o  Shannon Eichmann, PhD
Petroleum Engineer,
Upstream Research
Aramco Services Company

Shannon received her PhD from Johns Hopkins University (2010) where she worked on tracking gold nanoparticles in 3D and measuring potential energy interactions between nanoparticles and surfaces using Total Internal Reflection Microscopy (TIRM). Her work at Rice in Prof. Pasquali’s group involves using Near-Infrared (NIR) Fluorescence to track individual semiconducting Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes (SWNTs) in confining environments.  Awards include the Pathway to the Doctorate Fellowship, Texas A&M, and the Dow Graduate Fellowship, Dwight Look College of Engineering, Texas A&M University. After completing her postdoctoral research at Rice University, she was hired by Aramco Services Company as a Petroleum Engineer, Upstream Research.      

Postdoctoral Researchers

Nathan Orloff, PhD
Postdoctoral Researcher 
NIST

Theresa Hsu, PhD
Postdoctoral Researcher
Keck Hall - Rm 226C
tth4@rice.edu

Dr. Tienyi Theresa Hsu graduated from Cornell University with her Bachelors in 2007, and then obtained her PhD in Chemical Engineering from Stanford University in January 2012, under the supervision of Professor Gerald Fuller and Curtis Frank. For her PhD thesis, she investigated the fluid dynamics of soft materials such polymer and surfactant solutions, as affected by their non-linear rheological properties. Her postdoctoral research in Professor Matteo Pasquali’s laboratory involves exploring the flow processing of carbon nanotube (CNT) solutions to create macroscopic materials. Specifically, her goal is to create 3D CNT structures with controlled porosity and tunable mechanical strength.

Alex Lee, PhD
Postdoctoral Researcher
Keck Hall - Rm 230
jalexlee@rice.edu

Alex received his PhD from the University of Minnesota (2010) studying the convective assembly of nanoparticles into thin structured films. At Rice, he is working with methods developed in Prof. Pasquali's group to simulate transient free surface flows of simple viscoelastic liquids. Currently, our studies are being carried out as part of a collaborative research project with Prof. Jonathan Rothstein (University of Massachusetts - Amherst) examining the process of gravure coating applied to block copolymer solutions for scalable manufacturing of highly ordered phase-segregated (nano-structured) films.

Flavia Vitale, PhD
Postdoctoral Researcher
Keck Hall, Room 230
fv5@rice.edu

Flavia Vitale received her PhD at University of Rome "La Sapienza", where she worked on computational models for estimating hemolysis in complex flows.  Her work at Rice with Prof. Pasquali's group involves experimental characterization of cellular membrane deformation and rupture kinetics and development of a model for membrane rupture in fluid flows. The project is carried out in collaboration with Prof. Raphael (Department of Bioengineering, Rice University).

Bryan T. Whiting, PhD
Postdoctoral Researcher
Keck Hall, Room 226B
btwhiting@rice.edu 

Bryan received his PhD from Cornell University while working on new synthetic techniques for the production of biodegradable polymers. His work in Prof. Pasquali's lab is the synthesis of new polymeric materials capable of stabilizing solubilized carbon nanotubes under harsh conditions (temperature, salinity, pH) as well as investigating direct crosslinking of nanotube materials for enhanced mechanical properties.

Mohammed Adnan
PhD Candidate
Keck Hall 226B
 mohd.adnan@rice.edu 

Mohammed Adnan received his Bachelors degree in Chemical Engineering in 2010 from The Petroleum Institute, Abu Dhabi, U.A.E. He has undergraduate research experience in functionalization of graphene for production of nanocomposites. His current work involves improving properties of CNT fibers and expanding the applicability of CNT fibers.  On May 2, 2013, he won 1st place in the campus-wide First Annual Graduate Student Elevator Pitch competition 90-second presentation of  "Continuous fibers of Boron Nitride Nanotubes."

 Robby Headrick
PhD Candidate
Keck Hall 226B
rjh7@rice.edu

Robby Headrick received his bachelor degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Oklahoma in 2012.  During that time he worked as an intern at SouthWest NanoTechnologies in the R&D department where his research focused on post processing and application of semiconducting single walled carbon nanotubes.  He joined Prof. Pasquali's group in the Spring of 2013 as a PhD student in the Chemistry department.  His research interests include macroscopic assembly of carbon nanotubes and the control of their electronic properties through solution processing. 

 Vida Jamali
PhD Candidate
Keck Hall 231
vida.jamali@rice.edu

Vida earned her B.Sc in Sharif University of Technology, Iran in 2011. She joined Prof. Matteo Pasquali's group in 2012, and is working on modeling of liquid crystal polymers. 

Francesca Mirri
PhD Candidate
Keck Hall 226C
fm7@rice.edu

Francesca Mirri received her bachelor degree in chemical engineering from university of Bologna in 2009. She joined the PhD program in Rice university under the supervision of Prof. Pasquali in 2010 and co-advised by Robert Vajtai and Robert Hauge. Her research focuses on the fabrication of two and three dimensional structures made from solutions of carbon nanotubes in chlorosulfonic acid. In particular, she is involved in the study of a dip-coating technique for the production of conductive thin films for electronic applications. In addition, her work includes the optimization and characterization of carbon nanotubes foams and carbon nanotube synthesis. 

Zhao Tang
PhD Candidate
Keck Hall 226B
Zt5@rice.edu 

Zhao Tang received his B.S. honor degree in Chemical engineering (2012) from Purdue University where he worked on synthesis, printing and dynamic contrast optical imaging of magnetic responsive nanostructures under the supervision of Prof. Alexander Wei. He joined Professor Pasquali’s group in Rice University for his PhD study in 2012. Awards include 2010 Harrison M. Stine Memorial Scholarship, Purdue, 2011 Summer undergraduate research fellowship, Purdue Center for Cancer Research, and 2012 Hin Wei Wong Graduate Fellowship Award, Rice University.  As a new PhD Candidate, his research project will be assigned in the near future.    

Dmitri Tsentalovich
PhD Candidate
Keck Hall 226B 
det3@rice.edu

Dmitri graduated with a BS in Chemical Engineering from the University of New Hampshire (2008).  His research in the Pasquali group is focused on studying the fluid properties of CNT solutions in chlorosulfonic acid in order to improve the strength and conductivity of acid-spun CNT fibers.  His work includes measuring the length of CNTs with extensional rheology, studying the phase behavior of CNT solutions with light microscopy, and spinning and post-processing CNT fibers.

Colin Young
PhD Candidate
Keck Hall 226B
ccy1@rice.edu

Colin Young received a B.S. from Tulane University, majoring in Physics and Mathematics, and is currently a graduate student in the Applied Physics Program.  He was a recipient of the NDSEG Fellowship in 2009.  His research focuses on the rheology of carbon nanotube/acid solutions and fabrication of carbon nanotube fibers.

Undergraduate Students

April Choi Lab Assistant ahc4@rice.edu

April Choi is currently researching Carbon Nanotube Rheology and Liquid Crystalline phase behavior.

Yimin Luo Lab Assistant yl25@rice.edu

Yimin Luo is currently studying the morphology and solution behaviors of carbon nanotubes and graphene in chorosulfonic acid; exploring dip coating and other new techniques in fabricating thick carbon nanotube films for electromagnetic shielding applications. Yimin has earned a BS Degree in Chemical Engineering from Rice University, and will attend the University of Pennsylvania in the fall 2013 to pursue a PhD in Chemical Engineering.

Mengqi (Miki) Yu Lab Assistant

Mengqi (Miki) Yu is a Chemical Engineering major, rising senior student from Rice. She came from Nanjing, China. She is currently doing research with postdoctoral researcher Dr. Theresa Hsu on 3-D CNT foam synthesis and optimization.

Junchi Ma Lab Assistant

Junchi Ma is a rising sophomore undergraduate at Rice majoring in Chemical Engineering. His hometown is Shenyang, China. He is working with postdoctoral researcher Dr. Bryan Whiting on CNT stabilization in porous rock-like media for sensing applications. He likes playing basketball, watching movies and listening to music.

Julian Berdegue Lab Assistant

Julian Berdegue is a rising sophomore undergraduate at Rice planning on majoring in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (CHBE). He is from La Paz, Bolivia but has been living in San Antonio, Texas since 2001. Julian chose to get involved in the research to gain hands-on learning experience. He is working with postdoctoral researcher Dr. Bryan Whiting on developing crosslinking techniques of carbon nanotubes and measuring their properties using dynamic mechanical analysis. In his free time, he enjoys writing songs and outside activities such as running, playing sports, and mountain climbing.

Junli Hao Lab Assistant

Junli Hao is a rising junior undergraduate at Rice majoring in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (CHBE). She is from Shenzhen, China. She is conducting research this summer under the mentorship of graduate students Colin Young and Dmitri Tsentalovich on fabrication of CNT fibers using superacids, and their mechanical and electrical characterizations.

Maria-Paula Muñoz Office Assistant mpm4@rice.edu

Maria-Paula is an Office Assistant in the lab and is a junior at Rice pursuing a BS in Civil Engineering with a Minor in Sustainability.

Hazel Cole, CPS
Program Coordinator
Keck Hall - Rm 231
713-348-3250
hcole@rice.edu

Hazel Cole joined Rice University  in February 2004 as Executive Assistant to Richard E. Smalley, Nobel Laureate and University Professor (1943-2005).  After his passing on Oct 28, 2005,  she began working for Dr. Matteo Pasquali who was appointed Co-Director of the Carbon Nanotechnology Laboratory (CNL).   In February 2008, CNL was reorganized, and Prof Pasquali returned to his home department, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering (CHBE) and asked Hazel accompany him in a new position working for the department and Prof Pasquali.  in October 2010, she became Program Coordinator, and assists Prof Pasquali and his research group.   

Cole has 40+ years executive level administrative experience in the corporate world. She attained the Certified Professional Secretary (CPS)® rating from the Institute for Certifying Secretaries in 1978.  Her professional record includes numerous awards and leadership positions in the American Business Women’s Association (ABWA), Professional Secretaries International (PSI), Federation of Houston Professional Women (FHPW), etc. where she was honored as PSI 1978 Secretary of the Year, FHPW 1993 Woman of Excellence, and ABWA 2003 Woman of the Year.   She has numerous published articles in trade magazines. Hazel works part-time (Mondays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays).