Research Staff

Elise Gilcher, Ph.D. (she/her)

Postdoctoral Associate


- Elise received her PhD from the University of Wisconsin-Madison studying heterogeneous catalysis, biomass degradation and chemical conversion of products towards useful platform molecules. Her research interests and current projects at the Center focus on green solutions for sustainable extraction and chemical conversion of algae biomass to high value products that further an initiative towards a robust bioeconomy.

- Elise enjoys time outside gardening, running, and exploring the CT forests, lakes, and coastline. She also loves cooking and creating experimental, innovative recipes.

Ho Yin TSE's picture Ho Yin TSE, Ph.D. (He/His)

Postdoctoral Associate


 

-Leo’s research focuses primarily on the sustainable photonic functional materials development, with a particular emphasis on the fabrication of new lignin-based photo-responsive nanoparticles and their fundamental photo-physics studies. During his Ph.D. training, he also involved in a numerous of professional consultation projects, including biotechnology assisted food-waste upcycling, energy and elements recovery from wastewater treatment processes and urban biorefinery engineering, etc. Currently, he is further developing new bio-based photonic materials and carbon sequestration processes at the Center.

-Outside of the lab, Leo enjoys driving, watching movies and documentaries on science & philosophy discussion.

 

Hannah Feldman, (she/her)

Program Coordinator


- Hannah will provide administrative, clerical, and program support to the Center and UNIDO project. She has a background in environmental history, with a specific interest in energy and climate change. She wrote her M. Phil. thesis on the 1970s energy crisis and the use of alternative energy sources. Previously, Hannah also worked at Rutgers University at the Bildner Center and Jewish Studies Department.

- Outside of work, Hannah loves reading books and listening to (and playing) music of all types. You can probably find her somewhere with headphones on.

 

Elena Subbotina, Ph.D.

Postdoctoral Associate


- During my PhD studies at the department of organic chemistry at Stockholm University my work was focused on the production and transformation of organic compounds from lignin via catalytic approaches. After the graduation I joined the group of Prof. Lars Berglund at KTH, where I expanded my research interests to include nanocellulose based materials. Currently, as a postdoctoral fellow at the Center for Green Chemistry & Green Engineering at Yale, I am involved in a project where we aim to develop novel recyclable materials from bio-based building blocks.

- Outside of the lab, Elena enjoys making chemical reactions and publishing papers in Nature Chemistry for leisure.