Lab Members
Amin Mirkouei, Lab Director
Programs: Industrial Technology, Technology Management, Mechanical Engineering, Biological Engineering, and Environmental Science
Affiliated Professor, Center for Advanced Energy Studies (CAES)
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Current Ph.D. Students
Rance Bare, Ph.D. Student (2019-present), exp. Fall 2023
Program: Biological Engineering, University of Idaho
Research: Wastewater recycling and nutrient-recycling, using biochar-based products
Ethan Struhs, Ph.D. Student (2019-present), exp. Fall 2023
Program: Mechanical Engineering, University of Idaho
Research: Biomass conversion and upgrading to value-added products
Emmanuel Opare, Ph.D. Student (2019-present), exp. Spring 2023
Program: Mechanical Engineering, University of Idaho
Research: Sustainability assessment of rare earth elements extraction from e-wastes
Rebecca Brown, Ph.D. Student (2021-present), exp. Spring 2025
Program: Environmental Science, University of Idaho
Research: Rare earth elements recovery from urban wastes and e-wastes
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Current M.Sc. Students
Galo Albor, M.Sc. Student (2020-present), exp. Fall 2022
Program: Environmental Science, University of Idaho
Research: Economic and environmental sustainability
Jonathan Gibson-Cromer, M.Sc. Student (2021-present), exp. Spring 2023
Program: Environmental Science, University of Idaho
Research: Sustainable agriculture and soil-plant health improvement
Tanjina Tabassum, M.Sc. Student (2021-present), exp. Spring 2023
Program: Technology Management, University of Idaho
Research: Sustainable supply chain and advanced design and manufacturing
Elizabeth Bush, M.Sc. Student (2021-present), exp. Fall 2023
Program: Mechanical Engineering, University of Idaho
Research: Sustainable Building Design
Gordon D. Hinckley, M.Sc. Student (2022-present), exp. Spring 2025
Program: Environmental Science, University of Idaho
Research: Economic and environmental sustainability
Lisa Hawkins, M.Sc. Student (2022-present), exp. Fall 2023
Program: Technology Management, University of Idaho
Research: Social life cycle assessment of teleworking
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Visiting Scholars and Postdoctoral Researchers
Amir Mohajeri (Ph.D.), Visiting Scholar (Fall 2019- Spring 2020)
Research: Sustainable design and manufacturing and techno-economic modeling. Current Position: Research Associate at Roseman University of Health Sciences
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Undergraduate Researchers
Michael Glaser, B.S. Student in Industrial Technology (Summer 2022-present): Gold bioleaching
Jill Randall, B.S. Student in Environmental Science (Summer 2022-present): Gold agromining and phytomining
Taylor Hill, B.S. Student in Industrial Technology (Summer 2021-present): Ultrasonic pyrolysis process
Jonathan Alvarez, B.S. Student in Industrial Technology (Summer 2021-Spring 2022): Plastic wastes recycling and rare earth elements recovery
Timothy Adelizzi, B.S. Student in Industrial Technology (Spring 2020-Fall 2020): Automation and smart manufacturing
Nathaniel Marlin, B.S. Student in Environmental Science (Fall 2019-Spring 2020): Sustainability assessment across food-water systems
Meesha Frye, B.S. Student in Industrial Technology (Fall 2019-Spring 2020): Social life cycle assessment
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Graduate Alumni
Justin Walters (M.S. in Technology Management, 2021)
Thesis: "Social Impact Assessment Across Manufacturing Facilities." Current Position: MFC Drafting Manager at Idaho National Lab
Matthew Thompson (M.S. in Technology Management, 2020)
Thesis: "Nitrogen Trifluoride and Furfural Supply Chains: Life Cycle Assessment and Techno Economic Analysis." Current Position: Senior Technician-Dry Etch Equipment at Micron Technology
Sergio Hernandez (M.Sc. non-thesis in Environmental Science, 2020)
Project Title: "Lignocellulosic Biomass as a Renewable Energy Source and Wear Contributions on Biomass Preprocessing Systems." Current Position: Researcher at U.S. Department of Energy
Alby Joe George (M.Sc. non-thesis in Technology Management, 2020)
Project Title: "Fast pyrolysis of Biomass to Bio-oil and Upgrading it by Electrochemical Hydrogenation and Ultrasound Cavitation: Design and Analysis." -
Samuel Hansen (M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, 2019)
Thesis: "Synthesis of Biofuels and Blended Fuels from Biomass Feedstocks: Strategies for Upgrading Bio-oil." Current Position: Mechanical Engineer at Premier Technology Inc.
Benjamin Hersh (M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, 2019)
Thesis: "Biochar Production, Applications, and Waste Management for Enhancing Sustainability Benefits across Food-Energy-Water Systems." Current Position: Architectural Products Representative at Integrated Marketing Concepts, Inc.
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Former Lab Researchers
Rudolph Lauth (M.S. Student in Mechanical Engineering, Spring/Summer 2021): Sustainable Design and Manufacturing
Brian Donovan (Ph.D. Student in Biological Engineering, Fall 2019 and Spring 2020): Bioelectrochemical technologies for water-energy production
Meesha Frye (B.S. Student in Industrial Technology, Fall 2019 and Spring 2020): Social life cycle assessment
Nathaniel Marlin (B.S. Student in Environmental Science, Fall 2019): Sustainability assessment across food-water systems
John Chadron Ryan (M.S. Student in Mechanical Engineering, Spring/Summer/Fall 2018): Bio-oil and biochar production
Darpan Mukesh Shah (Ph.D. Student in Computer Science, Summer 2018): Cyber-physical bioenergy systems
Scott Ashby (Researcher, Summer 2018): Automizing biomass-based fuel production, using a programmable logic controller