Research Team

Robert (Rob) Heltzel is a PhD student in mechanical engineering conducting research on improving the mechanistic understanding of indirect emissions quantification methodologies as part of a project funded by the National Science Foundation. His research is conducted at the Marcellus Shale Energy and Environmental Laboratory. Heltzel rejoined Dr. Johnson's team in the fall of 2018 after serving as emissions compliance engineer at the Volvo Group in Hagerstown, Maryland, from July 2017 until October 2018. He previously completed his master's degree in mechanical engineering with Dr. Johnson in August 2016. On this research, he traveled across the U.S. collecting in-use activity, fuel consumption and emissions data from the prime-movers of unconventional well development. With these data he employed Markov-Chain, Monte-Carlo methods to develop engine activity cycles. He also helped develop a national inventory tool for these prime movers. He graduated summa cum laude with his BSME degree in 2014 from WVU.

Diego Dranuta is currently a master's student in mechanical engineering conducting research as part of the MSEEL program. He will be examining the total energy consumption of prime-movers at natural gas well sites during in-use drilling operations. The goal is to fill in data gaps remaining from previous research projects to enable an overall energy system model. With this model, he will examine potential methods that could significantly reduce energy consumption (diesel fuel use) at well sites. Diego received his BSME degree from WVU Institute of Technology in 2018. While at Tech he was also a member of the Golden Bear's Men's soccer team. He is a native of Uruguay and also previously attended Tabor College.

Amber Barr is currently a master's student in mechanical engineering conducting research on the development of the Methane Watchdog system. This is a project funded by the Alpha Foundation and the goal is to develop a robust methane monitoring network that can be deployed along the face of longwall mining operations to improve mine safety. Barr is examining the use of water-powered ejectors to induce sampling flows. In particular, she is focused on improving the design to minimize water requirements through the use of additive manufacturing of the ejectors (3-D printing). Barr is a member of the Materials Advantage/Materials Research Society at WVU. She graduated magna cum laude with a BSME from WVU in 2018.

Brian Cappellini is a master's student in mechanical engineering. Cappellini is working with Amber Barr on the development of the Methane Watchdog system. He is focusing on calibration and testing methods and the design of filter media for the system. He graduated with his BSME from WVU in December 2018 and a BA in physics from West Virginia Wesleyan College in 2016.

Mahdi Darzi, PhD successfully defended his doctoral dissertation in mechanical engineering in August 2019. His work is entitled "A Framework for Energy Optimization of Small, Two-Stroke, Natural Gas Engines for Combined Heat and Power Applications." As part of this research, he helped develop the micro-engine research laboratory in order to conduct extensive emissions and combustion research. His research combined experimental data with 1-D and 3-D simulations and modeling. Prior to attending WVU, Darzi completed his master's degree in mechanical engineering at the University of Tehran, in Iran. He is currently preparing to start a full-time position as principle systems simulation engineer with the Volvo Group in Hagerstown, Maryland.

Dakota Oliver graduated in August 2019 with his master's degree in mechanical engineering. He conducted research on understanding the limitations of state-of-the-art methane, GPSand wind sensor capabilities to geo-spatially map methane emissions to identify potential emissions "hot-spots." As part of this research he examined methods to recreate sharpened methane maps from closed-path analyzers using artificial neural networks and differential coefficients methods. He also led field efforts to conduct direct quantification audits of methane emissions at MSEEL. This work has shown that emissions vary significantly in the time domain. Prior to his work at WVU, Oliver graduated magna cum laude in 2017 with a BS in mathematics (industrial mathematics emphasis) from Shepherd University. After graduation he moved with his fiancee to Michigan.

Chris Ulishney graduated from Dr. Johnson's group with his master's degree in mechanical engineering in December 2018. His research focused on implementing tuned intake and exhaust resonators (based on resonance theory) onto a small, low-pressure, direct-injected natural gas engine. His focus was on simultaneous improvements in efficiency and reductions in emissions. He also helped develop the micro-engine research laboratory with Dr. Johnson and Mahdi Darzi, including the development of a clutch starting/motoring system capable of motoring high-speed, two-stroke engines. As such, he gained extensive experience in machining and fabrication. Prior to his master's research, Ulishney worked as an undergraduate research assistant and grader for Dr. Johnson's Applied Thermodynamics course. He graduated magna cum laude with his BSME from WVU in December 2016. He currently has been accepted as PhD student and conducts research as part of Cosmin Dumitrescu's research team.

Rebekah Barrow worked as an undergraduate research assistant on Dr. Johnson's team from 2015 through December 2018. In December, she graduated with BSME and BSAE degrees from WVU. She was involved in multiple research programs and actively participated in numerous field campaigns across West Virginia and the U.S. She was also a member of the WVU Microgravity Research Team. Ms. Barrow is currently a mechanical engineer at Aberdeen Proving Ground.

Nathaniel (Nate) Fowler completed his master's degree in mechanical engineering from WVU in May of 2016. He worked alongside Dr. Johnson and others to conduct emissions and combustion research on a large-bore, spark-ignited, natural gas, two-stroke engine, a first at WVU. His research examined spark plug configuration (including type and timing) along with the impacts of exhaust gas recirculation on the engines combustion stability and efficiency. He received his BSME from WVU in 2014. He now works as a process mechanical engineer at Cenergy, LLC.