Electrochemical Engineering Co-op

My Role 

I was responsible for advancing the research and development of materials, processes and electrochemical cells used for critical metal extraction from mining wastewater. I gained experience in designing + executing experiments, nanofabricating + innovating optimized materials, prototyping and re-iterating cell parts as well as materials characterization using analytical chemistry instrumentation (SEM-EDS, ICP, UV-Vis). This co-op required me to  process large data sets and present interpreted results and conclusions to the whole company on a weekly basis. My final co-op presentation consisted of a detailed review of a particular problem/inefficiency I noticed in the system and how, through materials development and test parameter optimization, I successfully improved the yield of the system by 2x in a given time and increased the energy efficiency by 70% at 90% yield. Overall, this fast paced startup experience has equipped me with several skills including but not limited to prototyping, problem solving, innovating materials and optimized parts as well as great communication and presentation skills within a multidisciplinary environment.