I am an assistant professor of Chemical Engineering at the University of Waterloo specializing in machine learning and decision-making under uncertainty to tackle high-impact engineering challenges in effort to do my small part in making the world a better place to live.

Education

  • Postdoc in Chemical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA (2022-2023)
    Advisors: Professors Carl Laird and Ignacio Grossmann
  • Ph.D. in Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA (2017-2022)
    Advisor: Professor Victor Zavala
  • B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA (2012-2017)
    Advisor: Professor John Hedengren

Research Experience

  • Assistant Professor, Chemical Engineering, University of Waterloo, Waterloo, ON, Canada (2023-Present)
  • Post-Doctoral Associate, Chemical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA, USA (2022-2023)
  • Graduate Research Assistant, Chemical and Biological Engineering, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, WI, USA (2017-2022)
  • Intern, Differentiating Technologies, ExxonMobil Research and Engineering, Spring, TX, USA (2020)
  • Intern, Optimization and Control, Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, Richland, WA, USA (2019)
  • Undergraduate Research Assistant, Chemical Engineering, Brigham Young University, Provo, UT, USA (2013-2017)

Research Interests

Please see my research page for a detailed overview of my research vision and activities. Common focus areas are listed below:

Teaching

Please visit my my teaching page for more information on my teaching experience and philosophy. For completeness, the courses I have taught are listed below:

  • Machine learning and artificial intelligence for chemical engineers
  • Numerical methods
  • Introduction to optimization
  • Process control
  • Chemical process modeling
  • Organic chemistry
  • Introduction to Julia, JuMP.jl, and InfiniteOpt.jl

Awards

  • Best Presentation Award, JuMP-dev 2024 Workshop (2024)
  • Travel Award, Foundations of Computer Aided Process Operations / Chemical Process Control (2023)
  • Plenary Speaker, Computing & Systems Technology Division Plenary Session of the AICHE Annual Meeting (2022)
  • Undergraduate Research Fellowship, National Science Foundation (2016)
  • Full Academic Scholarship, Brigham Young University (2013 – 2017)
  • Academic Scholarship, Brigham Young University Chemical Engineering Department (2012)
  • Masonic Academic Achievement Scholarship, Yakima Masonic Lodge (2012))
  • Eagle Scout, Boy Scouts of America (2012)
  • President’s List, Yakima Valley Community College (2011 – 2012)

Publications

Please visit the publication page.

Location

University of Waterloo
Engineering 6, Room 5008
200 University Avenue West
Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1
Canada