Principal Investigator
William Tarpeh
Dr. William Tarpeh is an assistant professor of chemical engineering at Stanford University. The Tarpeh Lab develops and evaluates novel approaches to resource recovery from “waste” waters at several synergistic scales: molecular mechanisms of chemical transport and transformation; novel unit processes that increase resource efficiency; and systems-level assessments that identify optimization opportunities. Will completed his B.S. in chemical engineering at Stanford and his M.S. and Ph.D. in environmental engineering at UC Berkeley, supported by an NSF Graduate Research Fellowship, Ford Foundation Predoctoral Fellowship, and a UC Berkeley Chancellor's Fellowship. He conducted postdoctoral training at University of Michigan in environmental engineering. Will is a member of the Bouchet Honor Society, NBCBLK's "28 Under 28" African-American Innovators, and Forbes' "30 Under 30" 2019 Science List. Tarpeh's CV is available here
Postdoctoral Fellows
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Kindle is a postdoctoral researcher studying the scale-up and translation potentials of nitrogen-recovery technologies in the Tarpeh lab. She received her Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from MIT in 2022. Her dissertation research with Prof. Karthish Manthiram included the study of the behavior of water in blended electrolytes for organic electrosynthesis, as well as the role of contaminants in electrochemical CO2 reduction. Kindle completed her undergraduate training at the University of Alabama, where she received her B.S. in Chemical Engineering with a dual major in Chemistry and minor in the Computer-Based Honors Program (now RRSP). She is originally from Tennessee. Outside of the lab, Kindle enjoys playing sports, cycling, and caring for her plants.
Email: kindlew(at)stanford(dot)edu
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Woonghee is a postdoctoral scholar funded by the SUNCAT Center and the Dreyfus Foundation. He hails from Seoul, South Korea, where he was born and raised. He holds a B.S. and a M.S. in Chemical & Biological Engineering, which he obtained from Korea University and Seoul National University, respectively. He completed his Ph.D. in Environmental Science & Engineering at Pohang University of Science and Technology (POSTECH). His doctoral research was centered on chlorine-mediated electrochemical water treatment, with a specific focus on developing and analyzing electrocatalysts using scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM). Outside of his academic pursuits, he is an avid basketball player and cherishes spending quality time with his family.
Email: woonghee(at)stanford(dot)edu
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Dr. Amilton is postdoctoral researcher financed by Sao Paulo Research Foundation (Brazil) and works on the separation of critical metals using membrane technologies. He is a chemical engineer and holds his MSc and PhD in Chemical Engineering from the Polytechnic School of the University of Sao Paulo, in Brazil. He conducted his work in the recovery of cobalt, nickel, copper, and rare earth elements from mining wastes. At the same time, Dr. Amilton has worked on recycling of e-wastes, such as Li-ion batteries, lamps, and printed circuit boards. Beyond that, he is a huge fan of rock bands, especially heavy metal, soccer, mainly for S.E. Palmeiras (a Brazilian soccer team), and his dog called Maple.
Email: abbjr(at)stanford(dot)edu
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Neha is a postdoctoral scholar in the Tarpeh lab and is co-advised by Dr. Bone and Dr. Weker at SLAC. She is investigating the failure mechanisms which limit the scale-up and long-term operation of nutrient recovery techniques. She was a McDonnell International Academy Scholar at Washington University in St. Louis where she received her Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering with Dr. Daniel Giammar. Her dissertation research focused on delineating the role of trace metals in the release of greenhouse gas emissions from natural aquatic systems. Neha received her B.S. in Civil Engineering from PEC University of Technology, India. She also holds a Master’s degree in Environmental Engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Bombay. In her free time, she enjoys cooking, hiking, biking, and exploring new places.
Email: nehash(at)stanford(dot)edu
Graduate Students and Research Assistant
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Matthew is a chemical engineering PhD student. He was born and raised in the Chicagoland area and completed his undergrad in chemical engineering at UC Berkeley. Matthew began his PhD studying electrochemical separations of wastewater nitrogen. More recently, he studies heterogeneous, homogeneous, and single atom catalysts for the electrochemical nitrate reduction reaction. In his free time, Matthew enjoys playing Chinese chess, gaming, cooking, and playing with his dog Gia.
Email: mattliu(at)stanford(dot)edu
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Lorelay Mendoza is a PhD student in Environmental Engineering. She was born and raised in San Diego, CA, where she earned her B.S. in Environmental Engineering at San Diego State University before coming to Stanford. She is interested in resource recovery from waste, environmental justice, and the fate of contaminants in electrochemical treatment systems and the environment. In her free time, Lorelay enjoys surfing, reading, sewing, and rock climbing.
Email: lorelay(at)stanford(dot)edu
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Sam is a PhD student in Chemical Engineering. She was born and raised outside of Philly and moved to western PA to receive her B.S. in Chemical Engineering at the University of Pittsburgh. She is interested in redesigning plastic manufacturing with end-of-life in mind, investigating chemical recycling of these materials, and incorporating environmental policy into her work. Outside of research, Sam enjoys roller skating, eating good food, and reading.
Email: sambunke(at)stanford(dot)edu
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Brandon is a chemical engineering PhD student in the Tarpeh lab. His hometown is Attleboro, MA. He has bachelor’s degrees in chemical engineering and electrical engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. In the Tarpeh lab, he is working on fine tuning the synthesis parameters of nitrogen-selective hydrogels for membraneless electrochemical nitrogen recovery from water. He also is working on evaluating electrochemical means of regenerating used ion exchange resins. Outside of the lab, he enjoys playing basketball, surfing and snowboarding, whitewater kayaking, playing the drums, and videogame development.
Email: bdclark(at)stanford(dot)edu
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Jinyu is a PhD student in Chemical Engineering. Her hometown is Luoyang, China. Before entering Stanford, she did her undergrad in chemical engineering at Tianjin University. She is interested in investigating molecular mechanisms in electrochemical stripping and developing efficient novel processes. Outside of the lab, she enjoys poems, movies, hiking and swimming.
Email: jinyuguo(at)stanford(dot)edu
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Anna is a PhD student in Environmental Engineering. She was born in Graz, Austria and raised in Houston, Texas and Saudi Arabia. She holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Washington University in St. Louis. She is interested in recovery of nitrogen from wastewater and bridging the gap between lab-scale research and adoption of technologies. Outside of the lab, Anna enjoys swimming, hiking, biking, and camping, as well as exploring local restaurants and cooking.
Email: akogler(at)stanford(dot)edu
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Val is a PhD student in Chemical Engineering in the Tarpeh lab and Jaramillo lab. She was born outside Philly and moved to the city for her undergrad at Drexel University, where she received her B.S. in Chemical Engineering with a minor in Physics. She is interested in the electrochemical reduction of gaseous reactive nitrogen into inert and/or value-added products. In her free time, she enjoys running, reading, and speaking in foreign languages.
Email: vniemann(at)stanford(dot)edu
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Dean is a PhD candidate in Chemical Engineering. He is from Cleveland and earned his undergrad in chemical engineering at the University of Pittsburgh. He is interested in electrochemical conversion of nitrogenous species from wastewater. In his free time, Dean enjoys rock climbing.
Email: millerdm(at)stanford(dot)edu
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Kristen is a PhD student in Chemical Engineering. She was born and raised in Ontario, Canada and received her B.Eng.Biosciences in Chemical Engineering and Bioengineering at McMaster University. She is interested in technology development for resource recovery from waste streams to facilitate the transition to a circular economy, such as lithium recovery from battery waste. She is also interested in the holistic assessment of scaled-up processes for bridging the gap between academic research and widespread adoption of technologies. Outside of research, Kristen enjoys hiking, painting, reading, golf, and playing various intramural sports.
Email: abelsk(at)stanford(dot)edu
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Edward is a PhD student in Environmental Engineering. He was born in Kumasi, Ghana and raised in the suburbs of Phoenix, Arizona. Before attending Stanford, he earned a B.S.E in Civil and Environmental Engineering from Arizona State University and received the NSF Graduate Research Fellowship. He is interested in the recovery of nutrients using electrochemical separations and polymeric materials. Outside of academics, his interests include weightlifting, environmental justice, playing volleyball, and religiously streaming Spotify to maintain his average annual streaming time of 165,000+ minutes.
Email: eapraku(at)stanford(dot)edu
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Orisa is a PhD student in Mechanical Engineering. She grew up in Aurora, Colorado and received her B.S in Mechanical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She is a Knight Hennessy Scholar and is invested in issues of equity and resource distribution. She hopes her research on the water-energy nexus will help to increase the accessibility of sanitation and clean water across the globe. Outside of school, Orisa crochets her own clothing, practices advanced yoga, running, weightlifting, roller skating, and keeps her nose in a good book.
Email: ocoombs(at)stanford(dot)edu
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Joyce is a PhD student in Materials Science and Engineering. She is from the suburbs of New Jersey and received her B.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from MIT. In the Tarpeh Lab, she is interested in selective resource recovery and regeneration using adsorbents and incorporating systems-level analysis into her work. In her free time, she enjoys reading, painting, and trying vegan recipes.
Email: anjoyce(at)stanford(dot)edu
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Meili is a post-bacc research assistant in Chemical Engineering. She graduated from the University of Minnesota Twin Cities with a B.S. in Bioproducts and Biosystems Engineering. Childhood in Minnesota nourished Meili’s interests in resource recovery and water quality, as well as the environmental impacts of agriculture. In the Tarpeh lab, she is working on the translation of lab-scale research, as well as the integration of electrochemical nitrogen recovery with other chemical recovery technologies. When she’s not doing science, Meili enjoys listening to audiobooks, launching writing projects, and cooking meals that clean out her fridge.
Email: mgong6(at)stanford(dot)edu
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Emmanuel is a PhD student in Environmental Engineering. He was raised in Waukesha, Wisconsin and holds both a BS and an MS in Environmental Engineering from Marquette University and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, respectively. In the Tarpeh Lab he is interested in conducting research at the nexus of electrochemistry, catalysis, nanomaterials, and sustainability. In his free time he enjoys playing intramural soccer, spending time with friends and family, and sailing.
Email: ekayiwa(at)stanford(dot)edu
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Tyler is a Master’s student in Environmental Engineering. He is from Virginia and earned his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering at Northeastern University in Boston while also working on algal bloom detection as part of project Artimis. Tyler has a keen interest in extracting nutrients from wastewater for reuse and creating a circular economy. Outside of the lab Tyler enjoys traveling, DIY crafts, making art, and is always down for a good board game.
Email: gogalt(at)stanford(dot)edu
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Uran is a PhD student in Chemistry. She was born in Michigan and raised in Japan/Belgium. She received her B.S. in Chemistry from Michigan State University. She is interested in homogeneous molecular catalyst design for understanding the nitrate reduction mechanism. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, baking, running, crocheting, and rock climbing.
Email: iwataura(at)stanford(dot)edu
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Victoria is a PhD student in Chemical Engineering. She was born and raised in Tallahassee, FL, and received her B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She is interested in using process engineering to inform the efficient recovery of resources from wastewaters. Outside of the lab, Victoria enjoys thrifting, playing intramural volleyball with her cohort, and doing all of the NYT mini games.
Email: vyyang(at)stanford(dot)edu
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Wylie is a PhD student in Chemical Engineering. Originally from Orcas Island, Washington, he received his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Washington, in Seattle in 2020. Between undergrad and Stanford, he worked at a Seattle-based startup focused on the commercialization of perovskite materials for photovoltaic applications. He is interested in the development of technologies to make use of renewable electrons in applications spanning electrochemical energy conversion and resource recovery. Outside of the lab, he enjoys being outdoors, skiing, rock climbing, cycling, and reading.
Email: wyliekau(at)stanford(dot)edu
Undergraduate Students
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Genesis is a senior majoring in Chemical Engineering and minoring in Computer Science. She was born and raised in Miami, Florida and is interested in sustainability and environmental justice. She is currently researching nitrogen recovery through means of metal-ligand exchange and biomimetic selective ammonium membranes. In her free time, she loves to read and play volleyball.
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Sarah is a senior majoring in Chemical Engineering and minoring in Science Communication. She grew up in Kerman, California just outside of Fresno in the Central Valley and is interested in sustainability, process design, and ChemE’s applications in agriculture. She is currently working with Kindle to scale-up the lab’s electrochemical stripping process. In her free time, Sarah plays the tenor saxophone in the Stanford Band, and enjoys composing/arranging music, reading science fiction, and discussing ethics and philosophy.
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Kristy is a junior studying Chemical Engineering. She was born and raised in Hong Kong. Outside of school, she likes to watch sit-coms, hike, and play video games.
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Diego is a junior studying Chemical Engineering. He grew up in Stockton, California, in between the Bay Area and the Sierra Nevadas. Outside of school, Diego loves to run, climb, and explore the outdoors.
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Robert is a senior from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma studying Environmental Systems Engineering with a concentration in coastal water. He is working on new electrochemical cell designs to help upscale wastewater treatment. As a tribal member of the Seneca-Cayuga Nation, he is interested in the intersection of policy and engineering to help solve environmental issues on reservations. Outside academics, Robert spends his time in different areas on campus such as the Stanford Track and Field team, the Stanford Symphony Orchestra, the Society of Latinx Engineers, and the Stanford American Indian Organization. He enjoys drawing, computer design, and playing music in his free time.
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Nailah is a freshman majoring in Chemical Engineering. She was born and raised in a small Southeast Texas town called Ames, and she is interested in pharmaceutical research. She is currently working towards selective ion recovery and membrane synthesis with Kristen. Nailah likes to spend her free time watching sports and singing with her band and Acapella group.
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Danna is a sophomore majoring in Chemical Engineering. She was born and raised in Brooklyn, NYC, and is interested in exploring the development of sustainable manufacturing methods within the cosmetics industry. She is currently working with Edward to recover amino acids using electrochemical separations. Outside of school, she enjoys playing the guitar, watercolor painting, and going to art museums.
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Carolina Muñoz is a senior in Chemical Engineering at Stanford. Born and raised in Paramount, California, LA county is home. She has been in the electrochemistry subgroup with the Tarpeh Lab since the summer of 2020, interested in electrochemical nitrate recovery. In free time, she enjoys reading, spending time with loved ones, and destroying competition in Mario Party or Mario Kart.
Lab Administrator
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Email: thao89(at)stanford(dot)edu
Room: Shriram Center 091
Phone: 650-498-1648
Lab Pets
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Muffin is a Shiba Inu born in 2018. She is a full-time wildlife scientist and her research interests particularly lie in birds, squirrels, and rabbits. She is in the early stage of her research project, and is still trying to catch her first specimen from our local Stanford community with her collaborator Anita. In her free time, she enjoys sunbathing, day napping, and tail chasing. She also serves as the President of the Association of Starbucks Puppuccino Enthusiasts.
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Gia is a one year old French bulldog. Her favorite food is peanut butter. When she’s not playing, she’s snoring like an old man in her sleep
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Luna was born in June 2020 into a litter of weather-themed kittens: Stormy, Windy, and Gusty (aka Luna) – fitting for the rough pandemic times. She has diverse research interests, including testing the mechanical strength of materials and understanding the physics of gravity and falling objects. She is also fascinated by human toilets, which she enjoys using, and one day she hopes to experience a urine diverting toilet. Luna is eager to study nutrient recovery from her urine with collaborators in the Tarpeh Lab. In her free time, Luna enjoys collecting nicknames (e.g., Lovebug, Schnookies, Lusty = Luna + Gusty, Guna = Gusty + Luna), sunbathing, nestling in boxes, helping with laundry, and eating spinach.
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Postdog Koa Terrell-Perica Tarpeh was born in Oregon, but has received all of his training here at Stanford. Koa is a labradoodle known for his love of humans and dogs, and tends to show that love by jumping up and licking ears. He is a cuddly presence at lab socials, and has been known to be the most sought after guest at group parties.
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Enoki is a three-year-old Calico named after the Japanese mushroom, Enokitake. Her time as a stray garden cat has helped develop her scientific specialty in botany and horticulture. She is currently researching the different effects that flower pigmentation and scent have on the feline desire for consumption. Her collaborator, undergraduate researcher Danna, tirelessly works on ensuring that all of Enoki’s experimental samples are feline friendly.
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Janky is a street cat born under the house of Carolina the undergraduate researcher. Named for her weird back legs, she has a unique way of walking that some might call- janky. She likes to research cause and effect, the independent variable being a smack from her paw, the dependent variable being her victims reaction. In her free time, she likes to yell for attention, open cabinets, sleep, cuddle with Simba, and step all over her owners keyboard when she is obviously buafuihrkflhd, sorry that was the cat.
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Squid (orange tabby) and Lemon (calico) joined the Tarpeh lab in June 2021, only one month after being born. In addition to being brother and sister, squid and lemon are strong collaborators in their research, in which they study the theory that the state of matter of cats is indeed liquid rather than solid. Their experiments entail climbing into various containers to demonstrate that they will take the container’s shape while maintaining a constant volume. In their free time, they enjoy wrestling each other and distracting their other collaborator, Sam.
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Diega is a Dalmatian pup born November 2020 and is a member of the Mendoza Grijalva research group. She is deaf but that doesn’t stop her from pursuing the scientific study of grasses while out in the field with Lorelay. Although young, she is already quite accomplished; in fact, she has successfully collected a grass sample at every field outing to date. In her free time, she likes to socialize with other pups and people, sunbathe, and nap on the couch.
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Ashes is a fifteen-year-old tabby cat belonging to undergraduate researcher Sarah. Although not very outwardly affectionate, she has supported Sarah through many long nights of psetting and essay-writing with her steadfast presence. She is currently conducting psychological experiments by gathering data on how humans respond to stimuli such as meowing, unexpected attacks, and blank yet intent stares. Her goal is to develop a behavioral model that will allow her to accurately predict and control the actions of her owners. Additionally, she enjoys sleeping in pillow forts and watching the sunrise.
Lab Alumni
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Dr. Elizabeth Corson
Current: Assistant Professor at The University of Kansas. Website
Dr. Xi Chen
Current: Assistant Professor at City University of Hong Kong. Website
Dr. Qianhong Zhu
Current: Process Engineer at Stealth Mode Startup
Dr. Hang (Lucas) Dong
Current: Assistant Professor at Georgia Tech Shenzhen Institute. Website
Dr. Linchao Mu
Current: Associate Professor, Shenzhen Institutes of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences
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Diana Tiburcio
Current: Senior at Temple University
Smiti Mittal
Current: PhD student in Bioengineering at UCSF-UC Berkeley
Chloe Marie Laguna
Current: Co-term student in Bioengineering at Stanford University
Ouriel Ndalamba
Current: PhD Student in Chemical Engineering at Princeton University
James Juma
Current: Data Analyst at Opareta
Julia Simon
Current: PhD Student in Chemical and Environmental Engineering at Yale University
Sydney Johnson
Current: PhD and MBA student in Chemical Engineering Practice at MIT
William Chow
Current: Co-term student in Chemistry at Stanford University
Yichong Wang
Current: PhD student in Chemistry at Harvard University
Naomi Ray
Current: Business Technology Analyst at Deloitte
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Dr. Anita Shao
Current: Consultant at Boston Consulting Group
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Yixuan Huang
Current: PhD student in Environmental Engineering at Georgia Tech
Valmik Lakhlani
Current: Process Engineer at Fluor Corporation
Ziyan Wu
Current: PhD student in Environment and Resources at the University of Wisconsin-Madison