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Our People

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

jalilvand@sc.edu

Postdoctoral Assistants

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.

slateef@email.sc.edu

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.

hmcray@email.sc.edu

Kaushek Ilancheran Rahul

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.

Ilanchek@email.sc.edu

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.

muthuraa@email.sc.edu

Hari Haran Udhayakumar

PhD Student

Hari is a Ph.D. student in the LMAPS group at the University of South Carolina (USC). Prior to joining USC, he earned his M.S in Energy Convergence Engineering from the Korea National University of Transportation in 2024 and his B.Tech in Chemical and Electrochemical Engineering from CSIR–Central Electrochemical Research Institute (CECRI), India, in 2021. Following his undergraduate studies, he worked at India’s national research organization, DRDO (Defense Research and Development Organization). Hari’s current research focuses on understanding the fundamental mechanisms governing lithium–sulfur batteries and developing advanced electrocatalysts to enhance the performance of both lithium–sulfur and lithium-ion batteries.

udhayakh@email.sc.edu

Matthew Gentile

PhD Student

Matthew Gentile is a PhD student in LMAPS at USC. He graduated his B.Sc in chemistry from the University of Alabama with Summa Cum Laude honors in May 2025. Matthew's research focuses on novel wet and dry methods to recycle critical battery materials.

MMG29@email.sc.edu

Undergraduate Research Assistants

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.

colonlav@email.sc.edu

Kyra Burton

Kyra Burton is an undergraduate student in chemical engineering. Kyra's research interests are in green energy applications and sustainability.

burtonkh@email.sc.edu

Ethan Grazulis

Ethan Grazulis is an undergraduate student in chemical engineering. Claire's research interests are in new chemistries for energy storage applications.

grazulis@email.sc.edu