Funding legislation for methane hydrate research instructs the Secretary of Energy to work with institutions of higher education and specifically to “promote education and training in methane hydrate resource research and resource development.” A very effective way to both ensure good science and also promote education and training is through the funding of competitive awards to universities and colleges to perform hydrate research. Such funds help make it possible for these institutions to acquire and maintain high quality faculty, particularly in areas such as engineering, geosciences, oceanography, chemistry and biological sciences. Even more importantly, they provide an opportunity for dozens of young scientists and engineers to participate in meaningful research, preparing them for careers in both scientific research and industry.

Below is a list of students who have participated in government-funded methane hydrate research, either as undergrads, graduate students, or in Post-doctoral positions. In selected cases, a brief description of the student’s activities is available by clicking on their name.

Alaska, Anchorage, The University of (in conjunction with the Maurer/Anadarko project)

• Porhola, Stan, B.S.
• Ross, Zulimacristina, M.S.

Alaska, Fairbanks, The University of (in conjunction with the BP-Alaska project)

• Bhangale, Amit, M.S., 2007, Modeling.
• Howe, Steven, M.S., 2004, Modeling and Economics
• Jaiswal, Namit, M.S., 2004, Petroleum Engineering
• Kulkarni, Abhijeet, Ph.D., 2005
• Phale, Hemant, M.S., 2006
• Praveen K. Singh, M.S., 2007, Modeling
• Stone, Chris, M.S., 2006
• Tsunemori, Phillip, B.S., 2005
• Vajjha, Pavan, M.S., 2005
• Westervelt, Jason, M.S., 2004, Geology
• White, Aaron, M.S., 2003

Arizona, The University of (in conjunction with the BP-Alaska project)

• Arca, M. Serkan, Ph.D., in progress, Geophysics
• Barker, Margaret, B.S., in progress
• Gandler, Greg, B.S., 2004
• Geauner, Scott, M.S., in progress
• Hennes, Andrew, M.S., 2004, Structural Geology
• Hagbo, Casey, M.S., 2003, Geophysics
• Manuel, Justin, M.S., 2006, Geophysics
• Peyton, Lynn, Ph.D., in progress, Geophysics
• Zhoa, Bo, M.S., 2003, Geophysics

Baylor University (seafloor electrical resistivity project)

• Sikiru Amidu, Ph.D., geophysics, in progress

California – Berkeley, University of (in association with LBNL)

• Elsen, Heather, Ph.D., in progress , Chemistry
• Kowalsky, Michael, Ph.D., 2003
• Pruess, Jacob, B.S., Chemical Engineering
• Wu, Gordon, B.S., in progress, Molecular and Cellular Biology

California - Santa Barbara, University of (NETL Methane Hydrates Research Fellow)

• Heintz, Monica, Ph.D. in progress, Earth Science (Geomicrobiology emphasis)

Carnegie-Mellon University (in association with NETL/ORD)

• Howard, Kris, B.S., 2002, Chemical Engineering

Clarkson University (hydrate model development project)

• Ji, Chuang, M.S., 2001
• White, Tim, M.S., 2003

Columbia University (in association with the GoM JIP)

• Cook, Ann, Ph.D., in progress, Geophysics
• Grabias, Bryan, B.E. Chemical Engineering (undergrad student intern)

Colorado School of Mines (in association with LBNL)

• Gupta, Arvind, Ph.D., in progress, with LBNL
• Peters, David, M.S., 2001

Colorado State University

• Bolton, Robert, B.S., in progress, Biology

Duquesne University (in association with NETL/ORD)

• Thomas, Dick, Ph.D., in progress, Chemistry
• Thomas, Laura, B.S., 2005, Chemistry

Florida State University (in association with CMRET project)

• Peeler, Kelly, M.S., in progress

Georgia Institute of Technology (in association with GoM JIP)

• Francisca, Franco, Post-doctoral, 2002-2004
• Lee, Jong-Sub, Post-doctoral, 2004-2005
• Lee, Joo-Yong, Ph.D., in progress
• Martin, Ana Isabel, M.S., 2004
• Narsilio, Guillermo, Ph.D., 2005
• Yun, Tae-Sup, Ph.D., 2005, Post-doctoral in progress

Georgia Institute of Technology (in association with the CMRET project)

• Dobbs, Gary, Ph.D. in progress, Chemistry
• Hvozdara, L., Post-doctoral 2001-2002, Chemistry
• Janotta, Markus, Ph.D., 2003, Chemistry
• Pennington, Neil, M.S., 2003, Chemistry
• Vogt, Frank, Post-doctoral 2002-2003, Chemistry

Georgia Institute of Technology ( Methane Recovery from Hydrate-bearing Sediments project)

• Jang, Jaewon, Ph.D. in progress
• Jung J.W., Ph.D. in progress
• Taboada-Serrano, Patricia, Post-doctorate
• Yun T.S., Post-doctorate

Houston, University of (in association with the project with Westport)

• Nanchary, Narender, M.S., 2003, Chemical Engineering
• Ogunlana, Damilola, Post-doctoral, Chemical Engineering
• Pitchumani, Ramanan, Post-doctoral, Chemical Engineering
• Sun, Xuefei, Ph.D., 2005, Chemical Engineering

Idaho, University of

• Boyd, Stephanie, M.S., 2004, Environmental Science

Louisiana State University (in association with CMRET project)

• Hackworth, Matt, Ph.D. in progress.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology (various projects)

• Antone Jain, Ph. D. in progress, Groundwater Hydrology
• Christopher MacMinn, Ph. D. in progress, Mechanical Engineering

Mississippi, University of (in association with CMRET project)

• Giacomini, Laura, Ph.D., in progress, visiting scholar, Geology
• Geresi, Erika, visiting scholar, Geophysics
• Grover, Tarun, M.S., 2004
• Hodges, Tyler, M.S. 2003
• Kumar, Viren, M.S., 2003
• Macelloni, Leonardo, visiting scholar, Geophysics
• Strack, Emily, M.S., in progress, Geological Engineering

Mississippi State University (in association with CMRET project)

• Dearman, Jennifer, Ph.D., in progress, Microbiology
• Kothapalli, Chandra, M.S., 2002, Chemical Engineering
• Lee, May Shia, M.S., 2001, Chemical Engineering
• Woods, Charles, M.S., 2004, Chemical Engineering
• Zhang, Guochang, Post-doctoral, Microbiology

North Carolina, Chapel Hill, The University of (in association with CMRET project)

• Lapham, Laura, Ph.D., 2007

Oklahoma, University of (in association with Maurer Hot Ice project)

• Chikyala, Vikramaditya, M.S.
• Raghunathan, Ravi, Ph.D.
• Tran, Tung, Ph.D., in progress, Chemical Engineering

Pennsylvania State University, The (in association with NETL/ORD)

• Lekse, Johnathan, B.S., 2004, Chemistry

Pittsburgh, University of (in association with NETL/ORD)

• Rosenbaum, Eilis, M.S., 2004, Chemistry, (now supporting NETL R&D w/ Parsons)

Princeton University (in association with LBNL)

• Reiter, Paul, B.S., 2005, Graduate in progress (Purdue)

Rice University (in association with the GoM JIP)

• Hubbard, Ashley, M.S., in progress, Geochemistry
• O’Hayer, Walter, M.S., in progress, Geochemistry

San Diego State University (Chevron JIP)

• Lindemann, Christie, M.S., 2005

Scripps Institute of Oceanography (Scripps monitoring project, GoM JIP* and others)

• Fenwick, Rebecca, Ph.D., in progress, Geosciences Division*
• Hangsterfer, Alexandra, Ph.D., in progress, Chemical Oceanography*
• Solomon, Evan, Ph.D., Marine Geochemistry-Geosciences*
• Solem, Christian, M.S., Marine Geochemistry
• Yishai Weinstein, Post-doctoral Fellow

Southern Mississippi, University of (in association with CMRET project)

• Johnson, Jeff, M.S., in progress, engineering
• Martin, Kevin, M.S., in progress, engineering

Stanford University

• Bandyopadhyay, Kaushik, Ph.D., Seismic and Numerical modeling
• Sain, Ratnanabha, Ph.D., Seismic and Numerical modeling

Stony Brook University, New York (in association with BNL)

• Altraide, Ibibia, B.S. Materials Science, M.S., in progress
• Eaton, Michael, Ph.D., in progress
• Fraczak, Timothy, B.E., in progress
• Kaur, Harsimran, B.S., in progress
• Kerkar, Prasad, Ph.D., in progress, (also supported in MS program at UA-Fairbanks)
• Shi, Xai, B.E. in progress

Texas A&M University (several projects)

• De Beaukelaer, Sophie, M.S.
• Grover, Tarun, Ph.D., in progress, expected completion 2008
• Milkov, Alexi, Ph.D., and Post-Doctoral Researcher, Geochemistry
• Ozgul, Ercin, M.S., 2002, Geochemistry
• Vardaro, Michael, M.S., Geophysics

University of Texas, Austin

• Alkin, Engin: M.S., in progress, Geophysics
• Christianson, Pete: Undergraduate in progress, Geophysics
• Hernandez, Jamie, M.S., in progress, Geophysics

William and Mary, College of (in association with the Naval Research Laboratory)

• Pohlman, J. W., Ph.D., in progress, Geochemistry

Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (in association with CMRET project* and other)

• Cook, Mea, Post-doctoral, in progress
• Camilli, Rich, Post-doctoral, in progress*
• Pizzaro, Oscar, Post-doctoral, in progress*

Wyoming, The University of (in association with the Blake Ridge OBC seismic project)

• Gorman, Andrew, Ph.D., 2003, Geophysics
• Hornbach, Matt, Ph.D., 2004, Geophysics
• Nealon, Jeffrey, Ph.D., in progress, Geophysics

Additional Post-Degree Assignments At National Labs

Brookhaven National Laboratory

• Servio, Philip, 2003

Lawrence Berkley National Laboratory

• Paul Reiter, 2005

National Energy Technology Lab

• Hao, Jan, in progress
• Link, Dirk, 2001
• Shofield, Daniel, in progress

Oak Ridge National Lab

• Jones, Camille, 2000, Materials Science
• Marshall, Simon, 2000-2001, Materials Science
• McCallum, Scott, M.S. and post-M.S., 2003, Geology
• Peters, Philip, now working at Shell
• Reistenberg, Dave, post-M.S., 2002-2005
• Szymcek, Phil, post-M.S., 2005-2006, Geology
• Zatsepina, Olga, 2003

U.S. Geological Survey

• Dugan, Brandon, 2003-2004