Current Members
Doctoral Students
Georgia Cardosa
B.S. Environmental Engineering, University of Southern California (’22)
Georgia is a second year graduate student in the Sedlak Lab currently exploring the world of desalination specifically for use in rural communities in California’s Central Valley. Outside of the lab, Georgia can be found competing in ultimate frisbee tournaments all over the country.
cardosa@berkeley.edu
Anthony DeSalvo
M.S. Civil and Environmental Engineering, UC Berkeley (’22). B.S.E. Environmental Engineering, University of Iowa (’21)
Anthony’s research is focused on improving the design of nature-based water treatment systems to enable potable water reuse. He is currently investigating the ways in which a subsurface wetland (the Horizontal Levee) can remove per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) with geomedia amendments. In the long-term, he wants to use nature-based water treatment to protect disadvantaged communities and the environment from polluted water sources. Outside of the lab, Anthony enjoys running in the many trails around the Bay, climbing various rocks, and perfecting his karaoke on car rides.
anthony_desalvo@berkeley.edu
Scarlet-Marie Kilpatrick
B.S. Chemical Engineering, Yale University (’20)
Scarlet is interested in natural water systems and passive water purification for decentralized areas. Her research is focused on assessing the feasibility of nature-based treatment systems for non-traditional applications (i.e. brackish water, desalination brine, etc.). Given how much she loves nature, she is always excited about any opportunity to get to do field work. Outside of the lab she enjoys spending as much of her free time outdoors as possible. Her hobbies include rock-climbing, mountain biking, snowboarding, trail-running, and wandering through the fog in the East Bay trails.
scarlet_kilpatrick@berkeley.edu
Emily Kramer
M.S. Civil and Environmental Engineering, UC Berkeley (’18)
B.S. Chemistry, Harvard University (’15)
Emily is working to enhance systems used to desalinate brackish groundwater, a vastly underused but difficult-to-treat source. Through coordination with the National Alliance for Water Innovation (NAWI), she studies the economic, environmental, and societal costs of current desalination practices, with a particular interest in concentrate management strategies. This has led Emily’s research in the lab to focus on scale prevention and removal technologies involving antiscalants and salt separation and valorization. A few of her other passions include dismantling institutional inequality, her dog Bo, and mixology.
emilymkraemer@berkeley.edu
M.S. Environmental Engineering, Universidad de Los Andes (’15)
B.S. Environmental Engineering, Universidad de Los Andes (’12)
Juan’s research is focused on better understanding the mechanisms behind the degradation of organic pollutants over soil-water interphases in soils and aquifers treated by In-Situ Chemical Oxidation. In his spare time, he likes to spend time with his family, and learn how to play the guitar.
M.S. Civil and Environmental Engineering, UC Berkeley (’22)
B.S. Civil Engineering, Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo (’21)
Jono’s research interests span water quality improvement, trace element biogeochemistry and coastal adaptation. He uses conventional quantitative methods and cutting-edge spectroscopic techniques to elucidate the mechanisms behind the removal and solid-phase speciation of toxic metals in a subsurface wetland system (i.e., the horizontal levee). This system receives treated wastewater and reverse osmosis concentrate. Outside of work, he enjoys running in the Berkeley hills.
Griffin Walsh
M.S. Civil and Environmental Engineering, UC Berkeley (’20)
B.S. Environmental Engineering, Yale University (’19)
Griffin is interested in the use of natural systems to treat wastewater and reverse osmosis concentrate, especially regarding the mechanisms of removal of trace metals. In his free time, he likes to mess around with music production and composition, performing whenever he gets the chance.
griffin.walsh@berkeley.edu
Postdoctoral Students
Tae-Kyoung Kim
Ph.D. Environmental Health Sciences, Seoul National University (’20)
M.S. Environmental Health Sciences, Seoul National University (’16)
B.S. Environmental Engineering, Catholic University of Pusan (’14)
Tae-Kyoung is interested in the fate of legacy toxic organic contaminants during treatment by in-situ chemical oxidation. Specifically, he focuses on the transformation of halogenated compounds under various environmental conditions and evaluates the toxicity of their transformation byproducts. Outside of lab, Tae-Kyoung enjoys cycling the Bay Area and cooking.
tkkim13@berkeley.edu
Anushka Mishrra
Ph.D. in Energy, Environmental and Chemical Engineering, Washington University in St. Louis (’23)
B.Tech. in Chemical Engineering, National Institute of Technology, Trichy (’17)
Anushka is interested in advancing science for providing safe and sustainable drinking water. Currently, her research focuses on synthesizing advanced filter media for removing oxyanions during water treatment. Outside the lab, she enjoys watching movies, playing board games and travelling.
anushkamishrra@berkeley.edu
Ph.D. Water Technology, Catalan Institute for Water Research (’21)
M.S. Environmental Science and Technology, Gent University (’15)
B.S. Civil Engineering, Saratov State Technical University (’13)
Natalia’s main research interest is synthesis of novel materials for various environmental applications with particular interest in electrochemical water treatment and solar desalination. Outside of work, Natalia likes rowing, reading, and playing chess.
nsergienko@berkeley.edu