Sustainability Postdoctoral Fellows
Ganesh Khatei
Ganesh received his Ph.D. in Geoscience from Temple University, where, under the mentorship of Prof. Sujith Ravi, he investigated how soil salinity, sodicity, and atmospheric humidity influence particulate matter emissions, wind erosion, and soil moisture dynamics in salt-affected soils. Before pursuing his Ph.D., he served as a Junior Research Fellow and later Senior Research Fellow at the Indian Institute of Science (IISc), Bengaluru, supported by the GATE Fellowship from the Ministry of Education, Government of India, where he conducted research on groundwater geochemistry, contaminant transport, and water security challenges in urban and rural Karnataka, India. At Penn, he collaborates with Prof. Jon Hawkings and Lyndon DeSalvo of The Nature Conservancy to develop and evaluate nature-based solutions, including green stormwater infrastructure, that improve urban water quality, strengthen climate resilience, and advance sustainable water management. His interdisciplinary research integrates environmental geochemistry, soil physics, and hydrology to address pressing environmental challenges and support resilient communities.
Younes Shekarian
Younes Shekarian received his Ph.D. in Energy and Mineral Engineering from Penn State, where he developed a chemical-less process for selective recovery of critical metals from acid mine drainage. He also holds an M.S. in Mineral Engineering from New Mexico Tech, and both M.S. and B.S. in Mining Engineering from Amirkabir University of Technology (Tehran Polytechnic). He is a recipient of the SME Ph.D. Fellowship Grant and the Penn State Alumni Association Dissertation Award. His postdoctoral research with Prof. Samantha McBride (University of Pennsylvania) and Dr. Elizabeth Kalies (The Nature Conservancy) will explore sustainable recovery of lithium and other critical elements from secondary resources.
Sam Willard
Sam Willard received a B.S. in Plant and Microbial Biology from the University of Minnesota and a Ph.D. in Biogeochemistry from Imperial College London under the supervision of Dr. Bonnie Waring (a Penn alum). His postdoctoral research is aimed at understanding the chemical cycling of soil organic carbon under different grazing management techniques. Through a collaboration with The Nature Conservancy, this research will be applied to optimize soil carbon retention and sequestration across TNC North America’s managed grazelands. Sam is collaborating with Prof. Alain Plante (Penn), Dr. Stephen Wood and Dr. Clare Kazanski (both at The Nature Conservancy).