OUR TEAM
PI, Graduate Students, and Postdoctoral Scholars
Robert and Gayle Longmire Early Career Professor, Department of Chemical and Biological Engineering, Tulane University
BA Grinnell College
MS, PhD University of Colorado Boulder
Postdoctoral Research Harvard University
ZACHARY LEVELL
Zachary is a postdoctoral fellow in the Montemore Research Group. He received his B.S. from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign and his Ph.D. from the University of Texas at Austin. His current research uses machine-learned interatomic potentials to screen alloy surfaces for ethylene epoxidation and examines adsorption-energy trends of key reaction intermediates to develop generalized models for predicting catalyst performance. Outside of research, he enjoys playing board games and discussing philosophy and theology.
ZEINEB FARD
Zeinab received her BS and MS in chemical engineering from Amirkabir University of Technology, and after getting another MS from Iowa State University, she joined Tulane as a PhD student. Her current research area is using DFT calculations for single-atom alloys as catalysts. In her free time, she likes embroidery, watching movies, and spending time with her husband and her son.
HAJARALSADAT HOSSEINIFARADONBEH
Hajar received her BS and MS in chemical engineering from Yazd University and the Sharif University of Technology. Her current research area is excited state dynamics for plasmonic catalysis. In her free time, she likes to travel, watch movies, and hang out with her friends.
TOGHRUL AZIZLI
Toghrul is a graduate student in the Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering department at Tulane University. He is one of the members of the Montemore research group. Toghrul graduated from Baku Higher Oil School with a BEng degree in chemical engineering. After discovering a passion for catalysis and energy fields, he decided to continue his research in computational catalysis. His current research focuses on reducing energy consumption by designing and improving catalysts for current catalytic processes using quantum chemistry (DFT method). In his free time, Toghrul enjoys watching films, reviewing social media memes, and sharing them with his friends. Additionally, as a classical music fan, he loves to explore and listen to a variety of pieces.
SANTU BISWAS
I received my Bachelor's and Master's degrees from The University of Burdwan and Visva-Bharati University. I completed my Ph.D. at Visva-Bharati University. Following that, I held postdoctoral positions at Technion - Israel Institute of Technology and Duquesne University. My current research focus is on applying machine learning approaches to screen surface alloys for catalysis. In my free time, I enjoy playing cricket, watching movies, and exploring new foods with friends.
Wiafe Edward Antwi
Wiafe had a major in Petrochemical engineering during his undergraduate studies at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology,Ghana. Currently, with a research area in excited state density functional theory (DFT), -light-matter interactions. Aside from school, I enjoy reading and music(compose/sing/play instruments).
ALUMNI
CONNOR HERRING
Attended the University of Pittsburgh as an undergraduate with a major in chemical engineering. Current research area is computer simulations of light-matter interactions with the goal of identifying new materials for solar applications. Outside of school I like to record music, run, and travel.
GLORIA SULLEY
Gloria is currently a graduate student in the Montemore group in the Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering department at Tulane University. She graduated from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana, with a BSc in Chemical Engineering in 2018. Her current research interests are in computational material science which involves employing machine learning methods and density functional theory (DFT) calculations. She enjoys traveling, music, and interacting with young people.
LEON COLE
Leon is a graduate student in Tulane University’s chemical engineering program. Before Tulane, he obtained his bachelor’s in chemical engineering from the University of Delaware. He is co-advised by Dr Hank Ashbaugh and Dr Matt Montemore. Currently, he uses molecular dynamics simulations and machine learning techniques to model and analyze the properties of cavitand molecules. Leon is an avid Liverpool fan, in his free time he likes to play football, travel, and try new foods.
CHUKWUDI NWAOKORIE
Chukwudi is a graduate student in the Montemore group in the Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering department at Tulane University. He has a background in Chemical Engineering (Covenant University, 2016) with current research interests in computational material science which involves employing quantum mechanical techniques like density functional theory (DFT) to design more effective catalysts and materials. In his personal time he enjoys traveling, reading novels, watching Soccer, Anime, TV shows and movies.
SARAH STRATTON
Sarah is a graduate student in the Montemore group at Tulane University. She graduated from Montana State University with a degree in chemical engineering. Her current research is in using density functional theory to analyze steps of methane steam reforming. In her free time, Sarah loves to watch movies, discuss Star Wars, and paint.
GBOLADE O. KAYODE
Gbolade is a graduate student in the Montemore group. His research interests include computational catalysis and materials design, and employing quantum mechanical techniques like density functional theory (DFT) to design more effective catalysts and materials. He enjoys traveling and watching soccer.
SHENGJIE ZHANG
Shengjie Zhang is a postdoctoral fellow in the Montemore group at Tulane University. He received his BS and MS at Shanghai JiaoTong University and PhD at the University of Alabama. He has previously worked as a postdoc at U of Alabama and Louisiana State University. His work is focusing on computational studies (DFT method) of single atom alloys / trimetallic systems, surfaces properties, catalytic reactions on surfaces, and catalyst design. He likes watching movies and working out in his personal time.
Once a lowly farmhand, Avery escaped to academia with dreams of helping the environment. Attending Loyola University New Orleans, he majored in chemistry and found a passion for computer programming. At Tulane, Avery explores the mysteries of material systems using computational chemistry methods. In his free time, Avery enjoys rock climbing, learning Spanish, playing TTRPGs, and sipping coffee exceptionally slowly.
AVERY HILL
