Principal Investigator
Dr. Philip E. Savage
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Department Head and Walter L. Robb Family Chair Affiliations: Chemical Engineering 121D Chemical and Biomedical Engineering Building Email:pes15@psu.edu Phone:814-867-5876 About me: B.S. Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University Website: Department Head, Walter L. Robb Family Chair |
Our lab focuses on chemical reactions in hot, compressed water, both below and above its critical point (374°C). We work with systems that have the potential for improving the environment and for sustainable production of energy. Over the years we have contributed to a better understanding of and advancing technology for oxidation in supercritical water for waste treatment, chemical synthesis in water for green chemistry, gasification in supercritical water to convert biomass and wastes to H2 and CH4, and hydrothermal liquefaction to convert wet biomass into a renewable bio-oil that can be upgraded and refined like petroleum to produce the fuels and chemicals needed in our modern society. We conduct careful experimental studies and then develop reaction engineering models for these complex reacting systems to facilitate the design and techno-economic assessment of the emerging technologies. I spent the first 28 years of my career at the University of Michigan, where I am now Arthur F. Thurnau Professor Emeritus of Chemical Engineering. I came to Penn State as department head in 2014. It was a homecoming of sorts, as I did my undergraduate studies at Penn State as well (BS ChE 1982). I then did my Ph.D. work at the University of Delaware and graduated in 1986. Our lab has published over 230 research articles and several of the articles earned “highly cited” status for being in the top 1% in their field. Work from the lab has been recognized by the 2020 Lawrence K. Cecil Award from the AIChE Environmental Division, the 2015 Energy & Fuels Excellence in Publication Award from the American Chemical Society, and the 2014 Research Excellence Award from the AIChE Sustainable Engineering Forum.
Lab Members:
Graduate Students:
Patrícia Pereira
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BSc and MSc Chemical Engineering, Instituto Superior Técnico (2014 – 19)
Email: pqp5270@psu.edu Project: Sustainable and Circular Engineering for the Elimination of End-of-life Plastics
Hobbies: Violin, Puzzles, Painting, Writing, Video games. Fun Fact: From Portugal and a metalhead. |
Peter Guirguis
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B.E. Chemical Engineering, The Ohio State University 2020 B.S. Applied Math in Chemistry, The Ohio State University 2020 Email: pmg5421@psu.edu Project: A Universal Molecular Kinetic Model for HTL of Biomass and Plastics
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Yixing Cao
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B.S. in Chemical Engineering, Penn State 2021 M.S. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, University of Pennsylvania 2023 Email: ybc5169@psu.edu Project: PET decomposition Hobbies: Workout, Video games Fun Fact: Have a million subscribers on Bilibili. |
Emir Salmanzadeh
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B.S. in Chemical Engineering, Bogazici University 2022
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Current Undergraduates:
Joseph Kotkin
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B.S. Chemical Engineering |
Erica Stelling
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B.S. Chemical Engineering |
Shane Smith
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B.S. Chemical Engineering |
Group’s Alumni:
Graduate Students:
Dr. Jimeng Jiang
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B.S. in Chemical Engineering, Dalian University of Technology, 2014 Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering, Penn State University, 2019 M.S. in Computer Science, University of Pennsylvania (2021 – present) Email: jimeng.jiang@merck.com Graduate Projects:
Present: Senior Scientist, Merck & Co. |
Dr. Akhila Gollakota
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BE(Hons), Chemical Engineering, Birla Institute of Technology and Science- Pilani, India 2012 MS, Chemical Engineering, The State University of New York at Buffalo 2015PhD Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University 2019 Email: agollakota@dow.com Graduate Projects:
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Dr. James D. Sheehan
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B.S. Chemical Engineering, Illinois Institute of Technology 2014 PhD Chemical Engineering, Pennsylvania State University 2019 Email: jdsheehan@ua.edu Graduate Projects:
Present: Assistant Professor of Chemical & Biological Engineering, University of Alabama Website: Dr. James Sheehan at University of Alabama |
Dr. Bita Motavaf
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B.S. Chemical Engineering, University of Tehran (2011 – 15) Ph.D. Chemical Engineering Penn State University Email: bvm5395@psu.edu Projects:
Present: Process Engineering Senior Specialist at Vertex Pharmaceuticals |
Dr. Seshasayee Mahadevan
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B. Tech. (Hons.) Chemical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Trichy (2014 – 18) Ph.D. Chemical Engineering Penn State University (2018-22) Email: sxm1778@psu.edu Projects:
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Tim Shokri
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B.S. Chemical Engineering, University of Tehran (2014 – 18) Email: txs5645@psu.edu Projects:
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Undergraduates:
Abbey Kollar
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B.S. Chemical Engineering with Honors in Chemical Engineering, Applied Economics Minor Expected Graduation: May 2023 Email: apk5656@psu.edu Projects: Investigated plastic – biomass interactions during hydrothermal liquefaction (sub- and near critical water processing) by examining compositional effects and kinetics. Led independent project examining the possible catalytic effect of waste metals on hydrothermal liquefaction. Presentations: International Conference of Undergraduate Research (Sept. 2021) and London Student Sustainability Conference (Feb. 2022) Future Research Goals: Hoping to pursue a PhD in Chemical Engineering related to sustainability and integrating economics and policy. Hobbies: Running, environmental advocacy, attending Penn State football games, trying new foods Fun Fact: Studied abroad in London Spring 2022 Abbey Kollar | LinkedIn |
Joyce Yin
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Bachelor of science, chemical engineering with honors in chemical engineering Intended graduation: May 2023 Email: jmy5380@psu.edu Savage Lab (August 2020-May 2021): Processed plastics and biomass under supercritical water conditions to help develop a kinetic reaction model via hydrothermal liquefaction Industry experience: Process Engineering Intern at HP (Summer 2022) Research & Development Co-op at Burt’s Bees (Spring 2022) Engineering Intern at PPG Industries (Summer 2021) Engineering Intern at Kennametal In\c. (Summer 2020) Honors thesis: Statistics and Design of Experiments (DOE) micro-credential for chemical engineering students entering industry (thesis advisor: Dr. Monty Alger) Involvement & hobbies: President of OXE (chemical engineering honors society), treasurer of Sigma Omicron Pi (Asian-interest sorority), kayaking, fancy coffee, disc golf Joyce Yin | LinkedIn |
Katherine “Katie” Maloney
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B.S. Chemical Engineering, Environmental Engineering Minor Expected Graduation: May 2024 Email: Kam7575@psu.edu Project: I helped to investigate the interactions of plastic and biomass during hydrothermal liquefaction, along with fellow undergraduate students. Future Aspirations: While I am still exploring career opportunities and different industries through various internships, I know I would like to pursue a career that allows me to solve technical problems and has a positive impact on the world around me! Hobbies: Hiking, watching and playing sports, traveling Fun Fact: Between School, Internships, and my co-op I have lived in 4 states in the past year (Maryland, Pennsylvania, Georgia, and Missouri) Katherine Maloney | LinkedIn |
Nathan Robert Taggart
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B.S. Chemical Engineering, Material Science Minor Expected Graduation: May 2024 Email: nft5095@psu.edu Projects: Worked on hydrolysis of plastics contained in electronic waste at supercritical conditions to examine products and try and understand the most effective hydrolysis method of plastic polymers. Future Research Goals: Intending to obtain a masters or PhD in Chemical Engineering or Material Science to analyze thermodynamics and kinetics of different materials and to optimize different engineering methodologies. Hobbies: Hiking, kayaking, being outdoors, cooking and eating new foods, participating in robotics groups, playing and practicing the trumpet and baritone saxophone for both jazz and marching bands. Fun Fact: Won the FIRST robotics competition district event in Bridgewater New Jersey in 2019 which led to a placement in the world’s competition in Boston in the same year. |
Shadhan Hilal Al-siyabi
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B.S. Chemical Engineering, Intended Graduation: May 2024 Email: sha5179@psu.edu Project: investigating the breakdown of Polyethylene in hydrothermal liquefaction under different temperature. Future goal: I am planning on getting a PhD in chemical engineering related to the natural gas and petroleum field. Fun fact: I received the highest scholarship in Oman to study at any university. Hobbies: Traveling, hiking, reading, swimming. Shadhan Al-siyabi | LinkedIn |
Kevin Reasons
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B. S. Chemical Engineering, environmental engineering minor Expected Graduation: 2025 Email: ktr5190@psu.edu Project: Worked on the depolymerization of Polystyrene at supercritical conditions via fast hydrolysis. Future aspirations: Graduate with a B.S. in Chemical Engineering and continue working in the environmental/recycling field of engineering. Hobbies: Playing soccer and basketball, running, cooking, drawing, and listening to music. Fun Fact: I played tennis in Flushing Meadows NYC in the NY state tennis championships. Kevin Reasons | LinkedIn |
Angelo David Testa
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B.S. Chemical Engineering |
Jordyn Chuy
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B.S Chemical Engineering |
Willem Slear
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B.S. Chemical Engineering |