Dr. Melanie Derby, professor and Dr. Charles E. Wilson Chair in Engineering, graduated from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, in Troy, NY, with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering in May 2008. At RPI, she studied condensation heat transfer and received her M.S. in 2010 and Ph.D. in May 2013.

In August 2013, she joined the faculty at Kansas State University and studies multi-phase flows, the Food, Energy, and Water nexus, and buildings. Her research has been sponsored by ASHRAE, DOE, NASA, NSF, ONR, and industry. She received a 2017 NSF CAREER Award, 2017 KSU College of Engineering Outstanding Assistant Professor Award, and 2017 ICNMM Outstanding Early Career Award. She directed the NSF-sponsored Rural Resource Resiliency NRT at Kansas State University which focused on convergent food, energy, and water research and interdisciplinary graduate education. She currently directs the NSF MICRA project regarding resilient agriculture. Melanie is an enthusiastic researcher, teacher, and gardener.

Graduate Students

Michael Akinseloyin is from Lagos, Nigeria, and obtained his B.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Lagos in November 2018. In August 2022, he joined the CHIL LAB as a PhD student, where he focuses on the reduction of carbon emissions in heating and cooling systems using low global warming potential refrigerants. Specifically, he conducts research on on-tube condensation in an Office of Naval Research sponsored project.

Shahnawaz Alam Dip is from Jashore, Bangladesh. He obtained his B.Sc. degree in Mechanical Engineering from the Bangladesh University of Engineering and Technology (BUET) in 2021. In August 2023, he joined the CHIL Lab to pursue a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering. His research primarily focuses on studying the influence of wettability on sandy loam soil, both with and without the presence of Bacillus subtilis, surfactin, and biochar.

Jane Turner is a native of Kansas City. In the Spring of 2024, she attained her BS in Mechanical Engineering from Kansas State University. She currently working on her MS in Mechanical Engineering, focusing on condensation and ice dynamics, under the guidance of Dr. Melanie Derby and Dr. Amy Betz.

Undergraduate Students

Aiden Bienz is from Overland Park, KS, and is currently pursuing a Bachelor's degree in Mechanical Engineering, with an expected graduation date in 2026. Aiden joined the lab in the summer of 2023 and has been working on a project focused on low global warming potential refrigerants.

Wyatt Orender is a research assistant working on a project testing the heat transfer performance of various refrigerants. Hailing from Osage City, KS, Wyatt joined the lab in summer 2023 and will be starting his junior year in the fall, pursuing his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and a minor in Computer Science.

Alumni

Jarrod Booth was an undergraduate from Manhattan, KS, pursuing a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering with minors in Business and Mathematics, and graduated in December of 2018. He worked with Jordan Morrow studying the characteristics of lower GWP alternative refrigerants.

Kevin Bultongez joined the team in the summer of 2014 as a research assistant and graduated with his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering in May of 2015. He studied oil-water flows and received his M.S. in 2017. Originally from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, he received his H.S diploma from Plano East Senior High in Dallas, TX. He is currently working in the industry in Kansas City.

Carly Byrne was an undergraduate student from Lee's Summit, MO, pursuing a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering with Minors in Leadership and Mathematics. She joined CHIL lab summer of 2018, working with Partha Chakraborty in studying the process of evaporation in a simulated soil pore. She graduated in May 2021.

Adan Cernas hails from Garden City, KS. After completing his associate's degree at Garden City Community College, he transferred to KSU and majored in Mechanical Engineering. His hobbies include working out and building model kits.

Partha Pratim Chakraborty graduated from Chittagong University of Engineering & Technology, Bangladesh in Mechanical Engineering in 2017. He joined the lab in the fall of 2017 and received his Ph.D. in August 2022 studying the alteration of hydrophobicity to restrict evaporation from soil. His extracurricular activities include guitar and percussion.

Xi Chen earned a B.S. in Process Equipment and Controlling Engineering from Wuhan Institute of Technology. He earned his M.S. in 2012 from Wichita State University, where he researched multi-body dynamics and was a research assistant in the Crash Dynamics Lab at the National Institute for Aviation Research. He earned his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from K-State University in thermal fluids.

Nicole Doughramaji is from Topeka, KS pursuing a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering with a mathematics minor. She joined the lab in the summer of 2016, working with Xi Chen, studying how a flapping motion affects water droplet coalescence and departure on flexible films. She worked with Gennifer Riley to study condensation on porous wicking structures and graduated in May 2019.

Jacob Dunshee graduated in December of 2015 with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. He joined the lab in Summer 2015 and worked with Kevin Bultongez studying oil and water flows.

David Espino-Mendez is originally from Mexico. He earned his Associates of Science at Garden City Community College. Carlos joined the lab during summer of 2019 under the KS-LSAMP Research Immersion: Pathways to STEM (RiPS) program. He studied wick structures under the guidance of graduate student Jordan Morrow. He majored in Mechanical Engineering.

Giselle Guanes is from Asuncion, Paraguay. She received her B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from KSU in 2018. She worked in the lab during the Summer 2017, working with Ryan Huber, studying droplet condensation on hydrophobic surfaces. She enjoys spending time with friends, taking pictures, and playing music.

Carter Hall was an undergraduate research assistant for a project about low global warming potential refrigerants sponsored by ONR. He earned his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering awith a minor in Mathematics and graduated in December 2022.

Maryam Hamehkasi received her B.S. in Agricultural Engineering in 2006 in Iran from Bu-Ali Sina University. She was an M.S. student from 2014-2015.

Ryan Huber earned a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and Computer Science minor from Kansas State University in 2016. Upon graduation, he began working in the CHIL lab as a PhD student in Mechanical Engineering, with a focus on enhanced condensation in cooling towers. He received his Ph.D. in 2021.

Eric Kerschen worked in the CHIL lab from 2014-2015. He graduated in May 2015 with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and a Minor in Mathematics.

Jordan Morrow graduated from Kansas State University in December 2016 with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering and a Minor in Mathematics. He received his Ph.D. in 2022. He has worked on several projects during his time in the lab, including studying the heat transfer characteristics of low GWP emerging refrigerants.

David A. Navarrete received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Kansas State University. With his degree, he aspires to help develop more efficient use of Earth's resources and slow or reverse climate change. When not in school, studying, or taking data in the lab, he enjoys working out, cooking and going to music festivals!

Dylan Paap graduated from Concordia University, NE, in December of 2020 with a B.S. in Physics and Minors in Mathematics and Chemistry. He joined the lab in the summer of 2021, pursuing an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering. His work focused on studying evaporation from Ottawa Sand with flows above and through the soil.

Jack Pakkebier graduated from Fort Hays State University in May 2022 with a B.S. in Physics. At K-State, he earned a M.S. in Mechanical Engineering. He joined the group in the summer of 2022. He researched how the alteration of hydrophobicity effects evaporation rates in a simulated soil pore. Jack was also a member of the university track and field team.

Gennifer Riley graduated in May of 2017 with degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Physics. She earned a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering at Kansas State University. Gennifer's research involved studying the effects of wicking structures on heat transfer characteristics in condensers.

Sara Rohleder came from Hays, KS. She graduated with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. She joined the lab in summer 2020 and worked on pool boiling experiments to understand boiling fundamentals.

Emily Stallbaumer-Cyr graduated from Kansas State University in May 2018 with a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering. In the fall of 2018, she started her Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering and began work in the Multiphase Microfluidics Lab and joined the CHIL Lab in Summer 2019. She has conducted research investigating freezing on heat pipe wicking structures and researched the effect of surfactant on sprayed research droplets.

Devon Vogts worked in the CHIL lab from 2014-2015. He graduated with his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering in May 2015.