Bipin Lade is a Research Associate in the Department of Geosciences at Virginia Tech, who investigates the environmental behavior and remediation of microplastics and nanoplastics in freshwater and engineered water systems. 

His research combines field sampling with analytical techniques, including micro-FTIR, SEM-EDS, and DLS, to characterize particle composition, aggregation, and removal methods. He focuses on using food-grade, eco-friendly polymers to flocculate and capture microplastics in water systems. This work has led to a collaboration with Virginia Tech’s Office of Intellectual Property to protect and commercialize the resulting technology (VTIP Disclosure ID: 24-109; Invention ID: INV2024-031).

Outside the lab, Bipin enjoys photography, exploring nature, and listening to music. 

• Degrees: 

  • PhD in Biotechnology from Sant Gadge Baba Amravati University (India)

  • MSc in Molecular Biology from the University of Hertfordshire (England)

  • MSc in Biotechnology from the RTM Nagpur University (India)

• See ‪Bipin D. Lade (Faculty) - ‪Google Scholar  for pubs

dlbipin@vt.edu 

Faisal is a PhD candidate investigating the formation and physicochemical characteristics of aluminosilicate and aluminum hydroxide nanoparticles. He has experience in surface complexation modeling on ferric hydroxide nanominerals from his Master's degree at GSU.

• Degrees: BSc in Civil Engineering from Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (Ghana) and MSc in Geosciences (Geology/Geochemistry Concentration) from Georgia State University (Atlanta, GA)

• See Google Scholar Profile for pubs

fadams@vt.edu 

"Cece" is a PhD student examining natural and artificial nanoparticle formation in active reservoir systems and impacts on drinking water quality. She is an ICTAS Doctoral Fellow and is co-advised by Dr. Madeline Schreiber, Professor, VT Geosciences.

• Degrees: BSc. in Chemistry Cum Laude, St. Mary's College of Maryland (St. Mary's City, MD)

• Pubs:

  • Role of Fe(II) Content in Olivine Carbonation in Wet Supercritical CO2

  • Density Functional Theory (DFT) as a Nondestructive Probe in the Field of Art Conservation

cecelia@vt.edu 

Maryam Karami is a PhD candidate with a background in chemistry and nanochemistry. Her master’s research involved the synthesis and characterization of perovskite nanostructures for water purification and hydrogen storage applications. Her doctoral research focuses on the mineralogical and geochemical characterization of atmospheric dust aerosols, with an emphasis on how dust composition varies with altitude and season. Through the analysis of long-term aerosol samples, her work aims to improve understanding of mineral dust and its role in Earth system and climate processes.

Outside of lab, Maryam enjoys baking, reading, and music.

• Degrees: BSc in Pure Chemistry from Kashan University and MSc in Nanoscience and Nanotechnology from Kashan University (Kashan, Iran)

• See Google Scholar Profile for pubs

• Maryam's Website

maryamk96@vt.edu 

Eleni is a PhD student in the Geosciences Department at Virginia Tech studying nickel manganese cobalt (NMC) hydroxides as precursors for lithium-ion batteries using a Mixed Flow Reactor (MFR). She earned her BSc in Nanoscience from Virginia Tech in 2025. 

Prior to commencing her graduate studies, Eleni completed an REU at Colorado School of Mines and participated in undergraduate research in biophysics, optical physics, geochemistry, and solid state and aqueous battery research. 

When she’s not working on her synthesis, Eleni enjoys reading, hiking, and knitting.

• Degrees: 

  • BSc in Nanoscience, Minors in Physics and Chemistry, Virginia Tech (Blacksburg, VA)

eleniz@vt.edu