Environmental Internship Program - 2023 Booklet
Dorothy Chan ’26 CIVIL AND ENVIRONMENTAL ENGINEERING Certificates: Sustainable Energy, Urban Studies INNOVATION AND A NEW ENERGY FUTURE PROJECT TITLE A Case Study on the Future of Peaker Plants in New York City ORGANIZATION(S) Energy Systems Analysis Group, Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, Princeton University LOCATION(S) Princeton, New Jersey MENTOR(S) Eric Larson, Senior Research Engineer, Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment; Cecelia Isaac, Associate Professional Specialist, Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment New York operates on a transmission bottleneck, forcing its most densely populated areas to rely on peaker plants — outdated fossil fuel plants that only run a few times a year during periods of “peak” demand. Peakers are typically located in environmental justice communities, cost millions of dollars to maintain and produce highly polluting emissions, all of which bring cause for their retirement as soon as possible. For my research project, I first ranked which peakers should be retired first based on technical, environmental and financial factors represented by the capacity factor, surrounding air pollution and operating costs of each plant, respectively. Then, I used a least-cost optimization tool for electricity resource planning to model New York’s electrical grid in 2025, 2030 and 2040. I established these basic ranking and timeline frameworks in hopes that they may be further used in other urban areas that rely on peaker plants. I especially want to highlight the prioritization of disadvantaged communities in transitioning to a zero-emissions future. This internship allowed me to explore my interests in energy systems and urban planning, which I plan to continue pursuing through my concentration and certificates. 70
Yagiz Devre ’26 COMPUTER SCIENCE Certificates: Environmental Studies, Finance, Statistics and Machine Learning PROJECT TITLE Density Functional Theory-based Machine Learning Reactive Force Fields for Water and Aqueous NaCl and CO 2 Solutions ORGANIZATION(S) Carter Group, Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Princeton University LOCATION(S) Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory, Princeton, New Jersey MENTOR(S) Emily Carter, Gerhard R. Andlinger Professor in Energy and the Environment, Professor of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering; John Mark Martirez, Staff Research Scientist, Princeton Plasma Physics Laboratory I delved into the innovative realm of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) capture and storage through mineralization in seawater. My project aimed to understand the molecular processes underlying CO 2 mineralization into inert solids. I employed multi-level simulations, encompassing quantum mechanics and molecular dynamics, to explore the dynamics of CO 2 hydration and bicarbonate formation in the presence of calcium and magnesium ions. I also developed machinelearned atomic interaction potentials tailored for aqueous CO 2 systems involving calcium ions, magnesium ions and chloride ions, utilizing data from density functional theory-molecular dynamics simulations and refined simulation methodologies to generate datasets for potential development. This experience gave me valuable insights into quantum mechanics simulations, molecular dynamics and machine-learning techniques. I was particularly intrigued by how intricate atomic-scale interactions could drive large-scale environmental solutions and the machine-learning aspect of the algorithms utilized. This internship significantly influenced my academic trajectory by inspiring me to incorporate computational modeling and environmental research into my future endeavors. It has guided me toward a more focused pursuit of sustainable chemistry and environmental applications, shaping my senior independent project and long-term career aspirations in scientific research and innovation. INNOVATION AND A NEW ENERGY FUTURE 71
- Page 19 and 20: PROJECT TITLE Broad-tailed Hummingb
- Page 21 and 22: Zehao Wu ’26 ECOLOGY AND EVOLUTIO
- Page 23 and 24: Helen Brush ’24 ECOLOGY AND EVOLU
- Page 25 and 26: Tacy Guest ’26 ECOLOGY AND EVOLUT
- Page 27 and 28: Benjamin Liu ’24 COMPUTER SCIENCE
- Page 29 and 30: Maddie Machado ’25 ECOLOGY AND EV
- Page 31 and 32: Senne Michielssen ’25 COMPUTER SC
- Page 33 and 34: Peyton Smith ’25 ECOLOGY AND EVOL
- Page 35 and 36: Stella Szostak ’26 GEOSCIENCES PR
- Page 37 and 38: Emeline Blohm ’25 CIVIL AND ENVIR
- Page 39 and 40: Isabella Gomes ’25 CIVIL AND ENVI
- Page 41 and 42: Sriya Kotta ’26 CIVIL AND ENVIRON
- Page 43 and 44: Charlie Nuermberger ’25 COMPARATI
- Page 45 and 46: Jamie Rodriguez ’24 ENGLISH PROJE
- Page 47 and 48: Molly Taylor ’25 HISTORY Certific
- Page 49 and 50: Lily Weaver ’26 COMPUTER SCIENCE
- Page 51 and 52: Brooke Beers ’25 CIVIL AND ENVIRO
- Page 53 and 54: Sava Evangelista ’26 COMPUTER SCI
- Page 55 and 56: Alliyah Gregory ’25 ECOLOGY AND E
- Page 57 and 58: Noe Iwasaki ’26 UNDECLARED PROJEC
- Page 59 and 60: Chien Nguyen ’25 COMPUTER SCIENCE
- Page 61 and 62: Martina Qua ’25 CIVIL AND ENVIRON
- Page 63 and 64: Angelica She ’26 CIVIL AND ENVIRO
- Page 65 and 66: Sarina Wen ’26 CHEMICAL AND BIOLO
- Page 67 and 68: Rees Barnes ’26 ELECTRICAL AND CO
- Page 69: Leilani Bender ’24 CIVIL AND ENVI
- Page 73 and 74: Helena Frudit ’25 MECHANICAL AND
- Page 75 and 76: John Kim ’25 PHYSICS Certificates
- Page 77 and 78: Nicholas Lim ’24 SCHOOL OF PUBLIC
- Page 79 and 80: Stephane Morel ’25 ELECTRICAL AND
- Page 81 and 82: Chloe Park ’25 CHEMISTRY Certific
- Page 83 and 84: Azhar Razin ’26 CHEMICAL AND BIOL
- Page 85 and 86: Maya Avida ’26 PHYSICS Certificat
- Page 87 and 88: Rebecca Cho ’26 GEOSCIENCES OCEAN
- Page 89 and 90: Dylan Epstein-Gross ’25 COMPUTER
- Page 91 and 92: Lindsay Anne Pagaduan ’26 CHEMIST
- Page 93 and 94: Sophia Villacorta ’24 GEOSCIENCES
- Page 95 and 96: Tienne Yu ’26 MOLECULAR BIOLOGY O
- Page 97 and 98: Braeden Carroll ’26 CIVIL AND ENV
- Page 99 and 100: Ashley DeFrates ’25 CIVIL AND ENV
- Page 101 and 102: PROJECT TITLE Molecular Simulation
- Page 103 and 104: Wiley Kohler ’25 MATHEMATICS PROJ
- Page 105 and 106: Christopher Li ’26 CIVIL AND ENVI
- Page 107 and 108: Alyssa Ritchie ’25 CHEMISTRY Cert
- Page 109 and 110: Acknowledgments FUNDING FOR THE 202
Yagiz Devre ’26<br />
COMPUTER SCIENCE<br />
Certificates: <strong>Environmental</strong> Studies, Finance,<br />
Statistics and Machine Learning<br />
PROJECT TITLE<br />
Density Functional<br />
Theory-based Machine<br />
Learning Reactive Force<br />
Fields for Water and<br />
Aqueous NaCl and CO 2<br />
Solutions<br />
ORGANIZATION(S)<br />
Carter Group,<br />
Department of<br />
Mechanical and<br />
Aerospace Engineering,<br />
Princeton University<br />
LOCATION(S)<br />
Princeton Plasma Physics<br />
Laboratory, Princeton,<br />
New Jersey<br />
MENTOR(S)<br />
Emily Carter,<br />
Gerhard R. Andlinger<br />
Professor in Energy and<br />
the Environment,<br />
Professor of Mechanical<br />
and Aerospace<br />
Engineering; John Mark<br />
Martirez, Staff Research<br />
Scientist, Princeton<br />
Plasma Physics<br />
Laboratory<br />
I delved into the innovative realm of carbon<br />
dioxide (CO 2<br />
) capture and storage through<br />
mineralization in seawater. My project aimed to<br />
understand the molecular processes underlying<br />
CO 2<br />
mineralization into inert solids. I employed<br />
multi-level simulations, encompassing quantum<br />
mechanics and molecular dynamics, to explore<br />
the dynamics of CO 2<br />
hydration and bicarbonate<br />
formation in the presence of calcium and<br />
magnesium ions. I also developed machinelearned<br />
atomic interaction potentials tailored<br />
for aqueous CO 2<br />
systems involving calcium ions,<br />
magnesium ions and chloride ions, utilizing<br />
data from density functional theory-molecular<br />
dynamics simulations and refined simulation<br />
methodologies to generate datasets for potential<br />
development. This experience gave me valuable<br />
insights into quantum mechanics simulations,<br />
molecular dynamics and machine-learning<br />
techniques. I was particularly intrigued by<br />
how intricate atomic-scale interactions could<br />
drive large-scale environmental solutions and<br />
the machine-learning aspect of the algorithms<br />
utilized. This internship significantly<br />
influenced my academic trajectory by inspiring<br />
me to incorporate computational modeling<br />
and environmental research into my future<br />
endeavors. It has guided me toward a more<br />
focused pursuit of sustainable chemistry and<br />
environmental applications, shaping my senior<br />
independent project and long-term career<br />
aspirations in scientific research and innovation.<br />
INNOVATION AND A<br />
NEW ENERGY FUTURE<br />
71