2024-2025 CTC Leadership Team

Faculty Advisor:
Jeffrey J. Richards

Prof. Jeffrey J. Richards is an assistant professor in the Chemical and Biological Engineering department. The Richards laboratory seeks to quantify the relationships linking the microscopic structure of multicomponent materials to their macroscopic properties.
President:
Dylan Bardgett

Dylan is a 5th year PhD student in the Chemistry department working in the Haile lab. His research broadly encompasses transition metal oxynitride catalysts for electrochemical nitrogen-to-ammonia synthesis and plasma-assisted catalysis. When not researching in the lab, Dylan can be found running around Chicago, dancing in any and all situations, listening to audiobooks, and socializing with friends.
 
 
Vice President :
Matt Hershey

Matt is a 4th year PhD student in the chemistry department and works in the Swearer lab. His research focuses on engineering nanoparticles to efficiently use visible light to drive chemical reactions. Outside of lab, Matt is an avid reader of everything fantasy, loves cooking, and is a life-long Chicago Bears fan.
Treasurer:
Sapna Ramesh

Sapna is a 3rd year PhD candidate in the chemical engineering department studying electrolytes for lithium metal batteries. In her free time she enjoys reading and traveling.  
 
 
Invited Lectures Committee:
Julian Magdalenski

Julian is a 2nd year PhD student in the chemistry department, currently working in Omar Farha’s lab on chemical separations utilizing metal-organic frameworks (MOFs). Julian grew up just north of San Francisco, California and received his B.S. in Chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley. Outside of lab, Julian enjoys playing the guitar, going on hiking and backpacking trips, and cooking tasty food for friends and family.
Invited Lectures Committee:
Megan Burill

Megan is a third year MSE PhD candidate using solid state NMR to understand incorporation of hydride in perovskite oxides in the Haile and Rondinelli groups. Originally from Northern California, they are passionate about preserving the climate and beautiful nature they grew up near. In addition to CTC, they are involved in various outreach programs, such as the Northwestern University Research Program for High Schoolers and the American Ceramic Society President’s Council of Student Advisors. In their free time, Megan enjoys hiking, biking, camping, and tabletop role-playing games.

 
 
 
Outreach Officer:
Grace Cheng

Grace is a third-year undergrad in Chemical Engineering. Grace’s research focuses on developing a high-throughput synthesis and screening technique for mixed transition metal nitride catalysts that have the potential to ultimately pave the way for greener ammonia production. Outside of school, Grace enjoys rock climbing, cooking, and learning new languages (she speaks 4 fluently).
Social Events Committee:
Shivani Chatterji

Shivani is a first-year Materials Science and Engineering PhD student in the Hersam Group. She worked at a sustainable design architecture firm in Singapore prior to graduate school, and is continuing her passion for sustainability by working on energy/battery materials at Northwestern. In her free time, she enjoys scuba diving, biking, and visiting museums.
 
Advertising and Media:
Janan Hui

Janan grew up in Hong Kong and is a 5th-year graduate student in chemistry. His research involves sustainable manufacturing of printable conductive inks using bio-derived materials. Outside of lab, Janan enjoys cooking (especially the eating part), playing basketball, watching films, and is an avid video game nerd. He is also really passionate about songwriting and music production, hoping to one day release his own music.
Advertising and Media/Social Events Committee:
Danielle Veigel
 

Danielle is a second year Materials Science and Engineering PhD student in the Haile Group. She grew up in Ohio, completing her Bachelors of Science at the University of Cincinnati in Chemical Engineering, In her free time, she enjoys singing, hiking, playing card games, and listening to podcasts.