December 2020 Undergraduate research scholars COHORT

Yilin Wu

B.S. in Chemical Engineering, Mathematical Sciences

Yilin Wu spent two years at Mines studying chemical engineering and minoring mathematical sciences. She participated in an undergraduate research program on the computational study on gas hydrates formation and inhibition. During her time at Mines, she attended the Undergraduate Research Symposium with her research team and presented her work to both general and professional audiences, including professors, researchers, and engineers from the industry. Her work provided a better understanding of the mechanism of hydrates formation and interactions among water, alkane, and glycol inhibitor molecules.

Hadley Thomas

B.S. in Biochemistry, Minor in Public Affairs

Hadley Thomas graduated with a degree in biochemistry and a McBride honors minor in public affairs magna cum laude. In her time at Mines, she was president of the Pre-Medical Society and Hike for Help, a mentor in the Society of Women Engineers, and received the Mines Undergraduate Research Fellowship for her research. She worked in the Trewyn Research group in the Chemistry Department focusing on using mesoporous silica nanoparticles for amylase-mediated drug delivery. After graduation, she plans to attend medical school and become a Navy physician.

Renee Park

B.S. in Chemical Engineering

Renee Park graduated in December 2020 with a BS in Chemical Engineering. She conducted her undergraduate research for Dr. Andrew Herring of the CBE Department. Having spent nearly two years working on the recovery of nutrients/production of fertilizer from farm wastewater using electrochemistry, she hopes to advance sustainability efforts in her future careers and lifestyle!

Alex Liethen

B.S. in Environmental Engineering, Minor in Renewable Energy

Alex graduated with a BS in environmental engineering and a minor in renewable energy from Mines. Alex conducted research within the CEEN department at Mines and also through his work with the United States Geologic Survey (USGS). His research broadly focused on chemical fate and transport in the environment and specifically looked at PFAS compounds (with Mines) in tomato plants and nitrogen and microplastic deposition (USGS) in precipitation. Alex hopes to continue his research with chemical fate and transport in the environment and is especially interested in the bioremediation.

Madeline Dawes

B.S. in Engineering Physics