Environmental Fellows
Progress Energy Graduate Fellows
| Laura Adduci | |
| Laura is studying renewable bio-based feedstocks, specifically carbohydrates, which could be a viable replacement option for widespread fossil fuel use as an energy source and as building blocks for the synthesis of fine chemicals. Ultimately, further development of Laura's work could allow reduced dependence on petroleum products as use of renewable biomass becomes a viable chemical feedstock. | |
| Nicholas Defelice | |
| Nicholas DeFelice, working with Dr. Jacqueline MacDonald Gibson in Environmental Sciences and Engineering, is supported in 2011 to research the interconnections among water consumption, energy use, and ambient air quality. He uses a probabilistic approach to model how changes in water policies might translate into reduced energy consumption, emissions of air pollutants, and greenhouse gases. | |
| Evan Johnson | |
| Evan's research interests range from the characteristics of successful energy technologies to the broader implications of behavioral trends for climate and energy policy. He has co-authored peer-reviewed publications on willingness to pay for energy and climate innovations, as well as knowledge flows among successful energy technology patents. This research has led him to pursue PhD in public policy, focusing on energy and environmental governance from a social science perspective. His most current research focuses on the drivers' of energy consumption and conservation behaviors at the household and business levels. | |
| Yingchi Liu | |
| Yingchi's research involves building organic solar cells using nanostructures, which are designed to be better at trapping light. This research seeks to determine whether substrates that are textured rather than flat and smooth will increase quality and efficiency of organic solar cells. The techniques used in this research may also be applied to improve the performance of other kinds of solar cells. | |
| Brantley West | |
| Brantley West is as doctoral candidate in the Department of Physics. Utilizing nonlinear optics techniques and specialized standard pump-probe measurements, West is studying electronic and vibrational relaxation mechanisms in DNA nucleobases. West and his group plan to connect this work to previous experiments on organic semiconducting crystals. | |
Institute for the Environment Fellows
| Jeff Rissman |  |
| Jeff Rissman is a graduate student in a dual degree program at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He is a master's candidate in both the Department of City and Regional Planning and the Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering. Jeff is working with Prof. Sarav Arunachalam and Prof. Jason West on the computer modeling of aircraft emissions and associated air quality impacts. His research is supported by the Partnership for Air Transportation Noise and Emissions Reduction Center of Excellence, a joint project of the FAA, NASA, and Transport Canada. Prior to joining UNC, Jeff received a bachelor's degree from Stanford University in International Relations and worked in the information technology field. | |
| Matt Woody |  |
| Matt is currently a MS candidate in the Department of Environmental
Sciences and Engineering working with Dr. Jason West. His chief
research interests are environmental modeling and air quality. His
research, through the Center for Environmental Modeling for Policy
Development, will help utilize advanced air quality modeling systems to
analyze aviation emissions and access their incremental impacts on air
quality.
He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in Environmental Sciences from UNC-Chapel Hill in 2003 and previously worked in Industrial Hygiene. | |
| Yuri Kim | |
| Bringing experience with several modeling systems including storm water management modeling Yuri is now researching drought vulnerability in North Carolina. With a focus on watershed systems, hydrology, and process-based hydrologic modeling, Yuri uses computer language, Geographic Information Systems and Remote Sensing to assist faculty with modeling work including data processing, model simulation, and model calibration, among other things. In Yuri's research, this modeling will help predict hydrologic effects of expected climate and land use change in central North Carolina. | |