Group Members
[Last updated on: 10/24/2024]
PI | PhD Students | Masters Students | Research Members | Undergraduate Students | Alumni
Professor Sean Lubner (CV)
Sean Lubner, core faculty with the Boston University Institute for Global Sustainability (IGS), is an assistant professor at Boston University in mechanical engineering and materials science engineering. Before joining BU, Lubner was a research scientist at MIT and a Seaborg Fellow research scientist at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory. He holds Bachelor’s degrees in both Mechanical Engineering and Applied Physics from Carnegie Mellon University, and a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, where he was an NSF fellow.
He specializes in nano-to-macro energy transport and conversion, and has worked on a variety of energy-related systems including biomedical devices, electrochemical and thermal energy storage systems, solid state energy conversion devices, machine learning models, and water desalination. Lubner works extensively with both industry and academia, and holds numerous joint patents and publications.
His current interests are most focused on grid-scale long duration energy storage in the form of high temperature heat, to help decarbonize both electricity and industrial process heat; non-invasive in-situ sensors for delicate or harsh environments, such as batteries, biological systems, or fuel cells; and direct air capture of CO2.
Education:
Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from UC Berkeley, 2016
B.S. in Applied Physics from Carnegie Mellon University, 2011
B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University, 2011
Affiliations:
Assistant Professor, Department of Mechanical Engineering
Assistant Professor, Division of Materials Science & Engineering
Core Faculty, Institute for Global Sustainability
Boston University Photonics Center
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
PhD Students
Aaron Khan (he/him) – LinkedIn – abacchus@bu.edu
Program: Ph.D. in Materials Science & Engineering
Education:
B.S. Physics from University of Connecticut, 2017
M.S. Materials Science & Engineering (LEAP) from Boston University, 2022
Research: Thermal wave sensing in fabrication and cycling of clean energy storage materials
– Institute for Global Sustainability (IGS) Summer Fellow, 2023
Hobbies: Years of kitchen/bartending experience led to a love of cooking and mixology and fostered an interest in molecular gastronomy. Also plays guitar (he snuck onto an FM radio show once!), plays video games and lifts recreationally. Involved in SAGE and immigration non-profit work.
Savannah Schisler (she/her) – LinkedIn – sschisle@bu.edu
Program: Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering
Education:
B.S. Mechanical Engineering from University of Rochester, 2022
B.A. in Physics & Astronomy from University of Rochester, 2022
Research: Using optical methods to study thermal properties of materials; energy storage
– Northeast Sustainable Energy Association (NESEA) BE the Future Scholar, 2024
Hobbies: In her free time, you can find her playing field hockey or working out at FitRec, admiring her houseplants, drinking coffee, painting, or reading! Involved with SAGE and MSE-GSA on campus.
Jay Yoo (he/him) – LinkedIn – jyoo8826@bu.edu
Program: Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering
Education:
B.S. Mechanical Engineering from University of Rochester, 2023
Research: High-Temperature Thermal Energy Storage Materials
Hobbies: Dedicates most of his free time working out at FitRec, likes to learn and cook various cuisines. Also likes to sing and play the guitar, plays videogames.
Hannes Albers (he/him) – LinkedIn – hcalbers@bu.edu
Program: Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering
Education:
B.S. Mechanical Engineering from ETH Zurich, 2020
M.S. Mechanical Engineering from ETH Zurich, 2023
Research: Development of novel CO2 sorbent material and their integration into advanced direct air capture of CO2 systems
Hobbies: Enjoys playing squash, participating in triathlons, mountaineering, and skiing during free time.
Corbyn Stosich (she/her) – LinkedIn – stoscorb@bu.edu
Program: Ph.D. in Materials Science & Engineering
Education:
B.S.E. Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering from University of Pennsylvania, 2024
Research: Mass transport and properties of materials, CO2 sorbent
Hobbies: Spends her free time hiking, camping, reading, being a coffee snob, and playing both board and video games. Also involved in MSE-GSA and GWISE E-Boards!
Mathan RK (he/him) – LinkedIn – mathanrk@bu.edu
Program: Ph.D. in Materials Science & Engineering
Education:
M.S. Materials Science & Engineering from Boston University, 2021
B.E. Materials Science & Engineering from Anna University, 2018
Research: Modelling low temperature heat transfer
Hobbies: In his free time, Mathan enjoys going for runs and reading books.
Masters Students
Robert Cervone-Richards (he/him) – LinkedIn
Program: M.S. in Robotics and Autonomous Systems
Education:
B.S. Mechanical Engineering from State University of New York at New Paltz, 2022
B.A. Astronomy from State University of New York at New Paltz, 2022
Research: Designing, assembling, and programming of automated chambers for carbon capture sytems
Hobbies: Frequently seen tinkering and crafting, whether it be 3D printing or putting together model kits and Legos. Other times, he can be seen hiking, working out, playing video games, reading, or terrorizing local conventions and events in his 3D printed masks and helmets. (Always feel free to ask him about the stuff he makes!)
Alex Guthman (he/him) – LinkedIn
Program: M.S. in Materials Science & Engineering
Education:
B.A. Economics from University of San Diego, 2021
Research: Optimizing CO2 sorbent coating processes, testing sorbent performance in various environmental conditions, carbon-capture economic analysis
Hobbies: Alex spends his free time making music with friends, backpacking, cooking, or playing video games.
Research Members
K. Raina Tung (she/her) – LinkedIn
Title: Visiting Researcher
Education:
B.S. Mechanical Engineering from Boston University, 2024
Research: Thermal wave sensors
Hobbies: Enjoys playing violin, editing videos, needle felting, watching baseball.
Eric Richter (he/him) – LinkedIn
Title: Visiting Masters student from ETH Zurich
Education:
B.S. Micro- and Nano-Engineering from EPFL (Lausanne, Switzerland), 2021
Research: Modelling mass transport in carbon capture devices
Hobbies: Eric likes freeloading and asking too many questions. If you throw him into water, onto a slope, or rocky mountains, on ice, or within the streets of a smoky city, he’ll be happy! He’s an all around outside dweller.
Undergraduate Students
Alexander Rocca (he/him) – LinkedIn
Major: B.S. Mechanical Engineering with a concentration in Energy Technologies and Sustainability, Co’25
Research: Direct air capture (DAC) technologies including optimizing CO2 sorbent material synthesis processes and DAC thermodynamic modeling
Hobbies: In his free time, he enjoys rock climbing, hiking, brewing espresso, making pasta, reading, and listening to music. He also works as a Lab Advisor at SILab and bartends.
Jamie Chen (he/him) – LinkedIn
Major: B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Co’26
Research: Thermal Wave Sensors, measuring thermal conductivity and thermal resistance of materials
Hobbies: In his free time, he enjoys reading, cooking, hiking, watching and playing soccer
Alumni
Haneen Ahmed (she/her) – Materials Science REU Student, 2024