Education

• Doctor of Philosophy in Chemical & Environmental Engineering, Bourns College of Engineering, University of California at Riverside (UCR); 2018-2024
• Master of Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Mahidol University, Thailand; 2016-2018
• Bachelor of Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Department of Chemical Engineering, Mahidol University, Thailand; 2012-2016 (1^st honor with distinction)

Research Focus

University of California, Riverside – Ph.D., Chemical & Environmental Engineering

2019-2024, Sustainable Catalysis and Materials lab, Asst. Prof. Kandis Leslie Abdul-Aziz

• Worked on the D. Dissertation titled “Dry reforming of methane with CO₂ using efficient and regenerable bimetallic supported oxide catalysts for syngas production” which consist of the following three studies:
• Project 1: “The Influence of High-Energy Faceted TiO₂ Supports on Cobalt (Co) and Cobalt-Ruthenium (Co-Ru) Catalysts for Dry Methane Reforming”
  • Investigated the effect of high-energy faceted TiO₂ support obtained from a collaboration with Prof. Pingyun Feng from Department of Chemistry at UCR; and the effect of Ruthenium addition on the catalytic performance, selectivity, and stability of Co/TiO₂ and Co-Ru/TiO₂ catalysts for dry reforming of methane with CO₂ to produce synthesis gas (hydrogen and carbon monoxide).
• Project 2: “Regenerable Ni-Au/La₂O₃ Catalysts for Dry Reforming of Methane”
  • Synthesized Au-LaNiO₃ perovskite oxide material as a precursor to create Ni-Au/La₂O₃ catalyst with regenerable properties to produce syngas from dry reforming of methane with CO₂.
  • Worked collaboratively with Prof. Emma Hu, a UCR alum, and her graduate student: Courtney Brea from Georgia Institute of Technology, GA USA to conduct a DFT simulation of Ni-Au alloy to elucidate the effect of Au addition on methane activation energy.
• Project 3: “In-Situ Exsolution Study of Nickel-Ruthenium (Ni-Ru) Bimetallic Alloy from LaNi₉₅Ru_0.05O₃ Perovskite”
  • Explored various parameters governing the exsolution of Nickel and Ruthenium from the LaNi₉₅Ru_0.05O₃ perovskite: calcination temperature, reduction temperature, and reduction time.
  • Conducted X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS) study to measure the X-ray Absorption Near Edge Structure (XANES) and the Extended X-ray Absorption Fine Structure (EXAFS) during reduction, oxidation, and dry methane reforming reaction conditions to elucidate the exsolution and reintegration characteristics of Nickel and Ruthenium species with a collaboration with Dr. Simon Bare and his postdoctoral colleagues at the SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory, Stanford University, CA USA.
• Mentored three undergraduate/master students:
  • Thanvarath Pinyochon, Bachelor of chemical engineering undergraduate at UCR (2019-2020): Worked on the Fabrication of a vacuum chamber and auxiliary systems for atomic layer deposition (ALD).
  • Tommy Xu, Undergraduate from the NSF-funded UCR MacREU program (Summer 2021): Synthesized Nickel-Gold (Ni-Au) supported on Gamma Alumina and Lanthanum Oxide Catalysts for Dry Methane Reforming.
  • Annette Phan, Master of chemical engineering graduate at UCR (2022-2023: Investigated the effect of using CO gas as a reducing agent for the synthesis of Nickel-Ruthenium (Ni-Ru) supported on Lanthanum Oxide Catalysts for Dry Methane Reforming.

Mahidol University – Master of Engineering, Chemical Engineering

2017-2018, NanoCEN laboratory, Asst. Prof. Sira Srinives

• Worked on the Master Thesis titled: “Synthesis of Palladium-Nickel Bimetallic Nanoparticles on Graphene Support: An Electrocatalyst for Ethanol Fuel Cell”
• Investigated the efficacy of Palladium-Nickel bimetallic nanoparticles supported on reduced graphene oxide as an electrocatalyst for ethanol oxidation reaction.
• Fabricated a prototype direct ethanol fuel cell (DEFC) by adapting the template from prior study to generate electricity from laboratory grade liquid ethanol (anode) and oxygen (cathode) produced from water electrolysis.

Mahidol University – Bachelor of Engineering, Chemical Engineering

2015-2016, NanoCEN laboratory, Asst. Prof. Sira Srinives

• Worked on a Bachelor Thesis title: “A fabrication of hydrogen fuel cell prototype using graphene-palladium composite” funded by the research grant from the Energy Policy and Planning Office: EPPO under Thailand’s Ministry of Energy
• Investigated the effectiveness of Palladium nanocubes supported on reduced graphene oxide as an electrocatalyst for hydrogen evolution reaction.
• Fabricated a prototype proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC) to generate electricity from the conversion of hydrogen (anode) and oxygen (cathode) produced from water electrolysis.

Teaching Experience

• Worked as a faculty lecturer for EGCH 306 and EGCG 315 Chemical Engineering Unit Operation laboratory course for 3^rd year bachelor students in the Thai and International programs, respectively. (2^nd Semester, Academic Year 2024-25)
• Worked as a teaching assistant for CHEM01-LA laboratory course in the department of chemistry at UCR (Spring 2024 quarter) – supervised laboratory experiments; graded assignments and quizzes; and proctored final examinations.
• Worked as a teaching assistant for CHE160C laboratory course in the department of chemical & environmental engineering at UCR (Winter 2019 and Winter 2023 quarter) – supervised unit operation experiments involving tray dryer, distillation column, liquid-liquid extraction, gas absorption, and PID control; graded quizzes and lab reports; and oversaw the final lab presentation.
• Worked as a teaching assistant for Applied Fluid Mechanics (CHE114) course in the department of chemical & environmental engineering at UCR (Fall 2020 quarter – fully remote) – handled discussion sessions; graded assignments, midterms and finals; and proctored final examinations.

Work Experience

• Conducted a feasibility study on Thailand Voluntary Emission Reduction scheme using the company biodiesel refinery as a case study while working as a summer intern at the Business Development department, Bangchak Petroleum Co. Ltd. (Energy Complex Building, Chatuchak, Bangkok, Thailand); Summer 2015.

Publications

• Wasantwisut, Somchate, Courtney Brea, Seongbin Jo, Bruno Henrique Arpini, Guoxiang Hu, and Kandis Leslie Gilliard-AbdulAziz. “Regenerable Ni-Au/La₂O₃ catalysts for dry reforming of methane.” Applied Catalysis O: Open 194 (2024): 206990. (Q2 in Catalysis)
• Wasantwisut, Somchate, Yuchen Xiao, Pingyun Feng, and Kandis Leslie Gilliard‐Abdul‐ “The Influence of High‐Energy Faceted TiO₂ Supports on Co and Co− Ru Catalysts for Dry Methane Reforming.” Chemistry–An Asian Journal 17, no. 4 (2022): e202101253. (Q1 in Chemistry – Miscellaneous)
• Shah, Soham, Jiyun Hong, Luz Cruz, Somchate Wasantwisut, Simon R. Bare, and Kandis Leslie Gilliard-AbdulAziz. “Dynamic tracking of NiFe smart catalysts using in situ X-ray absorption spectroscopy for the dry methane reforming reaction.” ACS Catalysis 13, no. 6 (2023): 3990-4002. (Q1 in Catalysis)
• Jo, Seongbin, Luz Cruz, Soham Shah, Somchate Wasantwisut, Annette Phan, and Kandis Leslie Gilliard-AbdulAziz. “Perspective on sorption enhanced bifunctional catalysts to produce hydrocarbons.” ACS Catalysis 12, no. 13 (2022): 7486-7510. (Q1 in Catalysis)
• Antolínez, Carlos A., Frank J. Byrne, Somchate Wasantwisut, Timo Rohula, Kandis Leslie Gilliard-Abdul Aziz, and Monique J. Rivera. “Assessment of renewable compounds as biopesticides for Asian citrus psyllid, Diaphorina citri (Kuwayama)(Hemiptera: Psyllidae).” Journal of Pest Science 96, no. 2 (2023): 663-670. (Q1 in Insect Science)

Technical Skills

• Experience in nanomaterial synthesis methods: Wetness impregnation, Co-precipitation, graphene oxide synthesis (modified Hummer’s method), and perovskite oxide synthesis (modified Sol-gel Pechini’s method).
• Expertise in material characterization techniques: Scanning & Transmission Electron Microscopy (SEM & TEM) with Electron Dispersive X-ray Spectroscopy (EDX), Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy (FTIR), X-ray Diffraction Spectroscopy (XRD), Raman Spectroscopy, X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy (XPS), and X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy (XAS)
• Language Skill: Thai (Native language) and English (Speaking: Excellence, Reading: Excellence, Listening: Excellence, Writing: Great)
• Software: Microsoft office, C-programming, Matlab, Origin, ImageJ, Athena XAS

Awards and recognition

• Awarded the 2018 Fulbright Thai Graduate Scholarship (TGS 2018) from the Thailand-United States Educational Foundation (TUSEF) to pursue Ph.D. in Chemical & Environmental Engineering at University of California, Riverside, USA.
• Recipient of the 60^th Year Supreme Reign of His Majesty King Bhumibol Adulyadej scholarship from the faculty of graduate study, Mahidol University, Thailand (2016).
• Recipient of the Gold medal for excellence in Bachelor of Engineering study, Mahidol University (2015) from the Engineering Institute of Thailand (EIT).
• Recipient of theThab Nilaniti Foundation Award for Highest score among freshman in the Faculty of Engineering, Mahidol University, Thailand (2013).

Extracurricular Activities

• Participated as the team leader for ‘Agri-Carbon’ startup in the Fall 2021 NSF I-corps INNOVAR training workshop to develop entrepreneurial skills at UCR
• Served as the President (2020-21), Co-Vice President (2022-23), and Secretary (2021-22) of the Thai Student Union (TSU) cultural organization at UCR
• Served as the Unit Chair (2020-22) and Head Stewards (2019-20) of the UC Student-Workers Union (UAW Local 2865) at UCR
• Served as President (2019-20) of the Chemical & Environmental Engineering Departmental Graduate Student Association (CEE mini-GSA) at UCR
• Served as the Coffee Social Coordinator (2019-20 and 2022-23) for the International Student Union (ISU) cultural organization at UCR
• Volunteered as a Counselor and Mentor (2020-22) at a Thai Youth camp near Los Angeles, USA (Camp Wat Pa)
• Volunteered as a Teaching staff in Hydrogen fuel cell experimental demonstration at the 9^th Summer Chemical Engineering camp (2015) hosted by the Department of Chemical Engineering, Mahidol University, Thailand.