Shawn Chen
Shawn completed his undergraduate degree in Chemistry at UBC. During his studies, he had the opportunity to delve into the topic of polymers degradation and discovered that less than 10% of the plastics were being effectively recycled by the local government. He hopes to contribute his knowledges in chemical catalysis to degrade the recalcitrant structures of plastics while preserving their properties. Through joining the Net0MM program, he hopes to gain entrepreneurial skills to propel scientific concepts into viable businesses. Apart from research, Shawn relaxes by either brewing a delightful cup of coffee at home or exploring local coffee shops.
Supervisor: Laurel Schafer
Sydney Mikulin
Sydney completed her undergraduate degree in Materials Chemistry at McGill University. Her undergraduate research experiences have solidified her commitment to further pursue a PhD in Chemistry at UBC. Her current research focuses on enhancing the mechanistic understanding of a specific design strategy for thermally activated delayed fluorescence (TADF) molecules, which are used to create more energy efficient OLEDs. She resonates deeply with the Net0MM program, recognizing that sustainability plays a pivotal part in today’s society. She is looking forward to the professional development trainings and industrial internship segment of this program. Outside of research, Sydney finds joy in various art and crafts activities.
Supervisor: Zachary Hudson
Emily Shilton
Emily completed her undergraduate degree in Mechatronics Engineering, focusing on solving engineering problems. Her interests in sustainability grew when she was working on the Google Pixel team as an electrical engineer, witnessing piles of e-wastes being created. This motivates her to pursue a MSc in Environment and Sustainability, with research focuses on LCA analysis of “invisible” e-wastes. Through the Net0MM program, Emily looks forward to engaging in courses and workshops that bridge materials, manufacturing, and sustainability fields, aiming to implement effective sustainable practices. She is also a member of our Net0MM program committees. Outside of research, she enjoys skiing, rock climbing, and reading.
Supervisor: Milind Kandlikar
Padmapriya Srinivasan
Since her early years, Padma’s passion for sustainability was evident. In the past, she successfully converted vegetable oil into high-purity biodiesel using a known catalyst. Faced with multiple options, she recognized the importance of understanding the molecular interactions of chemical structures to address materials sustainability. This motivates her to pursue a PhD in Chemistry at UBC, specializing in inorganic and polymer chemistry. She also actively participates in EDI across campus. She is a coordinator of the Chemistry D & I group and a member of our Net0MM EDI committees. Through the Net0MM program, she hopes to bridge the gap between her chemistry expertise and its real-life applications.
Supervisor: Parisa Mehrkhodavandi
Ethan Sun
Ethan has always been fascinated by the technological aspects in materials and manufacturing. This has led him to pursue a MASc in Materials Engineering at UBC. Having completed his undergraduate degree in manufacturing engineering, his current research focuses on enhancing energy efficiency during the curing process of composites. He is excited about participating in the i2I component of the Net0MM program, as it offers the opportunity to acquire skills for commercializing academic research. He also hopes to gain deeper understanding in how sustainability impacts the society economically and socially. Outside of research, Ethan is an outdoor enthusiast – relishing winter slopes and exploring mountains during the summer.
Supervisor: Anoush Poursartip and Adam Clare
Sheena Yan
Sheena’s curiosity to explore research methodologies in cutting edge technologies drives her pursuit of a MASc in Materials Engineering at UBC. Her interest in sustainability grew significantly during her co-op at a manufacturing plant, witnessing high energy consumption and substantial waste generation. She is a strong advocate to implement lean manufacturing principles to enhance materials manufacturing processes. Through this program, she hopes to bridge the gap between bench-scale research and real-world applications. Beyond academics, Sheena is a saxophone player and plays regularly in her community band. She also recently developed an interest in cross-stitching and knitting.
Supervisor: Yasmine Abdin
Amardeep Amardeep
Amardeep’s nosiness into new materials and how their properties tailored them to cutting-edge technologies led him to pursue his B.Tech. and M.Tech. in Metallurgical Engineering and Materials Science at IIT Bombay, where he developed air-stable solid-electrolyte for Li-batteries. Continuing his journey and realizing the need for sustainable batteries, Amardeep joined UBCO as a Ph.D. student in Mechanical Engineering and chose to develop sustainable battery materials. Amardeep hopes to advance his professionalism, gets a deep insight into the socioeconomic impact of sustainability, and bridge the university-industry gap via the Net0MM program. Beyond his research activities, Amardeep enjoys hiking, exploring nature and new places.
Supervisor: Jian Liu