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WILLIAM MUSTAIN, PH.D.

Professor of Chemical Engineering
Director, Carolina Institute for Battery
                  Innovation (CIBI)

Recent Honors and Awards

  • Fulbright Scholar Fellowship

  • Electrochemical Society Energy Technology Division Research Award

  • USC CEC Research Achievement Award

  • USC ECHE Publication Award

  • CQIA Platinum Innovation Prize (Shared with R. Maric, C.B. Carter and J. Roller)

  • DOE Early Career Award

  • Illinois Institute of Technology Young Alumni Award

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Devadharshini Kathan

Ph.D. Candidate

B.Tech., Chemical and Electrochemical Engineering,

CSIR-Central Electrochemical Research Institute, India, 2022

Interests and Activities:

  • Synthesis and Characterization of active materials in primary and secondary batteries

  • Optimization of operational parameters influencing the performance of batteries

  • Personal Interests: Origami, Reading books

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Belinda Awudu Agamah

Ph.D. Student

B.S. Materials Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, 2022

Interests and Activities:

  • Development and fabrication of electrode materials with high capacity and reliability for Li-ion batteries

  • Electrode Materials Synthesis and Characterization

  • Personal Interests: Cooking, Crocheting

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Mahmoud (Nadi) Amirsalehi

Ph.D. Candidate

M.S., Materials Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Iran, 2015

B.S., Materials Engineering, Sharif University of Technology, Iran, 2013

Interests and Activities:

  • Electrolyzers and Fuel Cells – Electrode Design, Cell Assembly, and Performance Optimization

  • Electrochemical Techniques: In-Situ and Ex-Situ Methods for Investigating Catalyst Behavior, Electrode Stability, and Degradation Pathways

  • Personal Interests: Playing guitar, singing, swimming, cooking, enjoying nature, and spending time with cats

Yingdan Cui

Postdoctoral Fellow

Ph.D., Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, 2024

M.S., Chemical Engineering, Tianjin University, 2019

Interests and Activities:

  • Improving membrane electrode assembly and impurity tolerance for energy conversion devices

  • Developing advanced catalysts for hydrogen fuel cells

  • Personal Interests: Baking, skiing

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Sriram Mosali

Postdoctoral Fellow

Ph. D., Chemistry, Monash University, 2021

M.Sc., Nanotechnology, Acharya Nagarjuna University, 2015

Interests and Activities:

  • Addressing scientific challenges related to decarbonization and energy conversion

  • Developing novel catalysts and deriving structure-property relations for sustainable electrochemical synthesis of chemicals

  • Personal Interests: Reading books, Travelling, Tree planting

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Najmaddin Bashirzada

Ph.D. Candidate

B.S., Chemical Engineering,  QAFQAZ University (Current- Baku Engineering University), 2015

 

Interests and Activities:

  • Optimization of operational parameters influencing the performance of batteries

  • Improving energy capacity of batteries

  • Personal Interests: Exploring new cultures by travelling, networking, snowboarding 

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Mohammed Al-Murisi

Ph.D. Candidate

M.S., Chemical Engineering, American University of Sharjah, UAE, 2021

B.S., Chemical Engineering, King Faisal University, KSA, 2018

Interests and Activities:

  • Efficient pathways to produce and utilize green hydrogen

  • Developing Materials for Electrolyzers and Fuel Cells

  • Personal Interests: Travelling, Networking, and Diving

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Ian Street

Ph.D. Candidate

B.S. Chemical Engineering, University of South Carolina, 2023

Interests and Activities:

  • Climate change prevention and environmental protection

  • Upcycling carbon dioxide to synthesize value-added chemicals and fuels 

  • Personal Interests: sailing (racing and cruising), running, and recreational sports

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Yekta Bashiri

Ph.D. Student

M.S., Chemical Engineering, Ferdowsi university of Mashhad, Mashhad, Iran, 2019

Interests and Activities:

  • Lifecycle characterization, testing and assessment of electrolyzer components

  • Development and investigation of water electrolyzers

  • Personal Interests: tennis, cooking

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Rachel Wayne

Undergraduate Researcher

B.S. Chemical Engineering, University of South Carolina, Expected May 2027

Interests and Activities:

  • Renewable energy development & implementation

  • Synthesis and optimization of materials 

  • Personal Interests: French, gardening, gym

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Connor Miles

Ph.D. Student

B.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of South Carolina, December 2024

Interests and Activities:

  • Research and implementation of cleaner energy resources

  • Improving fuel cell efficiency through development and testing of various filtration configurations

  • Personal Interests: chess, golf, weightlifting

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Harrison Price

Ph.D. Student

B.S. Chemical Engineering, University of South Carolina, 2024

Interests and Activities:

  • Environmental sustainability and materials recycling

  • Battery performance and efficiency

  • Personal Interests: Sports, music, history

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Adrien Juhel

Visiting Scholar

Master’s in Electrochemistry and Processes for Energy and the Environment, University of Grenoble Alpes, expected September 2026

​B.S. Physics Materials Processes, Phelma Grenoble INP, France, 2024

Interests and Activities:

  • Research and development of fuel cell and battery technologies

  • Improving PEM fuel cell performance under contaminated environments

  • Personal interests: working out, skiing, hiking, music & drums, exploring new cultures

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Katherine Foster

Undergraduate Researcher

B.S. Chemical Engineering, University of South Carolina, Expected December 2026

Interests and Activities:

  • Improving electrolyzer performance for the production of clean hydrogen

  • Mitigating the effects of contaminants on PEM fuel cells

  • Personal interests: Reading, Painting, Baking

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Aubrey Lemmon

Undergraduate Researcher

B.S. Chemical Engineering, University of South Carolina, Expected May 2028

Interests and Activities:

  • Development of electrochemical cell technologies

  • Renewable Energy Technology

  • Personal interests: Pens, Physical Media, and Linux

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Bella Mudd

Undergraduate Researcher

B.S. Chemical Engineering, University of South Carolina, Expected May 2027

Interests and Activities:

  • Environmental sustainability 

  • Renewable energy development

  • Personal interests: Music, baking, reading

CONTACT US

Professor William E. Mustain

Department of Chemical Engineering
Swearingen Engineering Center
University of South Carolina
301 Main St.
Columbia, SC 29208

803-576-6393

©2025 BY MUSTAIN LABORATORY FOR ENERGY STORAGE AND FUELS. PROUDLY CREATED WITH WIX.COM

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