Jeff Lowe, Ph.D.

Virtual Propulsion Engineer - Battery Cell Electrochemistry

Warren, Michigan, United States

About

I have a broad range of expertise in the analysis of next-generation battery chemistries. Prior to joining the automotive industry in 2021, I have 10+ years of experience in academic research, primarily in the atomistic modeling (e.g., molecular dynamics, DFT) of materials for batteries and fuel cells. I have a strong track record of high-impact publications, and I've managed a variety of undergraduate and graduate students.

Experience

  • General Motors (Warren, Michigan, United States)
    • Virtual Propulsion Engineer - Battery Cell Electrochemistry
      Jan 2023 - Present · 3 yrs 6 mos

      • Develop atomistic modeling workflows with other atomistic modeling experts within the Advanced Battery Cell Engineering, Virtual Design, Development, and Validation, and GM R&D teams • Mentor to an executive in the company as part of a reverse mentorship program • Volunteer for STEM and community outreach projects in the local area

    • Electrochemist, Advanced Battery Cell Engineering
      Aug 2021 - Jan 2023 · 1 yr 6 mos

      • Managed budgets of $500k+ as a project leader across multiple external projects with universities to improve battery cell designs in future vehicle technologies • Provided battery cell expertise for DFMEA on future cell designs • Led a bi-weekly Electrochemistry Lunch and Learn with my team to discuss key topics in battery materials, cell design, algorithm development, and experimental analyses

  • Lillian Gilbreth Postdoctoral Fellow at Purdue University
    Dec 2018 - Jul 2021 · 2 yrs 8 mos

    Advisors: Jeff Greeley and Christina Li • Initiating a research portfolio in modeling electrocatalytic materials for more efficient energy production and conversion based on my fellowship grant • Developed a protocol for experimentalists to incorporate rigorous, first-principles computational methods into their research projects • Overseeing undergraduate and graduate research projects in chemical engineering • Communicate across interdisciplinary teams of engineers and chemists to bridge computational and experimental approaches • Published papers in high-impact journals • Invited reviewer on a National Science Foundation panel • Led ~200 undergraduate students as a guest lecturer in two courses: Chemical Engineering Thermodynamics and Fluid Mechanics

  • Graduate Student Research Assistant at University of Michigan
    Sep 2012 - Dec 2018 · 6 yrs 4 mos

    Advisor: Don Siegel • Applied first-principles modeling techniques to develop a series of design considerations for preventing unwanted electrolyte degradation and improving ionic transport in next-generation batteries • Supervised a student on the discovery of thermal energy storage materials; our approach identified numerous compounds that are predicted to outperform state-of-the-art materials • Facilitated courses on practice teaching, problem-solving skills, and evaluating student writing for hundreds of new graduate student instructors • Secured $440,000 funding as a contributing author on a grant • Published multiple, first-author and collaborative papers in high-impact journals • Software skills/data analytics: Proficient in first-principles (VASP) and classical atomistic simulations (LAMMPS), machine learning, and advanced programming (Python, MATLAB, C/C++)

  • Math Learning Center Coach at Michigan Technological University
    Sep 2008 - Apr 2012 · 3 yrs 8 mos

    • Led walk-in help sessions and planned weekly, one-on-one tutoring appointments • Collaborated with a team of tutors to develop in-class, problem-solving workshops • Assisted hundreds of students - many of whom increased their letter grade from past semesters • Courses covered: Pre-Calculus, Calculus I/II/III, Differential Equations, and Linear Algebra