Research Engineers
Michael Adams
Bio: Dr. Michael Adams joined WERL after completing a postdoc (2020-2024) in the Scalable Thermal Engineering Laboratory at Georgia Tech, where his work included solid-state thermal switching mechanisms, PCM-based thermal storage, and high-temperature thermal storage media for concentrated solar power systems. Prior to Georgia Tech, he received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering (2019) at The Ohio State University. His research in the Thermal Materials Laboratory was focused on thermoelectric transport phenomena in narrow-gap semiconductors, semimetals, and magnetic metals. He also investigated automotive waste heat recovery under a Ford-OSU research alliance program. Currently, Dr. Adams’ research efforts are centered on thermochemical energy storage, with applications spanning from thermal load shifting in buildings to high temperature reactions for grid-scale and industrial thermal storage.
Email: Michael Adams
Postdoctoral Researcher
Ishita Goyal
Bio: Ishita received her Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Illinois Chicago (2025), where she worked in the Materials and Systems Engineering Laboratory (MaSEL). During her Ph.D., she developed sustainable electrochemical pathways for the production of essential chemicals such as ammonia and urea. Her work spanned reactor design, characterization, and in-situ studies of metal nitride–mediated ammonia synthesis, as well as laying the foundational research for both continuous-flow and batch calcium- and magnesium-mediated ammonia synthesis. At WERL, Ishita’s research broadly explores thermochemical energy storage, with a focus on developing durable materials and advancing fundamental understanding to enable efficient and long-lasting energy systems. Outside of research and teaching, Ishita enjoys swimming, playing table tennis, cooking and singing.
Ph.D. Students
Erik Barbosa
Bio: Erik received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering at Brigham Young University in 2021. He conducted research in the Temperature, Energy and Material Properties (TEMP) Lab, where he developed a sensor to measure the thermal conductivity of molten salts using the transient hot wire method. Erik also did a summer research internship at Los Alamos National Lab, where he used multi-sensor collaborative sampling schemes to reconstruct mechanical system signals. Currently, he is a Ph.D. student in Mechanical Engineering at Georgia Tech, where his research is focused on developing thermochemical energy storage to decarbonize heat for building applications. Erik is a recipient of the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship. Outside of research, Erik enjoys outdoor activities and playing video games.
Email: Erik Barbosa
Walter Parker
Bio: Walter received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering at the University of California, Davis in 2018 and his M.S. in Mechanical Engineering at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) in 2020. At CMU, Walter worked in The Malen Laboratory where he designed and modeled a dynamic insulation that leverages the external environment to reach desired temperatures. In summer 2021, Walter was a GEM Fellow at the National Renewable Energy Lab, where he developed thermal models for building applications. Currently, he is a Ph.D. student in Mechanical Engineering at Georgia Tech, with a research focus on thermally driven desalination systems for clean water production. Walter is a recipient of the Gates Millennium Scholarship. Walter’s hobbies include cooking and dancing (Salsa and Bachata).
Email: Walter Parker
Ahmed Mahfouz
Bio: Mahfouz received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering at Texas A&M University at Qatar (TAMU-Q) in 2022. Mahfouz conducted research at the Micro Scale Thermo-Fluids (MSTF) Laboratory at TAMU-Q, where he worked on developing a blood-mimicking fluid for microchannel applications for medical instruments. He also conducted research on the fabrication of stainless-steel sintered parts via 3D printing using Fused Filament Fabrication (FFF). Mahfouz also studied the impact of urban construction parameters on annual cooling load profiles of residential buildings through a sensitivity study based on the microclimate of Doha’s Marina district. Currently, he is a Ph.D. student in Mechanical Engineering at Georgia Tech, with a research focus on desalination using thermally responsive ionic liquids.
Email: Ahmed Mahfouz
Preston Bohm
Bio: Preston Bohm received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering in 2020 and an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering in 2022, both from the Georgia Institute of Technology. His Masters research was focused on machine-learning optimization techniques for selective emitters in the Nanoscale Thermal Radiation Laboratory. Prior to that, Preston worked at the Advanced Technology division of Lockheed Martin’s space division, where he developed laser additive manufacturing technology as well as thermal and cryogenic testing strategies. Preston’s PhD research is focused on light-matter interactions, where he is investigating the photo-molecular effects associated with water evaporation with Dr. Zhuomin Zhang as a co-advisor. In his spare time, Preston enjoys mountaineering, caving, and chess.
Email: Preston Bohm
Madeline Morrell
Bio: Madeline received her B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Certificate in International Engineering, and Certificate in Engineering for Energy Sustainability from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2023. She worked at the Solar Energy Lab (SEL) researching the effects of various nozzle geometries in multiphase flow applications. Madeline also worked at the Energy Transport & Conversion Laboratory where she assisted in designing a modular testing facility for thermophotovoltaics. As a Ph.D. student in Mechanical Engineering at Georgia Tech, her research focuses on thermochemical energy storage systems for decarbonizing buildings. Maddie is a recipient of the DOE’s Innovation in Buildings (IBUILD) Graduate Research Fellowship. When not in the lab or classroom, Madeline enjoys baking, dancing, and traveling.
Email: Madeline Morrell
Sadie Flagg
Bio: Sadie received her B.S. in Chemistry at High Point University in 2024. She conducted research in the laboratory of Dr. Brian Augustine, where she worked on controlling the micro and nanoporosity of thin poly(methyl methacrylate) films. During the summer of 2023, Sadie also participated in an REU at the University of California, Santa Barbara in the laboratory of Dr. Thuc-Quyen Nguyen where she worked on measuring ion transport utilizing scanning kelvin probe force microscopy (SKPFM). Currently, she is a Ph.D. student in Materials Science and Engineering at Georgia Tech. Sadie can also be found baking, playing videogames, and painting.
Email: Sadie Flagg
Taekyu Kim (TK / 김태규)
Bio: Taekyu (TK) received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Georgia Tech and is a former South Korean army sergeant. TK worked at WERL as an undergrad, where he designed heat exchangers for the thermal desalination project. TK has also contributed to E-mobility collegiate competition teams such as EcoCAR, and he has worked at the Strategic Energy Institute. With an international background, TK hopes to develop sustainable infrastructure for water, heat, and mobility through his research in thermal storage during his time in graduate school.
Email: Taekyu Kim
Hikari Inaoka (稲岡 光)
Bio: Hikari received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in Geosciences from the Pennsylvania State University, as part of the Millennium Scholars Program. Prior to coming to Georgia Tech, Hikari participated in 3 summer research experiences, at University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Texas A&M University, and Washington University in St. Louis. His most recent heat transfer-related research involved integrating thermoelectric coolers (TECs) to the existing cooling system onboard aircraft (which uses air) to provide localized temperature control for individual electrical components. Currently, Hikari is a Ph.D. student in Mechanical Engineering at Georgia Tech, with a research focus on characterizing the change in thermophysical properties of phase-change materials (PCMs) after rapid thermal cycling.
Email: Hikari Inaoka
M.S. Students
Nadia Zaleski
Bio: Nadia received her B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and minor in Mathematics from the University of Maryland, College Park in 2022. She worked as an undergraduate for the Control Optimization Lab researching novel COVID-19 ventilator technologies under the “third-lung” project. Nadia also interned and worked for Heliogen where she analyzed components of Concentrated Solar Power (CSP) technology including thermal energy storage systems and solar receivers. Currently, she is pursuing her M.S. in Mechanical Engineering at Georgia Tech with a research focus in waste heat recovery and workflow improvement in secondary aluminum manufacturing. In her free time, Nadia enjoys running and playing piano.
Email: Nadia Zaleski
Ricardo Cruzado
Bio: Ricardo received his B.S in Mechanical-Electrical Engineering (2018) from Universidad de Piura (UDEP) in Peru. As an intern at Peru’s largest oil refinery, he conducted research on Reliability Centered Maintenance (RCM) for turbomachinery in critical processing units. He has 3+ years of experience in product development and laboratory testing of variable-transmission panoramic roof systems for premium and electric vehicle OEMs, where he gained international automotive experience in Peru, Belgium, Germany, and England. Currently, he is pursuing his M.S in Mechanical Engineering at Georgia Tech with a research focus on waste heat recovery and cooling solutions for the data center industry. In his free time, Ricardo enjoys playing tennis, spending time with friends, and cooking Peruvian food.
Email: Ricardo Cruzado
Aisha Brundan
Aisha received her B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Cornell University in 2024. During her undergraduate studies, she conducted research with the Symbiotic Engineering and Analysis (SEA) Lab, where she designed and built small-scale wave energy converter prototypes for mixed-geometry array testing and optimization. She was an intern at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in 2024 and 2025, where she worked on the manufacturing, testing, and analysis of a novel flexible piezoelectric-based marine energy converter. She has also interned at Kairos Power, where she worked on reactor coolant chemistry control systems. During her M.S. in Mechanical Engineering at Georgia Tech, Aisha will be researching the experimental impact of intermittent renewable-powered reverse osmosis desalination on RO membrane longevity and system performance. Aisha is also an NSF Graduate Research Fellow. Aisha’s hobbies include hiking, climbing, backpacking, sewing, and knitting.
Email: Aisha E. Brundan