Background

Education

• University of Puerto Rico – Mayaguez, B.S. Chemical Engineering (2021)
• Purdue University, Ph.D. Chemical Engineering (2021 – Present)

Background

I joined the Gounder group in Fall 2021. I completed my B.S. in Chemical Engineering at the University of Puerto Rico-Mayagüez (UPRM) in May 2021. At UPRM, I researched within Dr. Nelson Cardona Martinez's group for two years. My projects within this group focused on the characterization of different types of biomasses, the catalytic conversion of cellulose into levoglucosenone, and the extraction of pectin from cacao pod husk. In Summer 2019, I participated in the CISTAR REU program at Purdue University where I worked within Dr. Gounder’s group synthesizing cobalt oxide catalysts for light olefin oligomerization. I also completed an internship at AbbVie Biotechnology Ltd. in Spring and Summer 2020. Aside from academic interests, I enjoy listening to music, hiking, swimming, and playing volleyball.

Project Description

Light olefin oligomerization and hydrogenation on metal-functionalized porous catalysts.