locations and at different times of day. To encourage this behavior, charging stations need to be placed strategically. Our research shows that given the right market incentives, companies will optimize their charger allocation in these ways and ensure our power grid is efficient and sustainable.

Miranda X. Liu ’26

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Advisor: Robert C. Armstrong, Director, MIT Energy Initiative
Direct Supervisor: Amanda Farnsworth, Graduate Student, Chemical Engineering
Sponsor: Friends of MITEI UROP

Impact of variable renewable energy capacity factor profile aggregation level

Johlesa Orm ’26

Artificial Intelligence and Decision Making

Advisor: Dan Sweeney, Research Scientist; Lecturer, D-Lab
Direct Supervisor: Priya Pradhan, Fulbright Postdoctoral Researcher, D-Lab (summer)
Sponsor: Shell (summer) and Friends of MITEI UROP (fall)

Machine learning modeling to optimize bioenergy production
Transforming farm waste into charcoal has the potential to curb deforestation while making use of abundant materials to provide for some communities’ growing energy needs. However, the factors impacting the quality and quantity of charcoal from waste material still need to be studied. Using machine learning, we can gain better understanding of these factors and ultimately assist engineers and charcoal producers in their efforts to efficiently and sustainably produce better fuel. (summer)
Unimproved biochar manufacturing can be dangerous and polluting. Transforming materials like farm waste into charcoal has the potential to curb deforestation while meeting energy demand. Using machine learning, we can gain a deeper understanding of the interactions between a particular material and its production settings, such as initial carbon content and heating rate. This analysis ultimately identifies the conditions needed to maximize the amount and quality of charcoal produced, assisting rural energy partners in their efforts to efficiently and sustainably produce better fuel. (fall)

Samantha Rencher ’24

Nuclear Science and Engineering

Advisor and Direct Supervisor: John E. Parsons, Senior Lecturer, Sloan School of Management; Deputy Director for Research, Center for Energy and Environmental Policy Research
Sponsor: Shell

The competitive landscape for distributed nuclear cogeneration
Combined heat and power generation allows industrial and commercial complexes to save money and reduce emissions by using a more efficient process; however, it is a space in our energy system that is currently filled by fossil fuels and is incompatible with typical green energy sources, like solar or wind. Nuclear reactors are compatible with this process, and offer the ability to continue using this efficient technology with no carbon emissions.

Geon Roh ’25, KENTECH

Energy Engineering

Advisor and Direct Supervisor: Long Ju, Assistant Professor, Physics

Novel optoelectronic devices based on 2D materials
Despite the tremendous potential of van der Waals (vdW) materials to revolutionize various fields, including electronics and energy, our incomplete understanding of lattice relaxation, stemming from interlayer interaction, is impeding the progress of research and the realization of their full capabilities. Utilizing Atomic Level Tomography, enabled by techniques like Transmission Electron Microscopy and machine learning algorithms, we aim to precisely identify and characterize lattice relaxation as well as other interlayer interactions within vdW materials. This approach not only allows us a deeper fundamental understanding of vdW materials but also accelerates these materials to be used in real-world applications such as energy-efficient electronics and hydrogen fuel cells.

Miles Roper ’25

Mechanical Engineering

Advisor: Asegun Henry, Associate Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Direct Supervisor: Shomik Verma, Graduate Student, Mechanical Engineering
Sponsor: Friends of MITEI UROP

Charactering high-temperature near black emitters in thermophotovoltaic devices
Thermophotovoltaic (TPV) cells, which convert thermal energy into electrical energy, can theoretically have high power density (~10W/cm2) and efficiency (~50%) but researchers are struggling to achieve these values experimentally. Additionally, the practically of such devices is limited as only a few carbon-based thermal emitter materials have been tested so far. To bridge this gap, we are testing emitter materials that are oxidation resistant, such as silicon carbide and metal oxides, to allow extended usage. We are also incorporating surface engineering to improve the thermal emissivity of these new emitters to enhance the power density and efficiency of TPV cells. These innovations promote a new sustainable energy that can challenge fossil fuel alternatives.

Tomasz J. Slusarczyk ’25

Mathematics

Advisor: Richard de Neufville, Professor of Engineering Systems, Institute of Data, Systems, and Society
Direct Supervisor: Austin Saragih, Graduate Student, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Sponsor: Friends of MITEI UROP

Value of information and flexibility analysis for power system generation expansion planning under uncertainty

Emily Suh ’25, Wellesley

Computer Science

Advisor: Saurabh Amin, Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering; Director, Henry L. Pierce Laboratory; PI, Laboratory for Information and Decision Systems
Direct Supervisor: Rahman Korramfar, Postdoctoral Associate, MIT Energy Initiative
Sponsor: Friends of MITEI UROP

Designing a user interface for JPoNG, an open-source tool for joint infrastructure planning
On the one hand, energy planning tools and software are essential to plan for the future energy infrastructure, evaluate the impact of new technologies, and understand the implications of energy policies and regulations. On the other hand, the transferability of the open-source energy planning models to new users becomes increasingly difficult due to the large number of possible configurations. Recognizing this complexity, the JPoNG (Joint Planning of Natural Gas and Electric Power) model is implemented as open-source software for joint planning of power and NG systems. We have implemented a Graphical User Interface that enables the user to easily adjust the configurations for the problem based on the relevant scope and constraints that the user needs to perform an analysis. An example of a constraint is Unit Commitment, and users are able to define the lost load values, decarbonization target, projection signifier scenario, etc. The user interface can also help anyone understand, for example, the transition from fossil fuels to solar energy with the parameters that are presented. The availability of open-source software can make joint infrastructure planning accessible to many, turning it into a concerted effort. Users can specify the parameters associated with the energy vectors for this model through the GUI, which aids in techno-economic calculations and analysis. The JPoNG model eases the transition to low-carbon energy systems, thus mitigating the impacts of climate change.

Christine W. Tang ’25

Civil and Environmental Engineering

Advisor and Direct Supervisor: Eric Anton Verploegen, Research Engineer; Lecturer, D-Lab
Sponsor: Friends of MITEI UROP

Constructing a communication system to improve the clay pot cooler user experience

Reed Tubbs ’25

Chemical Engineering

Advisor and Direct Supervisor: Fikile Brushett, Associate Professor, Chemical Engineering
Sponsor: Shell

Electrodeposition of metal species
Improving electrodeposition of scrap materials and metals increases the rate of recovery of these elements from waste streams, which is directly related to reducing toxins in the environment. This toxicity reduction effectively limits the accumulation of harmful solutions and compounds, reducing the risks to humans and the environment. The potential impact of maximizing electrodeposition applications on the environment would pave the way for a cleaner industry, economy, and environmental conditions. Specifically, this UROP could potentially contribute to the reduction of hazardous metal material in mineral processing wastewater streams, which contain many heavy metals that often lead to pollution of agricultural land.

Wendy Zhang ’26

Electrical Engineering and Computer Science

Advisor: Robert C. Armstrong, Director, MIT Energy Initiative
Direct Supervisor: Antje Danielson, Director of Education, MIT Energy Initiative
Sponsor: Friends of MITEI UROP

Network analysis on wind energy in Maine
The diverse perspectives of offshore wind (OSW) stakeholders in Maine are adversely impacting the development of this emerging industry. Through a comprehensive literature review and a citizen survey to gather data on Maine residents’ associations, connections, and concerns, we lay the groundwork for an upcoming social network analysis. This analysis will allow us to understand the intricate connections between OSW stakeholder groups, understand stakeholder perspectives of OSW, and help support Maine’s transition towards OSW.

Justin Zhou ’26

Management

Advisor: Robert C. Armstrong, Director, MIT Energy Initiative
Direct Supervisor: Ruaridh Macdonald, Energy Systems Research Lead, MIT Energy Initiative
Sponsor: Friends of MITEI UROP

Improvement of visualization of data from GenX and DOLPHYN models