Students

Jacklyn Alsbro is an MPA/EAP student at the La Follette School of Public Affairs with interests in crafting energy policy for an equitable, resilient, and sustainable future. She earned her B.S. from Michigan State University in Environmental Studies and Sustainability. As an undergraduate research assistant, she led a project that tracked the PPA revenues of renewable energy projects in Michigan, where she quantified the revenues impact to local communities. Through the EAP program, she hopes to bridge the gap between the drafting and implementation of energy policy ensuring communities’ voices are fully heard and realized through decision-making process. Jacklyn was awarded the EAP Student Scholarship in 2024.

Mohammad Eshaghi is a MPA student at the La Follette School with a background in economics. He holds a master’s degree in economics from Bonn university in Germany and completed his undergraduate studies in Iran, where he also minored in energy economics. Professionally, Mohammad has diverse experience in the AI, finance, and oil and gas industries, working in both the public and private sectors. His roles have included economic analyst, economic researcher, and procurement assistant. Through the EAP program, Mohammad is looking forward to gain more insight into the world of renewables and energy transition.

Gursel Abbas is a PhD student in Chemical and Biological Engineering at UW–Madison, whose academic journey spans Azerbaijan, Spain, Turkey, and beyond. After surviving a life-threatening accident that left him with third-degree burns over 67% of his body, Gursel’s resilience fueled his academic ascent—from earning multiple scholarships and leading student organizations to publishing research and presenting internationally. He has traveled across 27 countries, founded a FinTech startup, and represented the International Eurasia Press Fund at the UN SDG Summit. Today, he brings his global perspective, entrepreneurial spirit, and research drive to advance chemical engineering.

Jerrold Acdan is a graduate student in the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences. As a member of the Pierce Research Group, he investigates the formation, spatial distribution, and transport of air pollutants using satellite retrievals, field campaign data, and atmospheric chemistry models. Through the EAP program, Jerrold is excited to learn about the energy sector and its impacts on climate and air quality. Before coming to UW-Madison, he received a B.A. in Chemistry and Geography from UC Berkeley in 2017 and worked as a Project Coordination Fellow for the NASA DEVELOP National Program.

Oluwatobiloba Ajise is a Master of International Public Affairs and Energy Analysis and Policy (MIPA/EAP) student at the La Follette School of Public Affairs. He has contributed to grassroots efforts addressing healthcare challenges in Nigeria, Togo, and Burkina Faso through volunteer collaborations with the Dangote Foundation and other community-based initiatives. These experiences have deepened his commitment to equity-driven development and now guide his focus on leveraging the Energy Analysis and Policy program to design sustainable energy solutions that improve healthcare access and advance energy equity in underserved communities across sub-Saharan Africa.

Payton Bartow is pursuing a PhD in Mechanical Engineering with the guidance of Professor Allison Mahvi and Professor Michael Wagner. He studies how to apply thermal energy storage to buildings. Recent efforts have focused on experimentally validating computational models of phase change material thermal energy storage heat exchangers. He hopes to make progress towards more economical, climate-friendly building technologies through his studies. In 2025 he was awarded the Energy Analysis and Policy Student Scholarship. He is interested in policies that can incentivize sustainable technology adoption. Payton earned his B.S. in Mechanical Engineering at UW-Madison and is a proud Wisconsinite. Outside of work he enjoys running and cooking.

Ryder Belgarde is a Ph.D. student in the Department of Mechanical Engineering, working as a graduate researcher in the Thermal Hydraulics Laboratory under Dr. Mark Anderson.  Ryder’s research relates to studying thermal fluid fluctuations in Sodium Fast Reactor (SFR) nuclear cores and how those can transfer and potentially damage the containment structures. He is designing a scaled experiment that will simulate the reactor conditions, using molten sodium to be able to help qualify a SFR that is being built in Wyoming by TerraPower. Ryder received a B.S. in Mech. Engineering from North Dakota State University in 2021, and a Masters in Science from UW-Madison in 2023. He has a strong interest in energy policy and how to include nuclear energy with other sustainable sources of energy.

Matilyn Bindl is an MS student in the Nelson Institute’s Environment and Resources program, where she is excited to pursue her PhD in energy and climate policy under the guidance of Dr. Morgan Edwards of the La Follette School of Public Affairs. Matilyn graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Madison in 2019 with her BS in Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences. During her undergraduate and post-baccalaureate career, she worked as a research assistant to Dr. Tracey Holloway at the Center for Sustainability and the Global Environment (SAGE), where she explored solutions regarding air quality, climate, and public health. Matilyn also serves as the Program Coordinator for Science-A-Thon, an annual social media event that increases the visibility of science and creates opportunities for women and minorities in STEM. Matilyn was awarded the EAP Student Scholarship in 2020.

Jennifer is a PhD student with the Electrical and Computer Engineering Department. Her research, supervised by Prof. Dominic Groß, relates to grid-forming control of power converters for reliable and stable integration of renewable energy into the bulk power system. Through a graduate minor in Energy Analysis and Policy, she strives to contribute to accessible and equitable energy solutions. On campus, Jennifer is also a Graduate Engineering Research Scholar (GERS) and on the student advisory board for the Office of Diversity, Inclusion, and Funding. Before joining UW-Madison, she earned an honors degree in Engineering and Physics from Brown University, in which her thesis explored the optimization and design of solar photovoltaic energy systems. Jennifer was a recipient of the 2021 Wisconsin Distinguished Graduate Fellowship and the 2022 Energy Analysis and Policy Scholarship. Outside of the classroom, Jennifer enjoys knitting, walking, and cooking new recipes.

Miles Coppage is a graduate student pursuing his Masters in Public Affairs (MPA) from the La Follette School with an Energy Analysis Policy certificate. Prior to graduate school, Miles earned his undergraduate degree in Political Science from San Diego State University. In San Diego, Miles did work centering around student success and also held multiple political internships. Through graduate school and the EAP program, Miles hopes to work with or for localities to implement intersectional policies, achieving social, racial, and environmental justice. In his free time Miles enjoys playing basketball, writing music, and watching movies.

Trey Coury is pursuing a master’s degree in Environment and Resources at the Nelson Institute, while also earning graduate certificates in Energy Analysis and Policy, and Business, Environment, and Social Responsibility. He received his BS in Chemistry at Wake Forest in 2014, and spent 9 years in clinical lab IT before enrolling at the UW for graduate studies. His research is focused on how to incorporate distributed energy resources’ external impacts (such as health benefits or energy independence) into benefit cost tests. In his spare time, he enjoys reading, being outside, and playing capoeira.

Daritza is a PhD student in the Environment and Resources program at the Nelson Institute. She is interested in air quality, climate change, and health equity. Daritza hopes to help communities who are disproportionately impacted by air pollution and climate change. Daritza was awarded the EAP Student Scholarship in 2020.

Jake Erickson is a PhD student in the Environment and Resources program and Agricultural and Applied Economics program. His research investigates the distributional equity impacts of clean energy and decarbonization policies and technologies in the US and abroad. Prior to grad school, Jake worked in the energy analysis sector, consulting for major utilities in the US and conducting original research on energy access and development in Sub-Saharan Africa and the South Pacific. When not coding in R, Jake can be found running or biking the many trails of Madison, spending time in the garden, or re-watching Marvel movies with his partner and two cats.

Breck Flanagan-Caldwell, recipient of the Energy Analysis and Policy Student Scholarship, is a Water Resources Management student at the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies, pursuing a double degree in International Public Affairs at the La Follette School and a graduate certificate in Energy Analysis and Policy. Originally from Oregon’s Columbia River Basin, Breck brings nearly a decade of public sector experience in natural resource administration at the local, state, and federal levels. His academic and professional motivations center on the intersections of water and climate governance, energy-water linkages, and natural resource policy, informed by experiences such as the 2025 Young Water Diplomats Program and his role as the U.S.A Focal Point for the North American Youth Parliament for Water. At UW–Madison, Breck is eager to explore how water cooperation, energy systems, and conflict resolution can advance a more water-secure future.

Sharan is a PhD student in the Agricultural and Applied Economics department at UW Madison. His main interests lie in studying the wholesale electricity grid, regulatory policy, and renewable integration. Before coming to Madison, Sharan worked as an electricity consultant for utilities, co-ops, regulatory bodies and more, with experience in wholesale market modeling, rate design and electrification program analysis. He received his BA in Physics and Economics from Carleton College.

Sam Garcia is a graduate student pursuing a Ph.D. in Nuclear Engineering & Engineering Physics with a minor in Energy Analysis and Policy. His current research focuses on modeling multi-physics phenomena for nuclear micro-reactors to understand how to optimize for cost, safety, and performance. Sam received a BS in Nuclear Engineering from UW-Madison with a minor in pure mathematics in May 2021, where his research focused on developing testing methods for High-Entropy Alloys as an advanced nuclear material. With his current and previous experiences, Sam seeks to establish nuclear technology as a flexible energy source capable of being deployed in established, developing, or remote grid systems. In his free time he enjoys hiking, weightlifting and cooking for friends. Sam is a 2022 National Science Foundation Graduate Research Fellow and was awarded the EAP Student Scholarship in 2021.

Yiwen Gu is a PhD student in the Electrical and Computer Engineering department. He conducts research with Prof. Bernie Lesieutre on resistivity and stability control of power systems. Yiwen earned his bachelor’s degree in Electrical and Computer Engineering from Virginia Tech. During his undergraduate, he participated in the Virginia Tech Wind Turbine Team as a power system researcher. He also designed the energy management system of the CubeSat, which was deployed from the International Space Station in Q4 of 2022. Yiwen enjoys biking, painting, and cooking with friends in his free time. Yiwen was a recipient of the EAP Student Scholarship in 2024.

Sara Hartke is a graduate student in Civil and Environmental Engineering, where she is pursuing her master’s degree under the guidance of Nimish Pujara and Jennifer Franck (in the Engineering Physics department). She received her bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Texas at Dallas in May 2020 before starting at UW-Madison as a research assistant in Fall 2021. Sara has previously participated in research on designing a 6-DOF platform for a scaled wind turbine at UT-Dallas. She is interested in fluid dynamics and renewable energy, and her research focuses on exploring the effects of waves/turbulence on crossflow turbines in waterways. Sara was awarded the EAP Student Scholarship in 2021.

Xiyuan Hu is a Ph.D. student in the Population Health Sciences of UW-Madison. She is
interested in analyzing health issues via the perspective of the interaction of economics
and energy, especially the effects and implications of energy using on the status of
population health.

Ugochukwu Ikegwu is a graduate student (Ph.D.) in Chemical and Biological Engineering at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. “No challenge poses a greater threat to future generations than climate change” and “at present, we are stealing the future and calling it GDP.” This captures the crux of his interest in the energy sector; analyzing and reengineering the energy infrastructures, developing new technologies, studying existing policies and the economics to aid efficient energy transition. He completed his B.Eng. degree in Chemical Engineering from Landmark University, Nigeria, in 2017, and his M.Sc. degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of the Witwatersrand, South Africa, in 2021, both with distinctions. Upon his M.Sc. completion, his research birthed an energy consulting firm called Enviroenerg solutions in South Africa, where he served as a director and principal process engineer before joining UW-Madison. In his free time, he enjoys playing chess, soccer and having engaging conversations about humanity. He looks forward to the rewarding experience and knowledge to be gained from the EAP program.

Jennifer, Dine/Navajo, is a Ph.D. student at the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies and works at the intersection of STEM, social sciences, and policy. Her proposed research is focused on the potential of tribal-owned utility development to provide clean, reliable electricity for tribal communities. In addition to the 2024 EAP scholarship, Jennifer received the 2024-25 Public Humanities Graduate Fellowship at the Center for the Humanities, which has led her to be the Tribal Engagement Fellow at RENEW Wisconsin. Before joining UW-Madison, Jennifer’s academic journey includes dual bachelor’s in mechanical engineering and American Indian studies from Arizona State University and a master’s in Environment and Sustainability at the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor.

Allen is a graduate student in the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies. As a member of Dr. Ankur Desai’s ecometeorology lab, he studies carbon fluxes, uptake and stability in temperate forests based on different management levels. Through the EAP program, Allen wants to learn more about the energy sector with a particular interest in nuclear energy. Before coming to UW-Madison, he received a B.S. in Environmental Science and a GIS certificate from UW-Whitewater.

Dean Krueger is a graduate student in the Nuclear Engineering & Engineering Physics department working under Prof. Paul Wilson. His research focuses on modeling economic interactions between elements of the nuclear fuel cycle to better understand the complex system dynamics that exist in a system with the unique constraints of nuclear supply. Dean received his bachelor’s degree in physics from the University of Colorado-Boulder in 2020, where he spent time studying the effect of magnetic field configuration on black hole accretion disk evolution and stability. Dean is particularly interested in understanding the interplay between the driving factors of energy transitions and the constraints placed upon them by existing infrastructure and economics.

Andrew Lindaas is a JD/MPA dual degree student at both the University of Wisconsin Law School and the La Follette School of Public Affairs. He received his BA in Political Science and Economics at the University of Wisconsin – Eau Claire in 2023, focusing his undergraduate research on a wide range of legal and social issues. Andrew is particularly interested in the relationship between law and public policy relating to renewable energy and energy conservation. In his free time, Andrew enjoys cooking new recipes, shopping local, and watching Wisconsin sports (Go Pack Go!).

Riley List is a J.D. candidate at the University of Wisconsin Law School. He is passionate about understanding the relationship between law, science, business, economics, and public policy in order to promote social justice and sustainability. He received his B.A. in Organizational Studies and Sustainability from the University of Michigan in 2023. In previous roles, he has focused on promoting sustainability across organizational programming, facilities planning, and decision making. Riley enjoys forming connections between concepts that initially appear unrelated and using holistic strategies to approach complex challenges. Additional interests of his include playing soccer, performing piano, cooking, and volunteering.

Dorothy Lsoto is a graduate student pursuing her Ph.D. in Environment and Resources at the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies. Prior to graduate school, Dorothy has been working in East Africa, Uganda on several renewable energy research projects like solar, biomass and biogas. She has also done a lot of work with air quality in institutions and schools using biogas versus firewood for cooking. She loves working with communities and introducing them to clean energies. Her main interests are renewable energy; currently she works with Prof. Jonathan Patz. Dorothy was awarded the EAP International Student Scholarship in 2018.

Marco Alexei Marquez is pursuing a dual master’s degrees in Public Affairs through the La Follette School and in Urban Planning through the Department of Planning and Landscape Architecture. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from DePaul University in Chicago and minored in economics.  After graduating he began working as a grassroots climate change organizer, training hundreds of high school students across the state of Wisconsin to become powerful climate activists. Marco Alexei is looking forward to learning more about the ways states and municipalities can create long-term plans to reach net-zero emissions, while working in collaboration with utility companies.

Timilehin Oluwole is a PhD student in the Chemical and Biological Engineering program at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. She earned her B.S. and M.S. in Chemical Engineering through the 4+1 pathway at the University of New Haven, where she deepened her interest in sustainability and renewable energy, particularly through research on biofuels derived from seaweed biomass. During this time, she received multiple academic and leadership awards, including recognition in 2023 as one of 24 nationwide awardees of the Future Leaders in Chemical Engineering symposium at NC State University. Timilehin views the energy industry as central to both the economic and environmental trajectory of nations, and at times, a source of global conflict. Through the Energy Analysis and Policy (EAP) certificate program, she seeks to strengthen her interdisciplinary expertise to influence global energy policy, promote equitable solutions for underrepresented communities, and contribute to the development of emerging renewable fuel technologies. Outside of academics, she enjoys cooking, watching movies, gaming (Call of Duty), and creating digital art and designs.

Dahlia Saba is a PhD student in the department of Electrical & Computer Engineering working with Prof. Dominic Groß. Her research focuses on ensuring the stability of electrical grids with high levels of renewable energy, with a particular focus on offshore wind farms. Prior to joining UW Madison, she got her B.S. in Electrical Engineering & Computer Science from UC Berkeley. In her spare time, she enjoys cooking, spending time outdoors, and doing the crossword.

Bijoyetri Samaddar is a PhD researcher who explores how the interpretive instability of sociological and political constructs like trust and fairness can affect causal inference claims. She is currently grappling with the idea of a “fractured Nash equilibrium,” where stable behavioral patterns emerge not from aligned incentives but from splintered conceptual understandings of the “game” itself. Drawing on insights from cultural, social, political and economic theory as well as empirical cases, she investigates how shifts in meaning, influenced by factors like public memory and AI-mediated discourse, can lead to precise yet substantively misleading causal effects. Samaddar also delves into climate-related issues, examining how linguistic diversity and multigenerational living serve as crucial resilience strategies. She is currently developing a project inspired by John Snow’s “grand experiment” on cholera adapted to contemporary contexts of urban decay and environmental justice in India. Her goal is to bridge quantitative rigor with qualitative insights.

Cara Scalpone is an M.S. student in the Department of Atmospheric and Oceanic Sciences, conducting research with Dr. Tracey Holloway to improve air quality modeling for applications in environmental and public health policy. Cara studied environmental science and mathematics as an undergraduate at Pitzer College, focusing on anthropogenic impacts on ecological systems. She previously conducted research quantifying the impacts of climate change on ecosystem services from estuaries and forests. Prior to joining the AOS department and EAP program, Cara worked as an air quality modeler for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality providing technical analysis for state-level air quality plans. Cara was awarded the EAP Student Scholarship in 2023.

Faustina, originally from Ghana, holds an MSc in Data Science and AI from Queen Mary University of London and an MPhil in Climate Change and Sustainable Development from the University of Ghana. She is currently pursuing a PhD at the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies and the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering under Dr. Andrea Hicks. Her research focuses on using Life Cycle Assessment to evaluate energy efficiency and carbon emission reductions in emerging food processing technologies.

Gabriel Shapiro is a graduate student in the Department of Geography and the Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies. His research is focused on the political ecology of energy transitions. He grew up in upstate NY and received a bachelor’s degree from Ithaca College in Environmental Studies. When he isn’t learning, he loves to ski, run, and explore beautiful natural places. He was awarded an EAP student scholarship in 2023 and is honored to be a part of the Energy Analysis and Policy research hub at UW-Madison.

Jayant is a PhD student at the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. He is part of the Anex lab at the Wisconsin Energy Institute and is working on developing a novel Direct Air Capture (DAC) technology. Particularly, he is designing a lab scale continuous prototype reactor to evaluate its techno–economic feasibility, before scaling up the design to a pilot scale. Through the EAP program, he wishes to learn relevant tools like life cycle assessment, cost–benefit analysis and develop an understanding of how legislations and regulations affect the implementation of DAC at scale. Before starting his PhD, Jayant completed his master’s degree in environmental engineering from University of Florida and brings in substantive experience as a research assistant from the National Institute of Advanced Studies, India.

Arnav Sinha is a Ph.D student in Mechanical Engineering at UW-Madison. As a member of the Engine Research Center (ERC), he conducts research in the combustion of decarbonized fuels such as Hydrogen and Methanol as well as the quantifying of the environmental impact of heavy-duty vehicles. He believes that his research will only be impactful when its real-world implementation is considered. Therefore, his interests lie in the alternative fuel production and the consequential land use change, impact on communities, and policy considerations. He received his bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering from Purdue University in 2022 and his Master’s degree from UW-Madison in 2024.

Zach is an MS student in the Nelson Institute’s Environment and Resources program. As a research assistant for Dr. Morgan Edwards, he will examine the effects of corporate venture capital on cleantech startup growth and its contribution to greenhouse gas emissions reduction. He began researching cleantech innovation at the Center for Global Sustainability at the University of Maryland after graduating in 2019 with a BS in Physics and a BA in Government and Politics. Zach is a 2021­­­­­­­­­­­–2022 Weston Distinguished Graduate Fellow and was awarded the EAP Student Scholarship in 2021.

Brandon Tran is a PhD student in the Computer Science department, also pursuing an Energy Analysis and Policy certificate. His research centers on power and energy consumption within the field of computer science, with a specific emphasis on high-performance computing (HPC). Recently, he completed an internship at Oak Ridge National Lab, conducting experiments on their cutting-edge supercomputers. Currently, he is engaged in the development of a fine-grained energy model aimed at offering insights into energy consumption across various workloads to enhance software optimization.

Javiera is a graduate student at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, pursuing a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering with a minor in Energy Analysis and Policy. Her research centers on applying optimization techniques to develop decision-making tools to promote the energy transition. Before embarking on her Ph.D. journey, Javiera earned her B.S. and M.S. degrees from the University of Chile in 2022. While there, she focused on designing and evaluating renewable energy systems within the mining sector, showcasing her commitment to addressing critical energy and environmental challenges. Following her graduate studies, Javiera gained practical experience as an energy consultant, advising financial institutions on financing renewable energy projects in South America. Beyond her academic and professional pursuits, she enjoys cooking, outdoor activities, and cross-stitching. She looks forward to learning in an interdisciplinary environment and gaining experience with real-world projects through the EAP program.

My name is Xinran Wu, a graduate student in the Environment & Resources program of Nelson Institute. The research that I am doing is about the multi-pollutant emissions reduction strategies and the potential impacts on carbon reduction, specifically in energy and transportation sector. I am so glad to join the EAP community and receive the expertise from prestigious EAP faculty members. I really learned a lot from both energy and policy perspective. I would love to share this exciting program with more prospective students!

Luyi Zeng is currently pursuing the Environment & Resource PhD at UW-Madison. Her research interests center on studying interactions between environment, agriculture, and policy within the Economics analysis framework, mainly how agricultural systems respond to energy policies, regulations, and climate crises. Her current work focus on the estimates of agricultural land use change attributable to biofuel policies in the U.S. She is also working on examining agricultural adaptations to climate crisis through the lens of cross-border trade of agricultural products. In her spare time, she likes hiking, exploring stunning landscapes and amazing wildlife.