Dr. Amey Thorat was a graduate researcher in the School of Chemical Engineering at Oklahoma State University, where his work centered on molecular modeling and simulation of ionic liquids and molecular solvents. His research focused on understanding ionic liquids, electrolyte systems, and interfacial phenomena using advanced computational techniques, including molecular dynamics and theoretical modeling. He has contributed to multiple peer-reviewed publications in leading journals, addressing topics such as ionic conductivity, solvation environments, and CO₂ capture systems. His work aims to enable the design of next-generation materials for sustainable energy storage and chemical processes, bridging fundamental science with practical engineering applications.

Dr. Sudip Kumar Das was a Ph.D. student in Chemical Engineering at Oklahoma State University, specializing in density functional theory (DFT) calculations and molecular-level modeling of chemical systems. His research focused on understanding the biodegradation mechanisms of ionic liquids, combining quantum chemical methods with computational insights to evaluate their environmental impact and sustainability. Research performed by Dr. Das has been published in the Journal of Ionic Liquids and Journal of Chemical Physics.

Dr. Rashmi Mishra was Postdoctoral Fellow in the School of Chemical Engineering at Oklahoma State University, specializing in quantum chemistry, molecular dynamics, and computational materials science. Prior to joining OSU, she served as a Postdoctoral Researcher at the University of Helsinki within the Department of Pharmaceutical Chemistry and Technology, where she applied her expertise to pharmaceutical applications and solid-state chemistry. With a Ph.D. in Physics/Chemical Physics and a prolific research record of over 25 peer-reviewed publications, her academic background spans global institutions and diverse fields, including ionic liquids, reactive   capture, and complex plasma systems.

Dr. Utkarsh Kapoor is an Assistant Professor in the School of Chemical and Biomedical Engineering at the University of Wyoming. His research focuses on computational modeling and simulation of biological and soft matter systems, with an emphasis on understanding molecular self-assembly, phase behavior, and biomolecular organization. He works at the interface of polymer physics, biophysics, and materials science, using multiscale simulation methods and machine learning to study systems such as proteins, nucleic acids, and complex fluids. His group also explores applications in sustainable materials and separations, including approaches for energy-efficient extraction processes and critical materials recovery.

Dr. Atiya Banerjee is a specialized researcher in computational chemistry who earned his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Oklahoma State University in 2020. His doctoral research focused on developing a computational framework to understand the biodegradability of imidazolium-based ionic liquids using molecular simulation and quantum mechanical techniques. Prior to his time at OSU, he completed a Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering at the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee and a Bachelor’s degree in Biochemical Engineering from Harcourt Butler Technological Institute. During his academic career, he received numerous accolades, including the Robert J. Robinson Jr. Endowed Graduate Fellowship and a Dissertation Scholarship from the OSU Graduate College.

Dr. Pratik Dhakal is a Senior Data Scientist at Authentix with a strong foundation in chemical engineering and computational modeling. He earned his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from Oklahoma State University in 2021, where his research focused on the computational study of organic molecules, pharmaceutical compounds, and new solvents such as ionic liquids. Prior to his doctoral work, he completed a Master’s degree at Miami University and a Bachelor’s degree at Shandong University of Science and Technology. Following his academic career, he transitioned into high-level data science roles at DuPont and Authentix, leveraging his expertise in molecular modeling alongside professional certifications in Azure and Scrum methodology.

Prashanth Chandran joined Optimized Gas Treating, Inc. as a Development Engineer in May 2018. He is currently Technical Development Team Lead.  Prashanth received a B.Tech. in Chemical Engineering from Anna University, India in 2016 and a M.S. in Chemical Engineering from Oklahoma State University in 2018. During his undergraduate years, he worked as a research intern in Central Leather Research Institute, India, developing pilot plants and simulation tools for solar thermal systems. As a graduate student, he did research on developing novel solvents for desalination and modeling liquid-liquid equilibria.