Lakshmi Yasodhara Ananthabhotla
Home Department: Chemical and Petroleum Engineering
Advisor: Dr. Karl Johnson
Covestro Fellow
When industrialization happened, nobody thought about where the waste would end up. In today’s world, designing for a Circular economy and adopting sustainable living methods could bring a noticeable change in solving environmental issues. My passion lies in working to bring about these changes while at the same time boosting awareness of the seriousness of these issues. I have my undergraduate degree in Chemical engineering from Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham, India. Before joining Pitt, I worked as a project associate at the Indian Institute of Technology, India on the modeling of multi-phase reactors for biomass pyrolysis.
Nicole Bell Mascaro
Home Department: Civil and Environmental Engineering
Advisor: Dr. Melissa Bilec
Circular Economy Fellow
Nicole Bell Mascaro is a PhD candidate and Covestro Circular Economy Fellow at the University of Pittsburgh. She graduated in 2019 with undergraduate degrees in Physics and Mathematics from Duquesne University and Civil Engineering from the University of Pittsburgh. Nicole has worked at Mascaro Construction since 2019 in the Building and Operations division. She will be studying the built environment and circular economy.
Carlan Gray
Home Department: Chemical & Petroleum Engineering
Advisor: Dr. Susan Fullerton-Shirey
Mascaro Fellow
Carlan Gray is a PhD student and a Covestro Circular Economy Fellow. He completed his Master's degree in Chemistry and a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics at Duquesne University in 2023. During his five years at Duquesne, Carlan led his own project studying the biophysical characteristics of ribonucleic acids. Now, he seeks to help guide the chemical world towards sustainability and a circular economy.
Santiago Ortiz
Home Department: Chemical & Petroleum Engineering
Advisors: Dr. Götz Veser and James McKone
Covestro Fellow
Ph.D. student in the Department of Chemical and Petroleum Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh. Chemical Engineer and Master in Process Design and Management from Universidad de La Sabana (Colombia). Three years of experience developing and leading research projects framed in the energy transition and design of novel low-carbon-footprint technologies. Two years of experience as a university lecturer in multiple engineering courses. Expertise in scientific programming, computer-aided engineering design, and data science. Current research interests in chemical reaction engineering and process intensification for Power-to-X applications.
Mahjabin Rahman
Home Department: Industrial Engineering
Advisor: Dr. Amin Rahimian
Mascaro Fellow
Ph.D. student in the Department of Industrial Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh. Graduated from Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) with a bachelor's degree in Industrial and Production Engineering. Four years of experience as a university lecturer while teaching several courses in the relevant field. The most intriguing aspect of Industrial Engineering is its way of involving humans, technology, and machines while formulating optimal decision-making models in the presence of uncertainty. Looking ahead to implementing these tools to build eco-friendly production processes, reduce waste with lean manufacturing, and prioritize ethical supply-chain practices and consumer behavior.