People

Natasha Wright | Richard and Barbara Nelson Assistant Professor

Ph.D. 2018, Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
M.S. 2014, Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology
B.S. 2012, Mechanical Engineering, University of St. Thomas, St. Paul, MN

Research Interests: Membrane-Based Separation Processes, Desalination, Engineering Global Development, Water and Sanitation in Emerging Markets, Design Ethnography and Product Design
Teaching Subjects: ME8243 Research and Methods for Sustainability Impact, ME5312 Solar Thermal Technologies, ME4054 Design Projects
E-mail: [email protected]

Ibrahim Yekinni | Research Professional 5 - Research Translation

MBBS 2015, Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery, College of Medicine of the University of Lagos, Lagos, Nigeria

Research Interests: Biomedical Engineering, Translational Medicine, Global Health, Product Design
Research Topic: Decentralized Peritoneal Dialysis Fluid Production
E-mail: [email protected]

Carolyn Bernemann | Ph.D. Candidate

M.S. 2024, Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities
B.S. 2021, Mechanical Engineering, Iowa State University, Ames, IA

Research Interests: Engineering Global Development, Medical Devices, Sustainability, Product Design and Design Methodology
Research Topic: Decentralized Peritoneal Dialysis Fluid Production
E-mail: [email protected]

Ali Abdelkawi | Ph.D. Candidate

M.Sc. 2021, Mechanical Engineering, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
B.S. 2017, Mechanical Engineering, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt

Research Interests: Scaling Kinetics in Desalination, Gypsum Induction Time, Small Scale Brine Management, Machine Learning, Brine Treatment, Resource Recovery
Research Topic: Prediction and control of mineral crystallization in modular desalination and brine management systems 
E-mail: [email protected]

Jenn Hoody | Ph.D. Candidate

M.S. 2022, Civil & Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley
BME 2020, Mechanical Engineering, University of Dayton

Research Interests: Global Development Engineering, Clean & Renewable Energy, Food-Energy-Water Nexus, WASH (Water, Sanitation & Hygiene), Interdisciplinary Research, Circularity, Heat Transfer 
Research Topic: Circular energy systems and heat transfer in greenhouses: food sovereignty in local and global contexts
E-mail: [email protected] 

Ian Manning | Ph.D. Candidate

B.S. 2022, Physics and Environmental Science & Sustainability, Allegheny College, Meadville, PA

Research Interests: Circularity Systems, Global Sustainable Development, Clean & Renewable Energy, Food Production, Aquatic Systems, Ecosystem Protection
Research Topic: Brine Management
E-mail: [email protected] 

Pauly Soulia | M.S. Student

BSME 2023, Mechanical Engineering, University of Minnesota - Twin Cities

Research Interests: Clean and Renewable Energy, Thermodynamics & Heat Transfer, Interdisciplinary Research
Research Topic: Electrodialysis Desalination
E-mail: [email protected]

Vasanth Balamurugan | M.S. Student

B.E. 2023, Mechanical Engineering, Anna University, Chennai, India

Research Interests: Heat Transfer, Energy Management, Clean and Renewable Energy
Research Topic: Food Loss Reduction through Dehydration
E-mail: [email protected] 

Jaxen Lindsey | Undergraduate Researcher

Research Topics: Gas Extraction in Anaerobic Wastewater Treatment, Resource Recovery from Desalination Brine

Daniel Navarro | Undergraduate Researcher

Research Topic: Decentralized Peritoneal Dialysis Fluid Production

Eric Walsh | Undergraduate Researcher

Research Topic: Electrodialysis Desalination