Meet our Team
Director
Dr. Todd Bandhauer
Principal Investigator
Professor, Mechanical Engineering
Education:
Ph.D. 2011, Georgia Institute of Technology - Mechanical Engineering
M.S. 2002, Iowa State University - Mechanical Engineering
B.S. 1999, Iowa State University - Mechanical Engineering
Biography:
Dr. Todd Bandhauer has been an Professor in the Mechanical Engineering Department at CSU since August 2013. He received a B.S. and M.S. from Iowa State University and a Ph.D. from the Georgia Institute of Technology in Mechanical e=Engineering. His expertise and interests include thermal energy systems, coupled electrochemical thermal phenomena in energy storage and conversion systems, microscale phase change heat transfer, high flux thermal management of electronics and lasers, thermal activated cooling systems, waste heat recovery, and nuclear fuel processing systems. Prior to joining CSU, he spent 6 years in industry (Modine Manufacturing Co.) and at a national laboratory (Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory) developing components for energy systems. Throughout his career, Todd has been responsible for more than $15M in research awards from ARPA-e, DOE, DOD, the state of Colorado, and industry. His work has resulted in 77 refereed journal and conference papers and 21 issued and pending patents. He is the Director of the REACH CoLab housed at the Energy Institute, which currently includes 10 graduate and undergraduate students. In addition, Todd co-founded AtmosZero, where he is the Chief Technology Officer responsible for scaling up the critical technology to decarbonize industrial steam.
Research Associates
Shane Garland
garland@rams.colostate.edu | LinkedIn
Education:
M.S. 2018, Colorado State University - Mechanical Engineering
B.S. 2015, Bradley University – Mechanical Engineering
Biography:
Shane Garland joined the REACH CoLab in August 2015. His thesis research involved power plant cooling via an ultra-efficient exhaust gas waste heat recovery system. His interests include advanced power plant technology, alternative/renewable energy systems, and heat transfer. After successfully defending his thesis, Shane is continuing to work in the REACH CoLab as a Research Associate to develop a high efficiency (>70%) natural gas generator set.
Projects:
Ultra-Efficient Turbo-Compression Cooling
Hybrid Fuel Cell-IC Engine Generator Set
Derek Young
dnyoung@rams.colostate.edu | LinkedIn
Education:
M.S. 2018, Colorado State University - Mechanical Engineering
B.S. 2015, Bridgewater College - Physics
Biography:
Derek Young joined the REACH CoLab in August 2015. His thesis research focused on technoeconomic optimization of a turbo-compression cooling system driven by engine coolant waste heat to produce useful shipboard cooling. His interests include heat transfer and energy systems. After successfully defending his thesis, Derek continued to work in the REACH CoLab as a Research Associate on a turbo-compression cooling system driven by ultra-low temperature waste heat for use in the U.S. manufacturing sector.
Projects:
Ultra-Efficient Turbo-Compression Cooling Combined Cooling, Heating, and Power Field Demonstration
Joe Huyett
jhuyett@colostate.edu | LinkedIn
Education:
M.E. 2014, Stevens Institute of Technology - Mechanical Engineering
B.E. 2014, Stevens Institute of Technology - Mechanical Engineering
Biography:
Joe Huyett joined the REACH CoLab in October 2021. He has seven years of industry experience (ExxonMobil), with roles focused on heat exchangers, fixed equipment, reliability, and maintenance. His interests include heat transfer, sustainable energy systems, and carbon reduction strategies. Joe is working in the REACH CoLab as a Research Associate to develop a thermal energy storage system with integrated flexible carbon capture for natural gas power generation.
Ph.D. Students
Nicole Cassada
ncassada@rams.colostate.edu | LinkedIn
Education:
Ph.D. (IP), Colorado State University - Mechanical Engineering
B.S. 2021, University of North Carolina at Charlotte - Mechanical Engineering
Biography:
Nicole Cassada joined REACH CoLab in June of 2021. Her current research is focused on thermal management of high heat flux laser diodes. Her interests include heat transfer, combustion, and fluid dynamics.
Masters Students
Sofia Ananieva
Education:
M.S. (IP), Colorado State University - Mechanical Engineering
B.E. 2024, University of Applied Sciences RheinMain - Interdisciplinary Engineering
Biography:
Sofia joined the REACH CoLab in August 2024. Her current research is focused on sizing components for the new INTEGRATE Program, as as well as analyzing the technical and economic viability of a new configuration of the Hybrid Fuel Cell-IC Engine Generator set for CHP applications.
Projects:
Cyrus Johnston
Education:
M.S. (IP), Colorado State University - Mechanical Engineering B.S. 2025, Colorado State University - Mechanical Engineering
Biography:
Cyrus Johnston joined the REACH CoLab in the summer of 2022 as an undergraduate research assistant and is now pursuing his Masters with the lab. His research includes development of a digital twin for the AtmosZero heat pump, and he also assists with operation and testing.
Projects:
Decarbonizing Industry
Joy St. Clair
Education:
M.S. (IP), Colorado State University - Mechanical Engineering B.S. 2024, Mississippi State University - Mechanical Engineering
Biography:
Joy joined the REACH CoLab in the summer of 2024 as an undergraduate research assistant and is now pursuing her Masters with the lab. Joy's research investigates high efficiency heat pumps for water desalination.
Projects:
Water desalination
Matias Valencia-Delgado
Matias.Valencia_Delgado@colostate.edu
Education:
M.S. (IP), Colorado State University - Mechanical Engineering B.S. 2024, Colorado State University - Mechanical Engineering
Biography:
Matias joined the REACH CoLab in the summer of 2024 as an undergraduate research assistant and is now pursuing his Masters with the lab. Matias’ work focuses on the experimental performance investigation of the hybrid TCCS.
Projects:
Turbo-compression cooling systems
Undergraduate Students
Colin Christensen
colin.pierce.christensen@colostate.edu
Education:
B.S. 2025, Colorado State University - Mechanical Engineering
Biography:
Colin joined the REACH CoLab in the Spring of 2025 as an undergraduate research assistant, where his work focuses on the fabrication, design, and testing of the Hybrid Power Generation System.
Projects:
Hybrid Power Generation System
Luke Olson
Education:
B.S. (IP), Colorado State University - Mechanical Engineering
Biography:
Luke joined the REACH CoLab in the Summer of 2025 as an undergraduate research assistant, where his work focuses on the fabrication and testing of the Hybrid Turbo-Compression Cooling System.
Projects:
Hybrid Turbo-compression cooling system.
Gavin Geer
Education:
B.S. (IP), Colorado State University - Mechanical Engineering
Biography:
Gavin Geer joined the REACH CoLab in 2025 after internships at AtmosZero and the CSU Energy Institute. Gavin is doing his senior research practicum on transient modeling of compressors for high temperature steam generating heat pumps.
Projects:
High Temperature Heat Pumps