Mitlin group

Dr. David Mitlin

David Mitlin is a Cockrell Endowed Professor at the Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Texas at Austin. Prior to that, he was a Professor and General Electric Chair at Clarkson University, and an Assistant, Associate and full Professor at the University of Alberta, Alberta Canada. Dr. Mitlin is an ISI Highly Cited Researcher, having published about 175 journal articles on various aspects of energy storage materials, on metallurgy and corrosion. He also holds 15 granted U.S. patents and 18 more pending full applications, with all of them licensed currently or in the past. He has presented around 125 invited, keynote and plenary talks at various international conferences. Dr. Mitlin is an Associate Editor for Sustainable Energy and Fuels, a Royal Society of Chemistry Journal focused on renewables. He received a Doctorate in Materials Science from U.C. Berkeley in 2000, a M.S. from Penn State in 1996, and a B.S. from RPI in 1995.

Current members

Postdoctoral Fellows

I am a postdoctoral researcher at UT Austin. Currently my work is focused on solid state batteries, more specifically understanding the interfaces of electrodes and solid electrolytes. I am presently based in Austin, and I am loving the energy and the charming weirdness of this amazing city. Feel free to reach me out here if you have any queries or just wanna say hi.

Google Scholar | LinkedIn

I became a part of the Mitlin group in August 2018 and earned a PhD degree in Materials Science & Engineering in August 2023. I’m currently a postdoctoral fellow at Texas Materials Institute. My current research is centered around delving into interfacial and interphasial challenges in all-solid-state batteries. I employ a diverse range of microscopy and spectroscopy characterizations to comprehensively study phase transitions and underlying mechanisms during battery operations. I feel fortunate to work in a field that I am interested in and am excited to contribute to the research group. In my free time, I enjoy traveling and playing badminton.

Google Scholar | LinkedIn

Graduate Students

I received my B.S.degree from Tianjin University in 2016, and then got the M.S.degree from Chinese Academy of Sciences in 2019. I previously worked on the synthesis of nanomaterials and their applications in photocatalytic organic transformation and hydrogen production. After graduation, I came to UT-Austin and joined the Mitlin group. My current research interests are in the synthesis and mechanism investigation of high-performance electrode materials for Na/K metal batteries. My research interests also includes catalysis. In my spare time, I enjoy playing soccer ball and badminton. I also like photography and pets.

Google Scholar | LinkedIn

I’m a first year graduate student in the Materials Science Engineering program. I joined to work on Li liquid ion and all solid state batteries. I received my Bachelors of Science in Physics and Astronomy from UT Austin in 2018, as well as a 7-12 teaching certificate which I used to teach high school IB physics and chemistry for 4 years in the Austin area. In my personal time, I enjoy pickleball, cycling, board games, and video games.

LinkedIn

I’m a first-year graduate student in the Materials Science Engineering program. I am currently focusing on conducting research on Alkali metal batteries and All-Solid-State-Batteries. I received my Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from the Indian Institute of Science, India in 2023. In my free time, I enjoy watching anime, tabletop games and occasionally hiking and playing basketball.

LinkedIn

I am a first year graduate student in the Materials Science Engineering program from Corrales, New Mexico. I plan to work on developing better anode-free solid-state batteries for improved energy storage. I graduated with my bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the University of Notre Dame in 2022 and then worked at Los Alamos National Laboratory as a research and development engineer. In my free time I like to hike, play video games, listen to music, and find new restaurants in Austin.

LinkedIn

Visiting Scholars

Co-Founder of Group1 focusing on commercialization of K-ion batteries.
Key technical member in 2 startups as a Principal battery scientist, the developed Silicon-anode materials and non-flammable electrolyte have enabled raising +$100M VC funding.
Established KIB battery program in Dr. John Goodenough Lab. Inventor of K2MnFe(CN)6 cathode and room-temperature liquid Na-K anode technology with Dr. John Goodenough.
Author of 70+ journal papers and hold 12 granted battery patents.
PhD in Physical Chemistry (Fudan University)
Google Scholar | LinkedIn

Undergraduate Students

My name is Garrett Michalke. I am currently a junior majoring in chemical engineering. In my freetime, I like to read, play video games, and practice Chinese. I’m interested in improving battery technology to help boost the range of electric vehicles. My current research in this group will focus on LLZO solid electrolytes in SSBs.

My name is Kevin Bulux. I am currently an undergraduate mechanical engineering student at UT-Austin. I am interested in improving electrochemical energy storage in batteries and develop SSEs to stabilize metal batteries. During my free time I enjoy playing soccer and trying new food places in Austin.

I am a senior mechanical engineering student who joined the team after taking Professor Mitlin’s corrosion engineering course. I am working to pursue a career in rocketry and space exploration. I have passions for sustainable energy production and human-centric transportation infrastructure. I also play video games.

My name is Ethan Salazar and I’m a mechanical engineering major in the class of 2025. I joined the Mitlin Lab in January of 2023 and my research interests include the development of efficient batteries with SSEs and their application to medical devices. In my free time I enjoy working out, exploring the food scene in Austin, and performing with The Longhorn Band.

My name is Daniela Cordon and I am currently an undergraduate mechanical engineering student at UT-Austin. I am really passionate about renewable technology and I think the development of energy storage materials is crucial for a sustainable future. In my free time, I love to read, dance, work-out and try new restaurants.

My name is Asa Paiz. I am a second-year Mechanical Engineering Major who joined the Mitlin lab in January of 2023. I enjoy playing video games and strolling around campus. I am exploring an interest in energy engineering in my search for the best field for me to work in, and hope to bring much help to improving battery efficiency in the laboratory.

2025 mechanical engineering student, I come from China. I like doing research and playing computer games.

My name is Vipashchit Nanda, and I am a second-year mechanical engineering student at UT Austin. I became part of
the Mitlin Lab in January of 2023. My passion and research interest lie in the field of sustainability and renewable
technology. I believe research in developing efficient energy storage device is important to a energy efficient future. In my
free time, I like working out, hanging out with friends and exploring the city.

My name is George Zamfir. I am currently a junior in Mechanical Engineering, interested in materials science and energy systems. In my free time: I work on motorcycles, do personal projects, or look up random fun facts.

I am an undergraduate mechanical engineering student at UT Austin. I joined the Mitlin group while taking Dr. Mitlin’s Materials Selection course, and was drawn to it because advancements in energy storage are important for a future of clean reliable energy. In my free time I enjoy practicing taekwondo and playing video games.

I joined the Mitlin group in summer 2021, as I was entering my second year as an ECE undergraduate at UT. I’m interested in improving the safety and energy density of batteries to better suit the demands of electric vehicles and long-term electricity storage. In my spare time, I like doing fun projects, running, and exploring the city with friends.

I’m from Houston and am part of the Electrical and Computer Engineering class of 2024. I joined the Mitlin group in July 2021. I hope to explore power electronics and renewable energy which rely heavily on the latest battery technology, which is the focus of our group. When I’m not in the lab, I like spending time with my cat, jogging, and exploring Austin by bus and bike.