Current PhD Students

Advanced Energy Systems

Alex Derenchuk

Advanced Energy SystemsAlex_Derenchuk _Heashot
alexander_derenchuk@mines.edu
Advisor: Professor Alexandra Newman (Mechanical Engineering)

Education

  • Ph.D. student in Advanced Energy Systems, Colorado School of
    Mines (present)
  • M.Eng. in Operations Research and Analytics, Thayer School of Engineering
    at Dartmouth College (2024)
  •  B.E. in Engineering Sciences, Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth
    College (2020)
  •  A.B. in Earth Sciences, Dartmouth College (2019)

Research

  • Energy Systems Optimization
  • Power Market Design and Operation

Interest

  • Outdoor Activities (Skiing, Running, Climbing, Biking)
  • Cooking
  • Reading

Resume

Mariana Braun da Rosa

Advanced Energy Systems

mariana_braundarosa@mines.edu

Advisor: Professor Alexandra Newman (Mechanical Engineering)

 

Education

  • Ph.D. student in Advanced Energy Systems, Colorado School of Mines (present)
  • MBA in Project Management, Pontifical Catholic University of Rio Grande do Sul- Brazil (2023)
  • B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Federal Institute of Rio Grande do Sul- Brazil (2021)

Research

  • Thermal Modeling and Optimization of Concentrating Solar-Thermal Power Systems

Interests

  • Hiking
  • Working Out
  • Traveling
  • Cats
  • Podcasts and Reading

 

Mechanical Engineering Students

Chase Robinson

Ph.D. Mechanical EngineeringChaseRobinson_Photo
chase_robinson@mines.edu
Advisor: Professor Paulo Cesar Tabares-Velasco (Mechanical Engineering)
Co-Advisor: Professor Alexandra Newman (Mechanical Engineering)
Co-Advisor: Professor Wale Odukomaiya

Education

  • Ph.D. Student in Mechanical Engineering, Colorado School of Mines (current)
  • B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Colorado School of Mines (2010)

Research

  • Building Systems and Building Materials

Interests

  • Tubing
  • Adventuring
  • Traveling

Resume

Remi Akinwonmi

Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering
remilekun_akinwonmi@mines.edu
Advisor: Professor Alexandra Newman (Mechanical Engineering)

Education

  • Ph.D. Student in Mechanical Engineering, Colorado School of Mines (current)
  • M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, University of Colorado, Boulder (2024)
  • B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, The Federal University of Agriculture, Abeokuta (2018)

Research

  • Design and development of long-duration energy storage systems
  • Mathematical modeling and stochastic optimization of energy systems

Interests

  • Road cycling
  • Lofi Hiphop

Resume

Operations Research with Engineering

Andrew Aikman

Andrew Aikman HeadshotOperations Research with Engineeringaaikman@mines.edu
Advisor: Professor Alexandra Newman (Mechanical Engineering)

Education

  • Ph.D. student in Operations Research with Engineering, Colorado School of Mines (present)
  • B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, Colorado School of Mines (2023)

Research

  • Thermal Modeling and Optimization of Concentrating Solar-Thermal Power Systems
  • Battery Optimization for Net-Zero Emission Home Energy Storage Systems

Interests

  • Tennis
  • Snowboarding
  • Reading (mostly nonfiction and historical)

Resume

Felix Ayaburi

Operations Research with EngineeringFelix Headshot
fzayaburi@mines.edu
Advisor: Professor Alexandra Newman (Mechanical Engineering)

Education

  • Ph.D. student in Operations Research with Engineering, Colorado School of Mines (present)
  • M.S. in Mineral & Energy Economics, Colorado School of Mines, 2024
  • BSc. in Petroleum Engineering, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, 2020

Research

  • Optimizing electric vehicle charging station sizing and placement
  • Diesel particulate matter emissions measurement from underground mines

Interests

  • Soccer
  • Travel
  • Basketball

Resume

Mary Bingham Chee

Operations Research with EngineeringMary Bingham Chee Headshot
mbingham@mines.edu
Advisor: Professor Maxwell Brown (Economics and Business)

Education

  • Ph.D. student in Operations Research with Engineering, Colorado School of
    Mines (present)
  • Professional Masters – Mineral Exploration, (2019)
  • B.S. Geology and Geological Engineering, (2015)

Research

  • Industrial decarbonization modelling and policy analysis
  • Critical mineral supply chains

Interests

  • Trail running / ultramarathons
  • Travel
  • Writing
  • Art & photography 

Resume

 

Jennifer DiCarlo

Jennifer DiCarloOperations Research with Engineering
jdicarlo@mymail.mines.edu
Advisor: Professor Bill Eustes (Petroleum Engineering)

Education

  • Ph.D. student in Operations Research with Engineering, Colorado School of Mines (present)
  • M.S. in Aerospace Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology (June 2003)
  • B.S. in Aeronautical Engineering and Astronautical Engineering, Math Minor, US Air Force Academy (May 2001)

Research

  • Concentrated solar power systems optimization

Interests

  • Triathlon
  • Latin
  • Animal rescue
  • Hiking

Resume

Janelle Domantay

Janelle Domantay HeadshotOperations Research with Engineering
janelle_domantay@mines.edu
Advisor: Professor Paulo Cesar Tabares Velasco

Co-Advisor: Tyrone Vincent

Education

  • Ph.D. student in Operations Research with Engineering, Colorado School of Mines (present)
  • M.S. in Computer Science, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (December 2024)
  • B.S. in Computer Science, University of Nevada, Las Vegas (December 2001)

Research

  • Minimizing Unmet Demand in Small-Volume Heat Pump Water Heaters
  • Maximizing Hot Water Availability

Interests

  • Cooking
  • Martial Arts

    Resume

     

    Joseph Kenrick

    Operations Research with EngineeringKenrick Headshot
    jkenrick@mines.edu
    Advisor: Professor Alexandra Newman (Mechanical Engineering)

    Education

    • Ph.D. student in Operations Research with Engineering, Colorado School of Mines (present)
    • M.S. in Space Resources, Colorado School of Mines
    • B.S. in Petroleum Engineering, Colorado School of Mines

    Research

    • Mathematical optimization of robotic and space systems
    • Swarm behavior and intelligence

    Interests

    • Building my camper van
    • Outdoor Activities (Snowboarding, Running, Biking)

    Resume

    Justin Kilb

    Kilb,Justin_PhotoOperations Research with Engineeringjustinkilb@mines.edu
    Advisor: Professor Alexandra Newman (Mechanical Engineering)

    Education

    • Ph.D. student in Operations Research with Engineering, Colorado School of Mines (present)
    • M.S. in Data Science, University of California, Berkeley
    • B.S. in Petroleum Engineering
    • Diploma Petroleum Engineering Technology
    • Diploma New Media Production & Design

    Research

    • Mathematical optimization of energy systems

    Interests

    • Music production
    • Mountain biking
    • Volleyball
    • Math!

    Resume

    Raymond Kudzawu-D'Pherdd

    RAYMOND KUDZAWU-D’PHERDDOperations Research with Engineeringraymond_kudzawu-dpherdd@mines.edu
    Advisor: Professor Alexandra Newman (Mechanical Engineering)

    Education

    • Ph.D. student in Operations Research with Engineering, Colorado School of Mines (present)
    • M.S. in Industrial Finance and Investment, KNUST, 2021
    • M.S. in Petroleum Geoscience, University of Ghana, Legon, 2010
    • B.S. in Earth Science (Geology Major), University of Ghana, Legon, 2004

    Short-Term Professional Development Certificates from: Australia National University, University of Pretoria, University of Queensland, University of Ottawa

    Research

    • Operations research in environmental metrics for sustainable mining

    Interests

    • Bedroom DJ (Amapiano enthusiast)
    • Globe Trotting (Traveling)
    • Cooking
    • Theatre

    Resume

    Bingshen Lu

                                                                       Bingshen Headshot

    Operations Research with Engineering

    bingshenlu@mines.edu

    Advisor: Professor Alexandra Newman (Mechanical Engineering)

     

    EDUCATION

    · Ph.D. student in Operations Research with Engineering, Colorado School of Mines (present)

    · M.S. in Operations Research with Engineering, Colorado School of Mine, 2025

    · M.S. in Applied Quantitative Finance, University of Denver, 2021

    · M.S. in Integrated Science, University of Colorado Denver, 2019

    · B.S. in Physics, University of Colorado Denver, 2015

     

    RESEARCH

    · Optimization of Mine Design & Operation

     

    INTERESTS

    · Nonlinear & Stochastic Dynamics

    · Software Design

    · Exercise

    · Observing cats in boxes

     

    Resume

    Jenifer McClary

    Jenifer_McClary_PictureOperations Research with Engineeringjenifermcclary@mines.edu
    Advisor: Professor Alexandra Newman (Mechanical Engineering)

    Education

    • Ph.D. student in Operations Research with Engineering, Colorado School of Mines (present)
    • M.S. in Applied Statistics, Colorado School of Mines, Golden, CO, 2019
    • B.S. in Mathematical Studies, United States Military Academy, West
      Point, NY, 2009

    Research

    • Steel Production Schedule Optimization

    Interests

    • Skiing
    •  Road and mountain biking
    • Wine education and tasting
    • Glamping

    Resume

    Luke Messer

    Luke Messer HeadshotOperations Research with Engineering: luke_messer@mines.edu
    Advisor: Professor Alexandra Newman (Mechanical Engineering)

    Education

    • Ph.D. student in Operations Research with Engineering, Colorado School of Mines (present)
    • B.S. in Industrial Engineering, Florida State University 2025

    Research

    • Contested Logistics

     Interests

    • Climbing
    • Coffee
    • Cycling
    • Photography
    • DIY

    Resume

    Kat Tomon

    Operations Research with Engineeringktomon@mines.edu
    Advisor: Professor Alexandra Newman (Mechanical Engineering)

    Education

    • Ph.D. student in Operations Research with Engineering, Colorado School of Mines
    • M.S. in student in Operations Research with Engineering, Colorado School of Mines, 2022
    • B.S. in Chemical Engineering, minor in McBride Honors Public Affairs, Colorado School of Mines, 2017

    Research

    • Energy Systems Optimization

    Interests

    • Formula One
    • Drinking Coffee
    • Track and Field
    • Hiking
    • Podcasts and Reading

    Resume

    Edikan Udofia

    Operations Research with Engineeringedikanudofia@mines.edu
    Advisor: Professor Alexandra Newman (Mechanical Engineering)

    Education

    • Ph.D. student in Operations Research with Engineering, Colorado School of Mines (present)
    • B.S. (Hons) in Computer Science, University of the Western Cape (2010)
    • B.S. in Computer Science, University of the Western Cape (2009)

    Research

    • Industrial Scale Prediction Modeling
    • Production Scheduling

    Interests

    • Music
    • Cooking
    • Reading Autobiographies
    • Watching Documentaries

    Resume

    Yongchen Wu

    Operations Research with Engineering

    yongchen_wu@mines.edu Yongchen Wu Headshot

    Advisor: Professor Alexandra Newman (Mechanical Engineering)
    Co-advisor: Assistant Professor Hojun Choi (Economics & Business)

     

    Education

    • Ph.D. student in Operations Research with Engineering, Colorado School of Mines (present)
    • M.S. in Advanced Energy System Engineering, Colorado School of Mines(2024)
    • B.A. in Environmental Studies, University of California, Santa Barbara(2023)

    Research

    • Mathematical optimization of energy systems
    • Electric vehicle charger siting optimization

    Interests

    • Video games
    • Road trips
    • Snowboarding
    • Hiking

    Resume