From left to right: Inseon, Sidney, Jeff, Chaochao, Sizhuo, Linfeng

Postdoctoral Researchers

Featured
Linfeng Chen
Linfeng Chen

Linfeng joined the Urban group in January 2023. He obtained his Ph.D. degree in Chemistry from the University of California, San Diego. At LBNL, Linfeng is focusing on the separation and recovery of lithium and magnesium from brines using polyoxometalate-based materials. In addition, he is broadly interested in designing inorganic cluster frameworks and exploring their single-crystal-to-single-crystal transformations to address challenges in critical materials sustainability.

Chengshuang Zhou
Chengshuang Zhou

Chengshuang joined the Urban group in October 2024. He obtained his B.S. degree in Materials Science and Engineering in Tsinghua University, and his Ph.D. degree in Chemical Engineering at Stanford University. At LBNL, Chengshuang is developing the synthesis and characterization of multielement and high-entropy materials to address the challenge in renewable fuel generation, such as CO2 hydrogenation to hydrocarbons. Besides, he is also interested in understanding fundamental problems in heterogeneous catalysis with precise model systems.

Maroosol Yun
Maroosol Yun

myun@lbl.gov

Maroosol joined the Urban group in Aug 2025. She received her PhD degree in Mechanical Engineering from Yonsei University, Korea (2019-2025). Her work has focused on the thermal management of high heat flux systems, including two phase heat transfer for electronics cooling, cooling system design for fusion reactor components, thermohydraulics in circulating fluidized bed reactors. At LBNL, Maroosol is working on the design of a high throughput screening device for CO2 hydrogenation catalysts.

Graduate Students

Featured
Sidney Poon
Sidney Poon

sidney_poon[at]lbl.gov

Sidney joined the Urban group in September 2021, and is being co-advised by Dr. Baoxia Mi in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. His current research is focused on the development of mixed matrix membranes for gas separation. He also works on the development of sensors for heavy metal detection.

Undergraduate Researchers

Featured
Megan Rogers
Megan Rogers

Megan joined the Urban group in February 2026 and is an undergraduate Chemical Engineering student at UC Berkeley. She is working with Chengshuang Zhou on the synthesis and characterization of high-entropy oxide materials for selective CO2 hydrogenation. Her research interests include CO2 reduction through catalytic and electrochemical methods, as well as plastic polymer deconstruction.

Giovanni Donofrio
Giovanni Donofrio

I am an undergraduate Chemical Engineering student at UC Berkeley with interests in materials science and sustainable chemical processes. I have experience in biotech manufacturing and production engineering, where I applied data analysis, process control, and safety-focused practices. At LBNL, I am excited to contribute to hands-on research and develop my skills in synthesis, characterization, and collaborative scientific work.


Alumni

Postdoctoral Advisees:

Dr. Chaochao Dun (2019-2026)

Dr. Shuo Liu (2024-2025)

Dr. SiZhuo Yang (2020-2024) - Professor at Nanjing Normal University

Dr. Inseon Oh (2022-2024) - Samsung Electronics

Dr. Carlos Forsythe (2019-2022) - R&D Engineer at Diamond Foundry

Dr. Jaeyoo Choi (2017-2021) - Samsung Electronics

    Dr. Sohee Jeong (2017-2020) - Assistant Professor at Korea Institute of Science and Technology 

    Dr. Ngoc Bui (2017-2019) - Assistant Professor at University of Oklahoma

      Dr. Zhuolei Zhang (2018-2019) - Professor at Huazhong University of Science and Technology

      Dr. Canghai Ma (2017-2019) - Assistant Professor at Dalian University of Technology

      Dr. Zhuonan Song (2016-2017) - Scientist at Gore Technologies

      Dr. Youngsang Kim (2015-2017) - Analyst at Lam Research

      Dr. Heng Wang (2015-2017) - Assistant Professor at Illinois Institute of Technology

      Dr. Karol Miszta (2015-2016) - Postdoc at LBNL

      Dr. Woochul Lee (2014-2018) - position accepted at University of Hawaii, Mechanical Engineering    

      Dr. Boris Russ (2014-2016) - Senior Engineer at Apple, Inc.

      Dr. Ayaskanta Sahu (2013-2017) - Assistant Professor at NYU, Chemical Engineering

      Dr. Eun Seon Cho (2013-2017) - Assistant Professor at KAIST, Chemical and Biological Engineering

      Dr. Jason Forster (2012-2017) - Apprentice in Japanese Woodworking

      Dr. Jared Lynch (2012-2013) - Nanosys, Inc.

      Dr. Richa Sharma (2010-2013). co-advised with Dr. Delia Milliron - Schlumberger-Doll Research

      Dr. Nelson Coates (2010-2014) - Assistant Professor at California Maritime Academy

      Dr. Rizia Bardhan (2010-2012) - Assistant Professor at Vanderbilt University

      Dr. Aaron Hammack (2010-2012), co-advised with Dr. Frank Ogletree - Hitachi HGST

      Dr. Rueben Mendelsberg (2010-2011), co-advised with Dr. Andre Anders, Dr. Delia Milliron - First Solar

      Dr. Anne Ruminski (2009-2015) - Silicium Energy

      Dr. Ki-Joon Jeon (2008-2011) - Assistant Professor at Inha University, S. Korea

      Dr. Saar Kirmayer (2008-2010) - Weizmann Institute   

      Dr. Adam Schwartzberg (2007-2010) - The Molecular Foundry, LBNL, Berkeley, CA

      Dr. Kevin See (2008-2010) - Lux Research

      Dr. Hoi Ri Moon, (2008-2010) - Assistant Professor at UNIST, S. Korea

      Dr. Robert Wang (2008-2011), co-advised with Dr. Delia Milliron - Assistant Professor at Arizona State University

 

Student Advisees: 

  • Lukas Hackl (2015-2021), graduate student from C&EE dept., UC Berkeley, co-advised by Ashok Gadgil

  • Madeleine Gordon (2017-2021), graduate student from AS&T dept., UC Berkeley, co-advised by Junqiao Wu

  • Hyungmook Kang (2016-2020), graduate student from ME dept., UC Berkeley, co-advised with Prof. Chris Dames

  • Elizabeth Corson (2015-2020), graduate student from CBE dept., UC Berkeley

  • Edmond Zaia (2014-2019), graduate student from CBE dept., UC Berkeley

  • Erin Creel (2014-2019), graduate student from Chemistry dept., UC Berkeley

  • Norman Su (2011-2017), graduate student from CBE dept., UC Berkeley

  • Paul Baade (2015), masters student from ETH, Zurich

  • Maxime Szybowski (2015), masters student from ETH, Zurich

  • Robin Mutschler (2014-2015), masters student from ETH, Zurich

  • William Chang (2011-2014), graduate student from CBE department, U.C. Berkeley, co-advised with Prof. Rachel Segalman

  • Cynthia E. Chen (2011-2014), graduate student from CBE department, U.C. Berkeley, co-advised with Prof. Rachel Segalman - LAM Research

  • Shannon K. Yee (2010-2013), graduate student from Mech E department, U.C. Berkeley, co-advised with Prof. Rachel Segalman - Assistant Professor at Georgia Tech

  • Preston Zhou - undergrad at California Institute of Technology

  • Kyle Haas - undergrad at UC Berkeley

  • Kelly Chou - undergrad at UC Berkeley

  • Trinity Ho - undergrad at UC Berkeley

Welcome to Urban Group!