Trevor Coates

Chemical Engineering PhD Student at MIT

United States

About

I recently graduated from the Villanova University College of Engineering with a degree in Chemical Engineering and will be pursuing a PhD in Chemical Engineering at MIT. My interests include catalysis, advanced materials, and energy-related technologies, with a focus on connecting fundamental research to practical applications. I am excited to continue growing as a researcher while staying open to opportunities across academia, industry, and start-up environments.

Experience

  • Undergraduate Researcher at Villanova University - Chemical and Biological Engineering
    Aug 2023 - May 2026 · 2 yrs 10 mos

    Conducted research with Professors Michael A. Smith and Charles G. Coe on lithium orthosilicate sorbents for high-temperature CO₂ capture. Focused on alkali metal substitution effects, using techniques such as TGA, XRD, N₂ BET, FTIR, and SEM to evaluate structural stability and adsorption performance.

  • Catalysis Science Program Research Engineer at Argonne National Laboratory
    May 2025 - Aug 2025 · 4 mos

    Participated in the DOE-funded Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship (SULI) program at Argonne National Laboratory under the mentorship of Dr. ‪Massimiliano Delferro. Researched low-valent transition metal complexes supported on silicon nitride for catalytic applications. Prepared and grafted air-sensitive organometallic species using glovebox and Schlenk line techniques. Monitored reactivity using ¹H NMR, DRIFTS, and GCMS.

  • Undergraduate Research Fellow at Cornell University
    May 2024 - Aug 2024 · 4 mos

    Received the Robert W. Work Fellowship for undergraduate student research in the labs of Professor Phillip J. Milner. Developed metal-organic frameworks for the targeted capture of gases, including carbon dioxide and hydrogen sulfide. Evaluated and characterized data using instruments such as TGA, PXRD, GCMS, and gas sorption analyzers.

  • Research Engineer at Ecolectro, Inc.
    May 2023 - Jul 2023 · 3 mos

    Researched and developed catalyst ink compositions for optimization of Ecolectro’s green hydrogen generation process. Assembled electrolysis cells, evaluated electrode production parameters and effects on performance, and conducted data analysis to identify experimental trends.

  • Engineering Intern at Advion Interchim Scientific
    Jun 2021 - Aug 2021 · 3 mos

    Designed and 3D-printed fixtures for mass spectrometer manufacturing using CAD Software. Constructed a burn-in station for different heater assemblies.