Research Team
Graduate Research Assistants
Smit Ajmera
Smit is a graduate student in Mechanical Engineering at the ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ. In the summer of 2024, heÌýjoinedÌýDr. ÌýBolhari’sEcoWater Cart projectÌýto lead theÌýdesign, andÌýfinances of the e-cart design. HisÌýprevious work experience includes projects such as Methane Capture Techniques, Tampa City's Climate Action Plan, Memphis's Food System Improvement, and Sustainable Packaging for Nerdy Sheep Fiber Works Company.ÌýSmit.Ajmera@colorado.edu
Sulaiman AlKhalfan
From the dunes and heat of Kuwait to the mountains and frost of ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ, Sulaiman is a graduate student in civil engineering who joined Dr. Bolhari’s Household-Community Resiliency Nexus (HCRN) research group in the summer of 2023. He earned his bachelor's degree in civil engineering from the University of Colorado – Denver in December 2022 and plans to pursue a PhD at the University of Texas – Austin. In his free time, Sulaiman enjoys playing badminton and soccer, sports in which he was a professional player back in Kuwait. He also volunteers with the National Union of Kuwaiti Students in the US, helping freshmen settle in. His research focuses on data analysis to provide a comprehensive understanding of how the resilience of individual households significantly contributes to the overall resilience of a community in the aftermath of a natural disaster.
Sulaiman.Sulaiman-1@colorado.edu
Sylvester Francis
Sylvester is a graduate student in Mechanical Engineering at the ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ who joined Dr. Bolhari’s EcoWater Cart project as the team lead in the summer of 2024. He comes from an interdisciplinary background, holding a degree in mechatronics with a specialization in robotics. Sylvester has extensive experience in both industry and research, having worked as a research assistant and teaching assistant, where he made significant contributions to his field. Sylvester's love for robotics fuels his academic and professional journey. Outside the lab, he immerses himself in wildlife photography, videography, bird watching, exploring the great outdoors. Sylvester.Francis@colorado.edu
Manish Vankudre
Manish is a graduate student pursuing a master's degree in Data Science from the ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ. He joined Dr. Bolhari’s Household-Community Resiliency Nexus (HCRN) research group in the summer of 2024. His research focuses on developing a comprehensive model that captures community capacity in managing disasters at the household level, utilizing data science techniques with Marshall Fire data. He is most fascinated by the field of data science because of its potential to use data to find solutions that positively impact the world. Beyond data crunching, Manish enjoys playing soccer and traveling the world to explore Earth's natural wonders.Ìý
ManishSubhash.Vankudre@colorado.edu
Undergraduate Research Assistants
Ìý
Anvie Gowrishankar
Anvie is a junior undergraduate student pursuing a B.S. in Aerospace Engineering with minors in Engineering Management and Astronomy. She joined Dr. Bolhari’s team as a SUPUR student in 2023 to participate in the NSF-funded Innovation-Self-Efficacy (ISE) research group and continued with the team since then. Anvie’s focus on the research has been studying the impact of hands-on course interventions on neurodivergent engineering students' abilities to innovate which can lead to positive educational outcomes and self-efficacy. Anvie has made significant contributions to quantitative and qualitative data analysis and several publications. In her leisure time, she enjoys golfing, participating in extracurricular clubs, and discovering captivating new shows.
Anvie.Gowrishankar@colorado.edu
MayaÌýLeizerovich
Maya is an Applied Math undergraduate studentÌýand minor in Civil Engineering. SheÌýjoined theNSF-funded Innovation-Self-Efficacy (ISE) research team in the summer of 2023 as a CU-SPUR student. She has remained with the team since then and has made significant contributions to quantitative and qualitative data analysis and several publications.In her free time, Maya enjoys hiking, reading, and finding new cafes.Ìý
Maya.Leizerovich@colorado.edu
Shane Gavney
Shane is an Environmental Engineering undergraduate student who joined Dr. Bolhari’s NSF-funded Innovation-Self-Efficacy (ISE) research group as a DLA student in 2023-2024. He has continued with the team since then, making significant contributions to both quantitative and qualitative data analysis as well as several publications.
Shane.Gavney@colorado.edu
Caroline Steely
Caroline is a Computer Science undergraduate studentÌýwith a double minor in creative technology and design and engineering management.ÌýSheÌýjoined Dr. Bolhari’s NSF-funded Innovation-Self-Efficacy (ISE) research group as a SPUR student in 2024.ÌýHer research focus is on the innovation self-efficacy of neurodivergent (ND) engineering students. More specifically, Caroline will explore how ND engineering students' abilities in idea networking and associational thinking are different from neurotypical engineering students.Ìý
Caroline.Steely@colorado.edu
Carter Sheplee
Carter is an ambitious undergraduate student majoring in Mechanical Engineering with a minor in Computer Science. He joined Dr. Bolhari’s research group in the summer of 2024 to work on the EcoWater Cart project. Throughout the summer, Carter has made significant contributions to the team by leveraging his expertise in Computer Assisted Design (CAD), advancing manufacturing processes, and maintaining effective communication with the client. His dedication and skills have been instrumental in driving the project's success.Carter.Sheplee@colorado.edu
Gavin Antos
Gavin is an undergraduate Mechanical Engineering major, who has been part of the EcoWater Cart project since itsÌýinception as a small-scale prototype in GEEN 1400 and continued working with Dr. Bolhari on this grant. Gavin’s role has evolved alongside the project's growth, where he has played a key part in the transition to a larger scale. He helped bridge the gap between the two builds, ensuring all client specifications are met and developed CAD designs that allowed our team to carry out the build process.ÌýGavin.Antos@colorado.eduÌý
Former research students:
Eric FlaskaÌý
Eric was an Applied Math graduate student who joined Dr. Bolhari’s Household-Community Resiliency Nexus (HCRN) research group in the summer of 2022 through theÌýLaboratory for Interdisciplinary Statistical Analysis (LISA). He madeÌýsignificant contributions in exploring the social capital aspect of households during disasters utilizing Marshall Fire data and published a paper.Ìý
Eric.Flaska@Colorado.EDU
Sasha Rubenfeld
Sasha was a researcher on Dr. Bolhari’s team and graduated from CU ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ in May 2022 with a B.S. in Environmental Engineering. Sasha worked on the Household-Community Resiliency Nexus (HCRN) research by processing Marshall Fire community survey data to map it with HCRN constitutes.Ìý
Sasha.Rubenfeld@colorado.edu
Shelby Tillema
Shelby was a researcher on Dr. Bolhari’s team and graduated from CU ºù«ÍÞÊÓƵ in May 2021 with a B.S. in Environmental Engineering. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. at Northwestern University. Under Dr. Bolhari’s supervision, Shelby's senior design team won 2nd place at the 2021 WERC Environmental Design Competition for their design of a PFAS destruction process. Their project proposed a thermal destruction process incorporating calcium hydroxide, utilizing biochar derived from the organic fraction of municipal solid waste.
Shelby.Tillema@Colorado.EDU
Rita Trick
Rita served as a research assistant on Dr. Bolhari’s team, preparing a series of hands-on K-12 STEM projects related to the fate and transport of contaminants for TeachEngineering. She graduated in May 2021 with a B.S. in Environmental Engineering and currently works as a rural development specialist at RCAC. Under Dr. Bolhari’s supervision, Rita's senior design team won 2nd place at the 2021 WERC Environmental Design Competition for their design of a PFAS destruction process. Their project proposed a thermal destruction process incorporating calcium hydroxide, utilizing biochar derived from the organic fraction of municipal solid waste.Ìý
Rita.Trick@Colorado.EDU
Undergraduate research assistants for microplastics study:
- Dhiraj Shrestha
- Geneva Gutierrez
Undergraduate research assistants for NSF-EAGER:
- Jesse Lee
- Maria Ochoa
- TJ Spies
- Austin Poole
- Nicholas Menrique
Undergraduate faculty-mentored research students:
- Brandon Machingura
- Brandon Dussenbury
- Jake Gravell
- Mark Halfman
- Natalie Cox
- Shelby Freeman