WILLIAM MUSTAIN, PH.D.
Professor of Chemical Engineering
Director, Carolina Institute for Battery
Innovation (CIBI)
Recent Honors and Awards
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Fulbright Scholar Fellowship
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Electrochemical Society Energy Technology Division Research Award
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USC CEC Research Achievement Award
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USC ECHE Publication Award
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CQIA Platinum Innovation Prize (Shared with R. Maric, C.B. Carter and J. Roller)
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DOE Early Career Award
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Illinois Institute of Technology Young Alumni Award
Devadharshini Kathan
Ph.D. Candidate
B.Tech., Chemical and Electrochemical Engineering,
CSIR-Central Electrochemical Research Institute, India, 2022
Interests and Activities:
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Synthesis and Characterization of active materials in primary and secondary batteries
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Optimization of operational parameters influencing the performance of batteries
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Personal Interests: Origami, Reading books
Belinda Awudu Agamah
Ph.D. Student
B.S. Materials Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, 2022
Interests and Activities:
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Development and fabrication of electrode materials with high capacity and reliability for Li-ion batteries
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Electrode Materials Synthesis and Characterization
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Personal Interests: Cooking, Crocheting
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:
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Electrolyzers and Fuel Cells – Electrode Design, Cell Assembly, and Performance Optimization
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Electrochemical Techniques: In-Situ and Ex-Situ Methods for Investigating Catalyst Behavior, Electrode Stability, and Degradation Pathways
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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:
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Improving membrane electrode assembly and impurity tolerance for energy conversion devices
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Developing advanced catalysts for hydrogen fuel cells
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Personal Interests: Baking, skiing
Sriram Mosali
Postdoctoral Fellow
Ph. D., Chemistry, Monash University, 2021
M.Sc., Nanotechnology, Acharya Nagarjuna University, 2015
Interests and Activities:
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Addressing scientific challenges related to decarbonization and energy conversion
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Developing novel catalysts and deriving structure-property relations for sustainable electrochemical synthesis of chemicals
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Personal Interests: Reading books, Travelling, Tree planting
Najmaddin Bashirzada
Ph.D. Candidate
B.S., Chemical Engineering, QAFQAZ University (Current- Baku Engineering University), 2015
Interests and Activities:
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Optimization of operational parameters influencing the performance of batteries
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Improving energy capacity of batteries
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Personal Interests: Exploring new cultures by travelling, networking, snowboarding
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:
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Efficient pathways to produce and utilize green hydrogen
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Developing Materials for Electrolyzers and Fuel Cells
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Personal Interests: Travelling, Networking, and Diving
Ian Street
Ph.D. Candidate
B.S. Chemical Engineering, University of South Carolina, 2023
Interests and Activities:
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Climate change prevention and environmental protection
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Upcycling carbon dioxide to synthesize value-added chemicals and fuels
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Personal Interests: sailing (racing and cruising), running, and recreational sports
Connor Miles
Ph.D. Student
B.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of South Carolina, December 2024
Interests and Activities:
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Research and implementation of cleaner energy resources
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Improving fuel cell efficiency through development and testing of various filtration configurations
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Personal Interests: chess, golf, weightlifting
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:
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Research and development of fuel cell and battery technologies
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Improving PEM fuel cell performance under contaminated environments
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Personal interests: working out, skiing, hiking, music & drums, exploring new cultures
Katherine Foster
Undergraduate Researcher
B.S. Chemical Engineering, University of South Carolina, Expected December 2026
Interests and Activities:
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Improving electrolyzer performance for the production of clean hydrogen
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Mitigating the effects of contaminants on PEM fuel cells
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Personal interests: Reading, Painting, Baking
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