Congratulations to Michelle Katz of the University of Washington (UW) on being selected as the 2025 Pacific Northwest Section Electrochemistry Student Award recipient. The award recognizes Michelle’s contributions to developing new materials and manufacturing strategies to fabricate three-dimensional lithium ion batteries (LIBs). Thermo Fisher Scientific sponsors the award.
Michelle Katz
Michelle Katz is a PhD candidate in Mechanical Engineering at UW, where she researches materials and manufacturing strategies for advanced LIBs. She holds a BS and MS in Materials Science and Engineering from UW. Her PhD research focuses on experimentally investigating three-dimensional (3D) structured and interdigitated electrodes to improve rate performance, energy density, and design flexibility for emerging energy storage applications. In her recent work published in ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, Michelle developed a high-viscosity, printable polymer composite separator that can be fabricated directly onto LIB electrodes, resulting in an increased cell discharge capacity. Beyond separator development, she has 3D printed electrodes using NMC-532, graphite, LFP, and LTO active materials. Michelle is currently collaborating with Pacific Northwest National Laboratory to explore the impacts of 3D-printed electrode architectures on next-generation cathode materials, such as NMC-811.
In addition to her technical contributions, Michelle is dedicated to mentorship and has supported 11 undergraduate and MS students through independent research projects. Many of her mentees go on to pursue their own advanced degrees and careers in energy technology. As she completes her PhD over the next year, Michelle plans to pursue research opportunities in industry and hopes to use her expertise to help bridge the gap between scientific innovation and real-world impact.
ECS Pacific Northwest Section Electrochemistry Student Award
The ECS Pacific Northwest Section Electrochemistry Student Award Sponsored by Thermo Fisher Scientific was established in 2021 to recognize promising young engineers and scientists pursuing PhDs in the fields of electrochemical engineering and applied electrochemistry, and to encourage the recipients to continue careers in electrochemical engineering or applied electrochemistry.
Candidates must be ECS members pursuing, at a university in Washington, Oregon or Idaho, an advanced degree in which electrochemical science and technology and/or solid state science and technology is the central consideration. Visit the award page for the full award details and list of past recipients.
Nominations for the 2026 ECS Pacific Northwest Section Electrochemistry Student Award Sponsored by Thermo Fisher Scientific are due by February 28, 2026.
Thermo Fisher Scientific
Thermo Fisher Scientific is an American provisioner of scientific instrumentation, reagents and consumables, and software services. Products and services sold under the following Thermo Fisher brands enable customers to push science and technology a step beyond.
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