Da Kine Lab @ UNLV

Jeremy Cho (email | website | google scholar) is an Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering at UNLV. He joined UNLV in the fall of 2019. Previously, he was a postdoctoral research associate in Chemical and Biological Engineering at Princeton (Datta Lab). He did his PhD and Master’s studies in Mechanical Engineering at MIT (Device Research Lab). He received his BSE in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Michigan.

Born and raised in Hawaiʻi, Jeremy left the warm sunshine for cold winters in the Northeast to pursue his studies and research. He now calls the 9th island of Vegas his home.

Munaiah Yeddala (email) is a postdoc who joined in 2025. He specializes in electrochemistry for advancing the ARPA-E project on clean electrowinning of iron.

Zabihollah Najafianashrafi (email) is a postdoc who joined in 2025. He performs transport analysis and prototype design for the ARPA-E project on clean electrowinning of iron.

Isaac Berk (email) is a PhD student who joined in 2022. He does research on surfactants and surface-tension phenomena.

Angélica Grado Rooker (email | LinkedIn) is a PhD student in Mechanical Engineering who joined the lab in 2023. She earned her Master's degree in Environmental Engineering from UANL in Monterrey, Mexico (Ecomateriales y Energía). Her research there focused on Photocatalytic Processes and Perovskite-based Solid Solutions. She is currently working on gas capture methods and electrochemical applications for our lab's electrode cell prototype. At her leisure, Angie enjoys homemaking, working out, outdoor activities, and preparing for her first baby.

Asal Mansourimarand (email) is a PhD student who joined in 2024. She does research on atmospheric water harvesting.

Marzieh Taheri (email) is a PhD student who joined in 2025. She does research in electrochemistry for green ironmaking.

Joshua N. Banfro (email | LinkedIn) is a Master's student in Materials & Nuclear Engineering who joined the lab in the fall of 2024. Prior to joining the lab, he garnered design and management experience with Baja SAE Rebel Racing during his Bachelor's in Mechanical Engineering here at UNLV. He currently works on mechanical design and chamber prototyping for a green ironmaking system. In his free time, he enjoys organizing, transcribing music, video editing and giving a helping hand.

Areianna Eason (email) is an undergraduate researcher working on hydrogel synthesis and characterization.

Jacob Cottino (email) is an undergraduate researcher and a mechanical engineering student. He joined in 2023 and studies using electrochemistry for atmospheric water harvesting. In his free time, he enjoys cooking and going on hikes.

Casey Lubking (email) is an undergraduate researcher and a mechanical engineering student. He works on electrochemical separation of water.