Posters

I am a PhD student working in the Engine Research Center on gasoline spark-ignited direct-injection (SIDI) engines. My work is sponsored by the Great Lakes Bioenergy Research Center (GLBRC) and is focused on the development of a fuel screening process to determine the performance of novel biofuels in-engine without having to run a gasoline-biofuel blend in an actual engine, instead focusing on key engine processes that are important for spark-ignition (SI) operation. In order to model the in-engine behavior of gasoline-biofuel mixtures, I have also developed a process to optimize the composition of a representative gasoline surrogate that will be used in the fuel screening process model; real gasoline fuels are composed of thousands of components, modeling each one of them is not feasible. The optimized gasoline surrogate is a simple seven-component mixture and, after in-engine validation, behaves very similarly to the gasoline fuel mixture it was based off of.

Computational and Theoretical Chemistry

I am a theoretical chemist and physicist with around 6 plus years of experience.

Currently, I am pursuing postdoctoral research on understanding the behavior of complex fluids.

As a grad student, I was into ultrafast theoretical spectroscopy dealing with the time evolution of structural dynamics of aqueous solutions, ionic liquids, electrolytic mixtures, and biomolecules.
Being associated with the school, I have 17 publications in peer-reviewed journals, have presented my research in 5 international and 6 national conferences, and have earned several accolades.

Looking forward to building a career ahead in academia!

Arjun Muralikrishnan is a 3rd year Undergraduate student majoring in Computer Sciences and Mathematics with certificates in Environmental Studies and Digital Studies.

Audrey Stanton is a PhD student in the Environment and Resources program at the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies. Her research interests include campus sustainability, sustainability education, and life cycle assessment. As a project assistant with the Office of Sustainability, Audrey supports the undergraduate internship program, Green Fund, and campus sustainability map.

Audrey received an Environment and Resources M.S. from the University of Wisconsin–Madison and an Environmental and Sustainability Sciences B.S. from Cornell University.

In her free time, Audrey enjoys trips to the local farmers’ markets, exploring Madison’s natural areas, and cooking delicious dinners with friends.

Bryn Scriver is the Volunteer & Outreach Coordinator for the UW Lakeshore Nature Preserve. She has served in this role since 2009. She has both a BS and MS from UW-Madison with a focus on ecological restoration of native plant communities. She loves to engage students and community members in caring for our beloved campus landscapes.

My research and expertise focus on seed systems and the culture of agriculture. As an agroecologist, I am passionate about the significance of seed and agriculture in our societies. This vital sector provides us with sustenance, but we must understand the importance of nurturing the environment, and how the science, practice, and movement of seed work builds a foundation for our food system. Bountiful harvests and resilient seed systems require careful tending to a long-term focus on sustainability.

The Sustainability Committee is one of the five open committees of the Associated Students of Madison (ASM), focusing primarily on environmental sustainability at UW-Madison. As a committee, we identify pressing environmental issues on campus and organize grassroots campaigns to promote sustainable solutions. The goal of this committee is to advocate for administrative and operational changes related to environmental stewardship, and ultimately create a more sustainable campus. We often connect with the greater Madison community to expand our efforts and advance our shared vision of sustainability. We also coordinate with other open committees, such as Legislative Affairs and Equity and Inclusion Committee, to work on environmental policy and environmental justice issues.

Committee members work together in teams on semester-long campaigns relating to environmental education, compost, water, energy, plastics, and more. Any student is welcome to join throughout the year, we are excited to hear your ideas for a more sustainable campus!

The Hydroclimate Extremes Research Group work on a range of topics including: measuring, modeling, and analyzing of extreme rainfall; understanding how rainfall and land surface processes produce floods under current and potential future conditions; and developing practical tools for improved rainfall and flood hazard and risk estimation.

David is a PhD candidate at UW-Madison in Electrical Engineering. He and his advisor, Prof. Dan Ludois, are interested in leveraging the unique properties of electrostatics to make an impact in the renewable energy and power utility sectors.

Prior to his doctoral studies, David was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to pursue his M.Sc. in Electrical Engineering at the Dresden University of Applied Sciences in Germany. His research focused on using fiber-optic technologies to boost the capacity of transmission lines. He completed his undergraduate studies at the University of Pittsburgh with a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and a B.A. in German.

I am a Ph.D. candidate in Civil and Environmental Engineering, and am part of the Hicks Research Lab – Sustainability & Emerging Technology Research Group. My research focuses on the evaluation of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) flows in metal recycling streams. I grew up in Missouri and currently live in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. My aim is to work in the overlap of science/engineering, business, and policy, to advance sustainability initiatives across the board.

The Food Team aims to address and improve food waste, food access, and food education on the UW–Madison campus. The food team consists of nine student interns: Elisabeth Bautista, Maddy Doeden, Annabelle Letizia, Melina Nguyen, Kylie Schedler, Rory Tevlin, Winston Thompson, Bailey Tomsich, and Chandler Wells.

The UW–Madison Office of Sustainability Green Events team is composed of 6 student interns in the 2023-2024 cohort: Elisabeth Bautista, studying Conservation Biology and Global Health; Emma Erickson, studying Conservation Biology and Environmental Studies; Brynne Hill, studying Environmental Studies and Spanish; Annabelle Letizia, studying Environmental Science; Melina Nguyen, studying Political Science and People-Environment Geography; Rory Tevlin, studying Agricultural Business Management. We as interns recognize the actions event planners are taking to reduce the environmental impact of their event and encourage them to expand their efforts. We are eager to collaborate and make each client’s event a sustainability success.

The UW–Madison Office of Sustainability Green Office team is composed of 6 student interns in the 2023-2024 cohort: Elisabeth Bautista, studying Conservation Biology and Global Health; Maddy Doeden, studying Legal Studies & Environmental Studies; Thomas Hadcock, studying Economics, Environmental Studies, and History; Narayani Meghna Varanasi, studying Economics; Kylie Schedler, studying Environmental Science; Britta Wellenstein, studying Environmental Studies and Life Science Communications. We as interns want to help inform and educate UW–Madison employees so that they can become part of a campus community where sustainability is meaningful and widespread.

Hien Vu received the BSc degree in Electronics and Telecommunications Engineering from Hanoi University of Science and Technology, Vietnam, in 2018, and the MSc degree in Computer Science from Soongsil University, South Korea, in 2020. He is currently a third-year PhD student in Electrical and Computer Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, WI, USA. His research interests includes cyber-physical systems, internet-of-things, low-power computing and communication.

I’m a computer science student finishing up my undergrad this semester, and starting a master’s this spring. I’m the president of Data Science for Sustainable Development’s Madison chapter, which creates software for non-profits, NGOs, academic organizations, and other student organizations. We target the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), which strongly push for sustainability and renewables, but also focus on economic and social issues.

Jon Starfeldt is a student of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences & Data Science and co-leads HELIOS. Winston Thompson is a student at International Studies and Biology. Britta Wellenstein is a Senior at UW-Madison studying Science Communications and Environmental Studies. Thomas Hadcock is a Senior undergraduate in the L&S Honors Program studying Economics, History, and Environmental Studies. Narayani Meghna Varanasi is a Junior at UW–Madison studying Economics and Mathematics. Hannah Stahmann is studying Spanish and Environmental Studies earning certificates in Sustainability and Public Policy and co-leads CLEAN. Emily Valentine is a student at UW-Madison studying chemistry and environmental sciences and co-leads CLEAN. Shardul V. Singh is a Project Assistant in the Office of Sustainability studying an MS in Industrial Engineering at UW-Madison. Jaime Garibay-Rodriguez is a postdoctoral researcher at La Follette School of Public Affairs and SAGE. Josh Arnold is the campus energy coordinator with the Office of Sustainability.

Dr. Jaime Garibay-Rodriguez is a Postdoc at La Follette School of Public Affairs, where he works in the Climate Action Lab (led by Prof. Morgan R. Edwards) and has affiliations in the Office of Sustainability and the Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment (SAGE). Part of his research focuses on modeling and optimizing sustainable energy transition systems, particularly related to buildings and energy justice during the energy transition. Jaime also works in collaboration with the Office of Sustainability to assess clean energy potential at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. Prof. Morgan R. Edwards is an Assistant Professor at La Follette School of Public Affairs, with affiliations at the Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment (SAGE) and the Holtz Center for Science & Technology Studies. Her research and teaching focus on just energy responses to the climate crisis across policymaking scales.

Javiera is a first-year graduate student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, pursuing a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering with a minor in Energy Analysis and Policy. Her research centers on applying optimization techniques to develop decision-making tools to promote the energy transition. Before embarking on her Ph.D. journey, Javiera earned her B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of Chile in 2022. While there, she focused on designing and evaluating renewable energy systems within the mining sector, showcasing her commitment to addressing critical energy and environmental challenges. Following her graduate studies, Javiera gained practical experience as an energy consultant, advising financial institutions on financing renewable energy projects in South America. Beyond her academic and professional pursuits, she enjoys cooking, outdoor activities, and cross-stitching.

Haley Rogers, Strategic Initiatives Analyst, Office of Finance & Administration. Vanessa Herald (she/her), Project Manager, Office of Strategic Consulting. Josh Arnold, JD, MBA, LEED AP, is the Campus Energy Advisor with the Office of Sustainability, where he is responsible for coordinating energy conservation, renewable energy, and strategic planning efforts at the campus of the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

Leo Strand, a sophomore at the UW, majors in Environmental Studies and Political Science, with minors in Public Policy and History. Beyond classes, Leo is employed at a local bike shop, interns with Wisconsin Assembly Member Jenna Jacobson, and is an active member of several student organizations. Their passion for environmental policy propels them towards fostering a more sustainable Wisconsin via public policy initiatives.

Matilyn Bindl is pursuing her PhD in the Nelson Institute Environment and Resources program with a certificate in Energy Analysis and Policy. Advised by Dr. Morgan Edwards of the La Follette School of Public Affairs, Matilyn’s interdisciplinary research uses integrated assessment models to understand the scale-up potential, policy implications, and equity impacts of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies.

Computer Sciences PhD Student working on Optimization Modeling for Policy Impacts. Advised by Michael Ferris. Active projects in modeling the US and Wisconsin Energy Grid at varying resolutions to plan for the future energy needs of our communities under diverse policy paradigms.

The Green Labs intern team aims to help all laboratories on campus become more sustainable. Our consultation services provide UW–Madison students, faculty, and staff the information and tools they need to better understand the impacts of their practices and create healthy and sustainable laboratory environments. The Green Labs team consists of Emma Erickson, Thomas Hadcock, Gaby Johnson, Winston Thompson, Bailey Tomsich, and Chandler Wells.

The SustainUW Podcast is created and hosted by student interns from the UW-Madison Office of Sustainability. Each episode explores a different question related to sustainability as it impacts the UW-Madison campus and the broader community. Guests include professors, student activists, campus staff, and other experts who help hosts uncover the complicated story of sustainability. This podcast examines common narratives of environmentalism and questions the status quo, seeking to understand what’s up with sustainability and where we should go from here.

I am a Postdoc at the La Follette School of Public Affairs. My research focuses on the quantification and mitigation questions around methane and energy transition at various spatial scales – from cities to global. I did my Ph.D. in atmospheric science at Colorado State University, looking at the role of metals in the Earth and energy systems. Before that, I was an environmental engineer in India treating wastewater and air pollution.

I am Saurabh, currently working as research assistant at Mechanical Engineering in UW Madison. Previous I worked as Senior Manager R&D for Tata Motors (parent company for jaguar and land rover). I graduated from IIT Madras, Chennai India. During this short research journey, I have 6 publications and 3 patents.

I am a PhD student in my second year. I am from soil sensing and monitroing Lab, the department of soil science. I am testing a novelty soil nitrate sensor working with researchers from mechincial engineering department. I am also studying nitrate leaching, and fertilizer application practice management.

The Social Sustainability Coalition is part of the Student Intern Program at the Office of Sustainability here at UW–Madison. Our group hopes to initiate and continue discussions of social sustainability on campus and in our community. We strive to educate people on the importance of social sustainability and the necessity of protecting and supporting people while saving our planet.

I hereby introduce myself Taqdeer Gill, a PhD student in the Department of Horticulture at University of Wisconsin-Madison under the mentorship of Dr. Yi Wang. My research project focuses on development of remote sensing based decision support models for nitrogen management of vegetable crops such as dark kidney beans and snap beans.

I got opportunity to gain science advocacy and leadership experience as a part of 2022 SEED ambassador (Scientists Engaging and Educating Decision-makers) program and received 2021 Future Leaders in Science Award by ASA). I was a part of team Tennessee during the “2021 Future Leaders in Science Award” program where I got an opportunity to advocate for funding support for USDA research programs for fiscal year 2022.

My career aspiration is to provide sustainable solutions to the current agricultural problems.

Travis Blomberg (he/him/his) coordinates campus’ zero waste efforts. Specifically, Travis aligns sourcing/procurement practices, consumption behavior, and diversion opportunities for recoverable materials. Travis works closely with various stakeholders including, but not limited to, purchasing departments, Physical Plant, research offices, academic enterprise, Capital Planning & Development, business operations, facility and office managers, the UW System, students, student organizations, Wisconsin Union Directorate, University Athletics, University Housing, municipal governments, waste / recycling companies, suppliers, economic development councils, and community business partners.

Yoel is a postdoctoral researcher in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Yoel completed his B.S. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology and his Ph.D. at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. His research focuses on assessing and guiding the development of new and emerging processing technologies for biofuels, bioproducts, and plastics recycling. During his Ph.D., Yoel created the BioSTEAM open-source software to enable the design, simulation, and assessment of biorefineries under uncertainty. As the lead developer, Yoel holds virtual workshops for researchers around the world to further grow the BioSTEAM community. Yoel also enjoys dancing and teaching Salsa, Bachata, and Cumbia in his free time. Be it through modeling conceptual technologies, creating software for a broader audience, or growing the dance community, Yoel hopes to make a lasting impact for a sustainable future.