Postdocs
Dr. Durgesh Ranjan
Durgesh earned his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Cochin University of Science and Technology in 2017 and his M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Indian Institute of Technology Patna in 2019. His master’s research explored the characterizing the acoustic of pool boiling in aqueous surfactants solution and designing a feedback device to control the thermal runaway. After completing his Ph.D. from Syracuse University, he joined Prof. Scheffe’s lab as a Postdoctoral Associate in March 2023. His doctoral work is primarily focused on surface nanofabrication, surface wettability and heat transfer using micro/nano structured geometries. He intends to pursue a career in academia.
email: durgeshranjan@ufl.edu
Ph.D. Students
Gilbert Haw
Gilbert received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Valparaiso University in Spring 2025. He is pursuing a Ph.D in Mechanical Engineering, with research focusing on solar thermochemical processes for hydrogen production.
email: GILBERT.HAW@ufl.edu
Byran Zicherl
Byran earned his B.S. (2018) and M.S. (2020) in Engineering Technology from Purdue University while working as an engineer for Lockheed Martin. After graduation, he worked in the public utility sector managing and implementing large-scale commercial and industrial energy efficiency and demand-side management programs. In January 2025, Byran joined Dr. Scheffe’s lab as a Graduate Research Assistant, supported by a GEM Fellowship, an employer fellowship with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), and the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering Dean’s Research Award. His research focuses on solar thermochemical hydrogen (STCH) production for a DOE/EERE-funded project, with an emphasis on technoeconomic analysis (TEA) and life cycle assessment (LCA). He is driven to accelerate the pathways of renewable energy systems and decarbonization, while advancing the economics and scalability of sustainable technologies.
email: BZICHERL@ufl.edu
Mario Munoz
Mario received his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Duke University in Spring of 2022. After completing his undergraduate studies, he worked in system operations for NextEra Energy and Florida Power and Light. Currently, he is pursuing his PhD in Mechanical Engineering with research focusing on solar thermochemical hydrogen production.
email: MMUNOZ1@ufl.edu
Alaa Al-Bukhari
Alaa is an international student from Saudi Arabia. In 2015, he graduated top of his class with a B.S. degree in mechanical engineering from King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (KFUPM). After graduation, he worked in the petrochemical industry for two years at a joint venture between SABIC and ExxonMobil. His main duties involved leading mechanical projects, and inspecting fixed and rotating equipment while providing technical assistance to the operation department. In 2020, Alaa received his M.S. degree in mechanical engineering from the University of Florida. Currently, he is pursuing his Ph.D. with Dr. Scheffe to become a prominent professor in the field of thermal and renewable energy.
email: albukhari.a@ufl.edu
Yogesh Ghadge
Yogesh earned his B.Tech. in Mechanical Engineering from Visvesvaraya National Institute of Technology in 2021. After completing his undergraduate studies, he worked as a Sr. Executive – Engineering Utility at LUPIN Ltd. from July 2021 to June 2023, where he implemented projects to enhance energy efficiency and waste heat recovery. Yogesh began his M.S. In Mechanical Engineering at the University of Florida in August 2023 and later transitioned to the Ph. D. program in May 2024. His current research focuses on the experimental demonstration of a hydrogen production reactor and the development of a model integrating reaction dynamics with heat transfer within the reactor. Yogesh aspires to work towards the development of renewable energy systems.
email: y.ghadge@ufl.edu
Kathryn G. Trimm
Kate received her B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Louisiana Tech University in spring of 2020 and M.S. from the University of Florida in 2022. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering with research focusing on solar thermochemical reforming processes.
email: ktrimm@ufl.edu
Master’s Students
Undergraduate Students
Jamar Ivey
email: jamarivey@ufl.edu
Taylor Johnson
email: johnsontaylor@ufl.edu
Ethan Myrick
email: ethanmyrick@ufl.edu
Nikhil Srinivasan
email: n.srinivasan@ufl.edu
Former Postdocs
Dylan McCord (Fall 24 – Spring25), Caroline Hill (Summer 2023 – Summer 2024)
Former Ph.D Students
Ahmed Aljabr, Dylan McCord (Fall 2019 – Spring 2024), Caroline Hill (Fall 2018 – Spring 2023), Kangjae Lee (August 2016 – Spring 2020), Kent Warren (Sept. 2015 – May 2019), Richard Carrillo (Sept. 2015 – August 2019)
Former M.S Students
Chase Montgomery (Spring 2022 – Spring 2023), Julio Roncal (Spring 2022-Fall 2023), Anthony Concepcion (Spring 2021 – Summer 2022), Ali Rahal (Spring 2021 – Fall 2021), Diego Gordon (Fall 2019 – Fall 2020), Rishab Ramaswamy (July 2017 – July 2018), Qusai Nalawala (Spring 2020 – Spring 2021), Vikram Ganesan (Fall 2018 – Spring 2020), Abdalla Aleghfeli (June 2017 – May 2018), Surabhi Singh (October 2016 – June 2017), Vijeet Chandorkar (2015 – 2016)
Former Undergraduate Students
Victoria Stevenson (Spring 2023), Erin Volpe (Spring 2023), Rachel Robbins (Spring 2020 – Spring 2022, Honors), Enrique Hernaiz (August 2019 – 2021, USP), Bryan Noll (August 2019 – 2021), Lauren Rogers (January 2019 – Spring 2020), Collin Hamilton (May 2018 – Spring 2020, Honors), Zorana Visic (January 2019 – Fall 2020), Martin Nguyen (August 2018 – December 2019), Ali Rahal (June 2019 – December 2019), Diego Gordon (May 2018 – May 2019), Elizabeth McMaster (July 2017 – June 2019), Amy Bohinsky (July 2017 – June 2019, USP), Samuel Mueller (May 2017 – June 2018), Abigale Mattingly (March 2017 – June 2019, USP), Jacob Misura (August 2016 – June 2019), Brian Kusnick (May 2017 – June 2018, Honors), Charles Pett (Feb. 2016 – June 2018, USP), Julie Riem (Feb. 2015 – June 2017,USP), Cory Rogers (Sept. 2014- June 2017, Honors)