Our People
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LMAPS welcomes motivated undergraduate students and visiting scholars to join our team.
Golareh Jalilvand, PhD.
Assistant Professor
Principal Investigator
Dr. Jalilvand is a tenure-track assistant professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at the University of South Carolina and the principal investigator of LMAPS. Dr. Jalilvand's research focuses on the hierarchical structures of materials for next-generation batteries and flexible and wearable energy storage devices.
(803) 576-8359
Postdoctoral Assistants
Avinash Raulo, PhD.
Dr. Avinash Raulo is a postdoctoral assistant in LMAPS at USC. His research is focused on advanced Li-S battery chemistries and processing methods. Avinash received his Ph.D. from IIT Delhi in 2021. Prior joining LMAPS, he was a visiting scholar at the University of North Texas and a postdoctoral researcher at Chonnam National Univeristy, South Korea, where he worked on fibrous cathode materials for advanced Li-S batteries.
Saheed Lateef, Ph.D.
Dr. Saheed Lateef is a postdoctoral assistant in LMAPS pursuing his research in materials synthesis and processing for lithium-ion and lithium-sulfur batteries, spanning from electrodes to electrolytes. He received his Ph.D. and M.Sc. in Chemical Engineering in 2024, and 2017, from USC and King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals, respectively.
Graduate Research Assistants
Hunter McRay
PhD Candidate
Hunter McRay is a PhD student in LMAPS at USC. He graduated his B.Sc in chemical engineering from USC with Magna Cum Laude honors in December 2022. Hunter's research focuses on structural modifications of the future generation of separator materials for Li metal-based batteries.
Kaushek Rahul I
PhD Student
Kaushek Rahul is a PhD student in LMAPS at USC. He graduated with his B.Sc in chemical and electrochemical engineering from the CSIR - Central Electrochemical Research Institute (CECRI) in 2023. Kaushek's research focuses on new electrolyte chemistries and cathode structures for Lithium-Sulfur batteries.
Aishwarya Muthuraman
PhD Student
Aishwarya Muthuraman is a PhD student in LMAPS at USC. Prior USC, she graduated with her M.Sc. in Energy Science and Engineering from the Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science &Technology in South Korea (2024), and B.Sc. in Chemical and Electrochemical Engineering from CSIR - Central Electrochemical Research Institute (CECRI) in India (2020). Aishwarya's research is focused on alternative electrolyte chemistries for Lithium-Sulfur batteries with enhanced capacity and life time.
Hari Haran Udhayakumar
PhD Student
Hari is a PhD student in LMAPS at USC. Prior USC, he graduated with his M.Sc in Energy Convergence from the Korea National University of Transportation (2024), and B.Sc in Chemical and Electrochemical Engineering from CSIR - Central Electrochemical Research Institute (CECRI) in India (2022). Hari's research is focused on new host structures and electrocatalysts for high performance Lithium-Sulfur and Lithium-ion batteries.
Preethi Arunachalam
PhD Student
Preethi Arunachalam is a PhD student in LMAPS at USC. She graduated with her B.Sc in Chemical and Electrochemical Engineering from the CSIR - Central Electrochemical Research Institute (CECRI) in 2024. Preethi's research focuses on the degradation mechanisms of high capacity Lithium-Sulfur batteries with high aerial sulfur loading.
Undergraduate Research Assistants
Claire Murphy
Claire Murphy is an undergraduate student in chemistry with a minor in chemical engineering. Claire's research interests are in new chemistries for energy storage applications.
Victoria Colon-LaBorde
Victoria Colon-LaBorde is an undergraduate student in chemical engineering. Victoria's research interests are in electrochemical systems for energy conversion and storage.
Kyra Burton
Kyra Burton is an undergraduate student in chemical engineering. Kyra's research interests are in green energy applications and sustainability.
Former Members
Marjanul Manjum
Postdoctoral Assistant
Fall 2022-Summer 2023
Post-LMAPS Career: Albemarle Corp.
Emily Fisher
Undergrdauate Assistant
Fall 2021-Summer 2022
Post-LMAPS Career: School of Pharmacy