ND Energy at the University of Notre Dame is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2025 Summer Slatt Fellowship Program. The seven recipients listed below will pursue their research and educational goals while advancing sustainable energy research at Notre Dame.

“We would like to congratulate these students on receiving competitive Slatt Fellowships,” said Edward Maginn, Keough-Hesburgh Professor of Engineering and Associate Vice President for Research. “The Slatt fellowships provide these young scholars an incredible opportunity to focus on full-time research over the summer. We are excited that Notre Dame faculty will be able to guide them as they learn new technical skills and scientific methodologies, broaden their education, and gain a clearer vision of their future.”

The 2025 Summer Slatt Scholars are:

Rita Barhouche ‘27
Major: Aerospace Engineering
Faculty Advisor: David Go, Viola D. Hank Professor of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering and Vice President and Associate Provost for Academic Strategy
Project: Revealing the Underlying Physics of Plasma Self-Organization for Energy-Efficient Plasma Processing
About the project: Nature constantly self-organizes, from the formation of sand ripples to the patterns in chemical reactions, and this research explores how plasmas—high-energy ionized gases—form structured patterns on liquid surfaces. By understanding how these patterns emerge and evolve, this study aims to uncover fundamental principles of plasma behavior, improve plasma modeling, and enhance control over plasma-liquid interactions, which could lead to breakthroughs in energy technologies, such as more efficient plasma-based chemical processing and innovative approaches to energy conversion.

Charlie Desnoyers ‘26
Major: Chemistry
Minor: Scientific Computing
Project Title: Photoremixing Studies of Mixed-Halide Perovskite Thin Films
Faculty Advisor: Masaru Kuno, Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
About the project: Perovskites are a solar-cell material that are more efficient than traditional solar cells. This research aims to understand, and reverse, a phenomenon where the material separates and loses efficiency under light.

Emma Lee ‘26
Double Major: Biochemistry and Anthropology
Project Title: Liquid Crystal Properties of Iron-sulfur Clusters
Faculty Advisor: Emily Tsui, Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
About the project: This research aims to combine the charge transfer properties of iron-sulfur clusters and the tunability of liquid crystals in order to produce a new material. The resulting material has the potential to be useful in energy storage devices, like batteries, as well as energy-efficient electronics.

Joseph Mathew ‘26
Major: Aerospace Engineering
Minor: Engineering Corporate Practice
Project Title: Optimizing Methane Conversion Using Gliding Arc Reactors for the Production of C₂ Species
Faculty Advisor: David Go, Viola D. Hank Professor of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering and Vice President and Associate Provost for Academic Strategy
About the project: Gliding arc plasma reactors can convert natural gas components like methane into more complex and valuable chemicals using only electricity, offering a promising path to decarbonize chemical production through renewable energy. This project aims to optimize the conversion of methane into higher-order olefins that could lead to more efficient and sustainable plasma reactor designs for industrial applications.

Kristen Mohan ‘26
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Minor: Theology
Project Title: WFIP-3:3rd Wind Forecast Improvement Project
Faculty Adviser: Harindra Fernando, Wayne and Diana Murdy Endowed Professor of Engineering and Geosciences
About the project: This research focuses on understanding how physical phenomena in the atmosphere and ocean influence the variability of wind resource in the marine atmosphere boundary layer. This study will improve models that can forecast winds and turbulence over the ocean to allow for optimal harnessing of offshore wind energy.

Jack Nichols ‘26
Major: Chemistry
Project Title: Understanding Perovskite/Hole Transport Layer Interactions
Faculty Adviser: Prashant Kamat, Rev. John A. Zahm Professor of Science
About the project: This research focuses on understanding the next generation of solar cells called perovskite solar cells that display greater potential for energy generation than current silicon solar cells. The aim is to understand the chemistry behind these cells to improve their efficiency and longevity.

Ray Yang ‘27
Major: Computer Science
Project Title: Membrane-Based Separations for Critical Mineral Recovery in Sustainable Energy Systems and Economic Sustainability
Faculty Adviser: Alexander Dowling, Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
About the project: This research focuses on developing new, efficient, and environmentally friendly methods to extract essential minerals, like lithium, and rare earth elements. This project aims to reduce harmful chemical use and improve resource recovery using advanced membrane-based separation techniques to help create a more sustainable and resilient energy future.

About the Slatt Fellowship Program:

The summer Vincent P. Slatt Fellowship for Undergraduate Research in Energy Systems and Processes is a full-time research opportunity for students interested in addressing some of the most critical energy challenges facing the world today. Beginning in May through July, students will embark on a ten-week journey involving research and discovery in collaboration with faculty experts and mentors, learning new methodologies, techniques, and skills, and gaining a deeper understanding of the impact their research has on society.

Slatt scholars will participate in workshops and social events with students in other programs, including the humanities and social sciences, to broaden their understanding of interdisciplinary research, meet new friends, and prepare for the Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium, where students in all programs present their research projects to the Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s College communities. Students may also opt to compete in the Summer Undergraduate Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition held in conjunction with the symposium.

To help scholars navigate their summer research experience, a Welcome Convocation is held so they can meet senior leadership in the Colleges of Arts and Letters, Engineering, and Science, the Graduate School, and Notre Dame Research, connect with students in other programs, and learn about the summer-long workshops and social events.

Workshops include Improving Your CV, Writing Your Personal Statement, Career Discernment and Graduate School, Creating an Effective Research Poster, and Effective Research Communications. Social events include Trivia Night, Movie Night, Latin Dance Night, Skating at the Family Compton Ice Arena, and a Sports Tournament. Additionally, faculty in the Fanning Center for Business Communications in the Mendoza College of Business will provide one-on-one coaching to help students prepare their research presentations for the symposium and 3MT competition.

New this year, the students will participate in a service project in collaboration with the TRIO Upward Bound program. Similar to a mini college fair, students will participate in a panel discussion, small group discussions, and answer questions from high school students about their own personal experiences in deciding to attend college, what college life is like, and why they chose to conduct summer research.

Contact:

Brett Beasley / Research Content Strategy Program Director

Notre Dame Research / University of Notre Dame

bbeasle1@nd.edu / +1 574-631-8183

research.nd.edu / @UNDResearch

About Notre Dame Research:

The University of Notre Dame is a private research and teaching university inspired by its Catholic mission. Located in South Bend, Indiana, its researchers are advancing human understanding through research, scholarship, education, and creative endeavor in order to be a repository for knowledge and a powerful means for doing good in the world. For more information, please see research.nd.edu or @UNDResearch.