Team

Team

Mo Alkhadra, PhD
Co-founder & CEO

Mo is the co-founder and CEO of Lithios. He earned his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from MIT and was subsequently awarded an Activate Fellowship. Prior to earning his Ph.D., Mo obtained bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemical engineering from the University of California, San Diego, where he was awarded the Huppert Memorial Outstanding Senior Award in the Chemical Engineering Program as well as the Department Award in Chemical Engineering for Excellence in Leadership and Service.

Mo Alkhadra, PhD
Co-founder & CEO
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Mo is the co-founder and CEO of Lithios. He earned his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from MIT and was subsequently awarded an Activate Fellowship. Prior to earning his Ph.D., Mo obtained bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemical engineering from the University of California, San Diego, where he was awarded the Huppert Memorial Outstanding Senior Award in the Chemical Engineering Program as well as the Department Award in Chemical Engineering for Excellence in Leadership and Service.

Martin Z Bazant, PhD
Co-founder & Chief Scientist

Dr. Bazant is the E. G. Roos (1944) Professor of Chemical Engineering and Mathematics at MIT. He is a highly cited researcher in electrochemical science and engineering and holds numerous awards for his work. He was Executive Officer of the Department of Chemical Engineering (2016-2020) and serves as President of the International Electrokinetics Society, Director of the Center for Battery Sustainability and Chief Scientific Advisor for Saint Gobain Research North America.

Martin Z Bazant, PhD
Co-founder & Chief Scientist
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Dr. Bazant is the E. G. Roos (1944) Professor of Chemical Engineering and Mathematics at MIT. He is a highly cited researcher in electrochemical science and engineering and holds numerous awards for his work. He was Executive Officer of the Department of Chemical Engineering (2016-2020) and serves as President of the International Electrokinetics Society, Director of the Center for Battery Sustainability and Chief Scientific Advisor for Saint Gobain Research North America.

Omar Shkeir
Vice President of Business Development

Omar leads Business Development efforts and customer engagements. Prior to joining Lithios, he held commercial leadership roles in the green hydrogen industry and various project management and engineering roles in Oil and Gas. Omar holds a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Michigan.

Omar Shkeir
Vice President of Business Development
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Omar leads Business Development efforts and customer engagements. Prior to joining Lithios, he held commercial leadership roles in the green hydrogen industry and various project management and engineering roles in Oil and Gas. Omar holds a bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Michigan.

Mike Wang, PhD
Director of Research & Development

Mike holds a B.S.E. in Mechanical Engineering from Princeton University and a Ph.D. in Materials Science & Engineering from the University of Michigan, in addition to conducting postdoctoral work at MIT. Mike has spent over a decade building and studying different aspects of electrochemical systems, including tools for battery diagnostics, materials for advanced batteries, and electrochemical processes for mining and waste valorization.

Mike Wang, PhD
Director of Research & Development
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Mike holds a B.S.E. in Mechanical Engineering from Princeton University and a Ph.D. in Materials Science & Engineering from the University of Michigan, in addition to conducting postdoctoral work at MIT. Mike has spent over a decade building and studying different aspects of electrochemical systems, including tools for battery diagnostics, materials for advanced batteries, and electrochemical processes for mining and waste valorization.

Oscar Turner
Director of Strategy

Oscar leads strategy for Lithios, bridging commercial, engineering, and financial disciplines to drive company growth. Prior to joining Lithios, he led infrastructure planning and asset development for key high-growth Delaware Basin oil and gas assets that were central to Oxy’s $55B acquisition of Anadarko. His background includes operations engineering for over $1B of oil and gas infrastructure, with expertise in field operations, brownfield project management, and process plant commissioning and startup. Oscar holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Rice University and an MBA from MIT Sloan.

Oscar Turner
Director of Strategy
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Oscar leads strategy for Lithios, bridging commercial, engineering, and financial disciplines to drive company growth. Prior to joining Lithios, he led infrastructure planning and asset development for key high-growth Delaware Basin oil and gas assets that were central to Oxy’s $55B acquisition of Anadarko. His background includes operations engineering for over $1B of oil and gas infrastructure, with expertise in field operations, brownfield project management, and process plant commissioning and startup. Oscar holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Rice University and an MBA from MIT Sloan.

Anna Scheidt
Director of Operations

Anna brings tactical and strategic leadership to Lithios’s operations. Prior to Lithios, she has had management success building and scaling teams, leading cross-functional programs, managing third-party vendors and streamlining business operations in both startup and nonprofit environments. Anna received her M.A. in Political Science from UCLA and her B.A. from Amherst College.

Anna Scheidt
Director of Operations
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Anna brings tactical and strategic leadership to Lithios’s operations. Prior to Lithios, she has had management success building and scaling teams, leading cross-functional programs, managing third-party vendors and streamlining business operations in both startup and nonprofit environments. Anna received her M.A. in Political Science from UCLA and her B.A. from Amherst College.

Osam Ghazian, PhD
Principal Mechanical Engineer

Dr. Ghazian has over a decade of experience in R&D, new product development and numerical modeling of fuel cell humidifiers and metal-air flow battery technologies. He holds a B.Sc. and a M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from University of Tehran and a Ph.D. from the University of Western Ontario with a focus on electro-hydrodynamics of droplets. Osam is a licensed professional engineer. In his free time, he enjoys traveling and spending time with his kids.

Osam Ghazian, PhD
Principal Mechanical Engineer
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Dr. Ghazian has over a decade of experience in R&D, new product development and numerical modeling of fuel cell humidifiers and metal-air flow battery technologies. He holds a B.Sc. and a M.Sc. in Mechanical Engineering from University of Tehran and a Ph.D. from the University of Western Ontario with a focus on electro-hydrodynamics of droplets. Osam is a licensed professional engineer. In his free time, he enjoys traveling and spending time with his kids.

Emily Penn, PhD
Principal Electrochemical Engineer

Emily leads the engineering R&D of Lithios’s ALE stacks. She obtained her Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering at Stanford University, where her work focused on novel materials for electrochemical energy storage and conversion in redox flow batteries and electrolyzers. She also holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from MIT. Outside of work Emily can be found outdoors, running along the Charles River or hiking in the mountains of New Hampshire.

Emily Penn, PhD
Principal Electrochemical Engineer
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Emily leads the engineering R&D of Lithios’s ALE stacks. She obtained her Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering at Stanford University, where her work focused on novel materials for electrochemical energy storage and conversion in redox flow batteries and electrolyzers. She also holds a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from MIT. Outside of work Emily can be found outdoors, running along the Charles River or hiking in the mountains of New Hampshire.

Chris Plonski
Principal Electrode Manufacturing Engineer

After serving 5 years in the US Army, Chris went back to school to obtain a BS in Chemical Engineering from Northeastern and has since gained over a decade of experience working in the Li-ion battery industry. He has extensive experience scaling up benchtop slurry mixing and electrode coating processes to pilot production, which has provided him the opportunity to overcome challenges with both novel chemistries and manufacturing processes while at 24m Technologies and Nyobolt Inc. Chris also led the development and construction of Nyobolt’s R&D facility which will be instrumental as Lithios seeks to build its first pilot production facility. Outside of work, Chris and his family spend a lot of time outdoors skiing, mountain biking, and camping.

Chris Plonski
Principal Electrode Manufacturing Engineer
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After serving 5 years in the US Army, Chris went back to school to obtain a BS in Chemical Engineering from Northeastern and has since gained over a decade of experience working in the Li-ion battery industry. He has extensive experience scaling up benchtop slurry mixing and electrode coating processes to pilot production, which has provided him the opportunity to overcome challenges with both novel chemistries and manufacturing processes while at 24m Technologies and Nyobolt Inc. Chris also led the development and construction of Nyobolt’s R&D facility which will be instrumental as Lithios seeks to build its first pilot production facility. Outside of work, Chris and his family spend a lot of time outdoors skiing, mountain biking, and camping.

James Toh, PhD
Principal Product Scientist

James leads chemistry R&D at Lithios, where he is making strides in understanding and improving the proprietary lithium-selective capture materials. Originally hailing from Singapore, he received his Ph.D. in Chemistry from MIT, and his B.Sc. in Chemistry from Imperial College London. During his Ph.D., James studied the electrochemistry of bipolar membranes, electrochemical carbon capture, and hydrogen electrocatalysis. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, studying languages, video games, and working out.

James Toh, PhD
Principal Product Scientist
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James leads chemistry R&D at Lithios, where he is making strides in understanding and improving the proprietary lithium-selective capture materials. Originally hailing from Singapore, he received his Ph.D. in Chemistry from MIT, and his B.Sc. in Chemistry from Imperial College London. During his Ph.D., James studied the electrochemistry of bipolar membranes, electrochemical carbon capture, and hydrogen electrocatalysis. In his free time, he enjoys traveling, studying languages, video games, and working out.

Andres Badel
Senior Electrochemist
Andres Badel
Senior Electrochemist
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Emily Jennings
Senior Mechanical Engineer

Emily is part of the Stack Design Team, bringing previous experience in designing electrochemical metal extraction systems and a background in plastic machining. She holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Union College and is committed to developing thoughtful, environmentally responsible solutions. Outside of work, Emily enjoys sailing, skiing, running, and spending time with her dog, Finley.

Emily Jennings
Senior Mechanical Engineer
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Emily is part of the Stack Design Team, bringing previous experience in designing electrochemical metal extraction systems and a background in plastic machining. She holds a B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from Union College and is committed to developing thoughtful, environmentally responsible solutions. Outside of work, Emily enjoys sailing, skiing, running, and spending time with her dog, Finley.

AbdurRehman Rashid
Senior Project Manager
AbdurRehman Rashid
Senior Project Manager
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Mariam Dobosz
Electrochemical Engineer

Mariam received a B.S in Mechanical Engineering from Union College in Schenectady, NY and finished her M.S. in Material Science and Engineering from Boston University while interning at Lithios. She works on the design and engineering of Lithios’s electrochemical stacks as well as optimizing parameters for a wide variety of brines. She enjoys going to the park with her dog Georgie, skiing, and listening to true crime.

Mariam Dobosz
Electrochemical Engineer
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Mariam received a B.S in Mechanical Engineering from Union College in Schenectady, NY and finished her M.S. in Material Science and Engineering from Boston University while interning at Lithios. She works on the design and engineering of Lithios’s electrochemical stacks as well as optimizing parameters for a wide variety of brines. She enjoys going to the park with her dog Georgie, skiing, and listening to true crime.

Michelle Chen
R&D Electrochemical Engineer

Michelle earned her bachelors of science in chemistry at Northeastern University. Her last co-op at Northeastern led her to intern at a battery start up called Cuberg. Following graduation, she was lucky to work on Cuberg’s battery R&D team as a full time engineer for about three years. Now, she’s excited to apply and expand her knowledge of electrochemistry at Lithios!

Michelle Chen
R&D Electrochemical Engineer
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Michelle earned her bachelors of science in chemistry at Northeastern University. Her last co-op at Northeastern led her to intern at a battery start up called Cuberg. Following graduation, she was lucky to work on Cuberg’s battery R&D team as a full time engineer for about three years. Now, she’s excited to apply and expand her knowledge of electrochemistry at Lithios!

Chenghao (Roger) Lin
Process Design Engineer

Roger holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemical engineering from McGill University. He is keen on developing solutions to real world problems with his experience in sustainable process design and electrochemical processes. In his spare time, Roger likes to play badminton and soccer, listen to music, and travel.

Chenghao (Roger) Lin
Process Design Engineer
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Roger holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in chemical engineering from McGill University. He is keen on developing solutions to real world problems with his experience in sustainable process design and electrochemical processes. In his spare time, Roger likes to play badminton and soccer, listen to music, and travel.

Taksh Satra
Electrochemistry Associate

Taksh’s primary focus is on understanding electrochemical and electrode optimization. After his undergrad in India, he completed his Master in Materials Science and Engineering from Stanford University in 2021. Outside the lab, he loves dancing and attending related workshops. He also enjoys playing table tennis and various video games.

Taksh Satra
Electrochemistry Associate
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Taksh’s primary focus is on understanding electrochemical and electrode optimization. After his undergrad in India, he completed his Master in Materials Science and Engineering from Stanford University in 2021. Outside the lab, he loves dancing and attending related workshops. He also enjoys playing table tennis and various video games.

Cassie Toby
Engineering Technician

Cassie is a Mechanical Engineer with a Bachelor of Science (BSME) from Northeastern University. Cassie is a builder and engineer with a wide range of experiences, ranging from quality testing liquid metal batteries to managing a makerspace. She is passionate about leveraging engineering and science to address global challenges and create a more sustainable future. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, playing guitar, and seeking out the perfect cup of coffee.

Cassie Toby
Engineering Technician
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Cassie is a Mechanical Engineer with a Bachelor of Science (BSME) from Northeastern University. Cassie is a builder and engineer with a wide range of experiences, ranging from quality testing liquid metal batteries to managing a makerspace. She is passionate about leveraging engineering and science to address global challenges and create a more sustainable future. Outside of work, she enjoys hiking, playing guitar, and seeking out the perfect cup of coffee.

Haley Peacock
R&D Technician

Haley works as a Chemist at Lithios and obtained her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Western New England University. She has prior experience developing electrodes to advance clean energy technologies, including industry experience and undergraduate research at Penn State, where she worked to develop affordable polymer membranes for HT-PEM fuel cells. In her free time, she can be found exploring Boston and its restaurants, hanging out with friends, reading, or playing with her cat, Stormy.

Haley Peacock
R&D Technician
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Haley works as a Chemist at Lithios and obtained her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry from Western New England University. She has prior experience developing electrodes to advance clean energy technologies, including industry experience and undergraduate research at Penn State, where she worked to develop affordable polymer membranes for HT-PEM fuel cells. In her free time, she can be found exploring Boston and its restaurants, hanging out with friends, reading, or playing with her cat, Stormy.

Alyssa Bodogh
Electrochemistry R&D Co-Op

Alyssa is currently a second year Chemical Engineering major with a Material Science minor at Northeastern University. She has experience in a research lab synthesizing neutron radiation shield samples. Alyssa is a teaching assistant for first-year engineering courses and plays intramural soccer. When not working she enjoys puzzles, painting, and going to the gym.

Alyssa Bodogh
Electrochemistry R&D Co-Op
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Alyssa is currently a second year Chemical Engineering major with a Material Science minor at Northeastern University. She has experience in a research lab synthesizing neutron radiation shield samples. Alyssa is a teaching assistant for first-year engineering courses and plays intramural soccer. When not working she enjoys puzzles, painting, and going to the gym.

Audrey Anderson
Mechanical Engineering Co-Op

Audrey is a third year student at Northeastern University studying mechanical engineering. Currently, she is working on the stacked team but previously she has had experience in research and development where she became familiar with prototyping, building and testing. She is in a club called Generate at Northeastern where she continues to grow her engineering skills with a new project each semester. Additionally during the school year she is a tutor at the engineering center. In her free time she likes to travel, try new food and hang out with her friends from school.

Audrey Anderson
Mechanical Engineering Co-Op
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Audrey is a third year student at Northeastern University studying mechanical engineering. Currently, she is working on the stacked team but previously she has had experience in research and development where she became familiar with prototyping, building and testing. She is in a club called Generate at Northeastern where she continues to grow her engineering skills with a new project each semester. Additionally during the school year she is a tutor at the engineering center. In her free time she likes to travel, try new food and hang out with her friends from school.

Nolan Tok
Electrochemistry R&D Co-Op

Nolan is a second year mechanical engineering student from Northeastern University. He worked previously in a research and company settings, researching topics from microneedle testing applicators to in-operando battery swelling metrics. At Lithios, he hopes to further improve his electrochemistry knowledge and learn industry practices. Outside of work he loves to cook pizzas for his friends and hike

Nolan Tok
Electrochemistry R&D Co-Op
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Nolan is a second year mechanical engineering student from Northeastern University. He worked previously in a research and company settings, researching topics from microneedle testing applicators to in-operando battery swelling metrics. At Lithios, he hopes to further improve his electrochemistry knowledge and learn industry practices. Outside of work he loves to cook pizzas for his friends and hike

Conner Gelinas
Electrochemical Engineering Co-Op

Conner is a second year Chemical Engineering major at Northeastern University. He has previous experience working in an electrochemical systems lab, conducting research on battery technologies. He is also the captain of ChemE Sports, a campus club that participates in an annual process management competition. In his free time, he participates in the university band, and frequently competes in high-stakes chess tournaments.

Conner Gelinas
Electrochemical Engineering Co-Op
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Conner is a second year Chemical Engineering major at Northeastern University. He has previous experience working in an electrochemical systems lab, conducting research on battery technologies. He is also the captain of ChemE Sports, a campus club that participates in an annual process management competition. In his free time, he participates in the university band, and frequently competes in high-stakes chess tournaments.

Advisors

Advisors

Raffi Freeman
VP of Strategy, Sublime Systems
Brian Baynes, PhD
Founder & Chairman, Verdox
Supratim Das, PhD
Senior Manager, Corporate Development & Product Strategy, Electric Hydrogen
Jon Hykawy
President & Director, Stormcrow Capital

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