Katharine Nykiel

Phone: (440) 231-3586
Email: knykiel@purdue.edu

Education

Ph.D. Purdue University, Materials Engineering (in progress)

• Committee: Dr. Strachan (chair), Dr. Mannodi, Dr. Rahimi, Dr. Anasori
• Specialization in Computational Science and Engineering

B.S. Ohio State University, Materials Science | Applied Physics

• Magna Cum Laude
• Honors Research Distinction

Honors and Awards

MaRDA Best Graduate Student Poster Award

• Awarded for presenting at the Spring 2023 Materials Research Data Alliance Conference

Research Experience

Graduate Research, Purdue University

Aug 2021-Present
Advisor: Dr. Alejandro Strachan

• Studied semi-supervised prediction of double-transition metal MXene stability
• Developed a suite of workflows for high-throughput quantum espresso in nanoHUB

Undergraduate Research I, Ohio State University

Jan 2019 – May 2021
Advisor: Dr. Hamish Fraser

• Performed SEM with OSU’s Center for Electron Microscopy and Analysis
• Developed a MATLAB-based app for stereographic projection and trace analysis

Undergraduate Research II, Ohio State University

Jan 2020 – May 2021
Advisor: Dr. Wolfgang Windl

• Studied goniopolar materials by calculating band structures using VASP
• Obtained honors research distinction by identifying new goniopolar materials

Teaching Experience

Purdue University, West Lafayette

January 2023 to May 2023
Teaching Assistant, Materials Engineering

• Taught Materials Processing Lab, an undergraduate course covering the following topics: processing of metals, ceramics, and polymers
• Led lab sessions and coordinated student final design projects

TODO: add mentoring experience.

Publications

Journal Publications

• Wyatt, B. C. et al. Design of Atomic Ordering in Mo2Nb2C3Tx MXenes for Hydrogen Evolution Electrocatalysis. Nano Lett. (2023) doi:10.1021/acs.nanolett.2c04287.
• Nykiel, K. & Strachan, A. High-throughput density functional theory screening of double transition metal MXene precursors. Sci Data 10, 827 (2023).

Undergraduate Thesis

• Nykiel, K. & Windl, W. Identification of Materials with Axis-Dependent Conduction Polarity. (2021).

TODO: add skills

Presentations and Invited Lectures

Oral Presentation, “Semi-Supervised Prediction of Double-Transition Metal MXene Stability,” Materials Research Data Alliance Conference, March 2023.

Oral Presentation, “Semi-Supervised Prediction of Double-Transition Metal MXene Stability,” Materials Research Society, April 2023.

Oral Presentation, “Semi-Supervised Prediction of Double-Transition Metal MXene Stability,” Materials at Purdue Symposium, May 2023.