Lab Personnel
Dr. Jaron C Hansen
Dr. Jaron C. Hansen is a professor and chair of the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Brigham Young University. His research combines laboratory, field, and computational approaches to study atmospheric and environmental chemical processes, including air quality, atmospheric reaction kinetics, and renewable energy applications. He earned his bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Utah State University, his Ph.D. in chemistry from Purdue University, and completed postdoctoral work at the California Institute of Technology’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory. Since joining BYU in 2005, Dr. Hansen has been recognized for excellence in teaching, research, mentoring, innovation, and technology transfer.
Zach Giauque
zgiauque@byu.edu
Zach graduated from BYU with a bachelor’s degree in Biochemistry and currently works in the Hansen lab as adjunct faculty. His research has included atmospheric chemistry, PFAS, and methods for improving the conversion of organic waste into biogas. He is interested in using analytical chemistry to better understand environmental problems and their effects on human health.
Graduate Students
Alexis Harper
harpeale@byu.edu
Alexis Harper is a PhD student in Analytical and Atmospheric Chemistry at BYU. Her research includes investigating mercury oxidation through controlled environmental chamber experiments and advanced analytical measurements, as well as identifying sources of dust in the Salt Lake Valley using elemental and isotopic measurements to understand the composition and transport of particulate matter. Through her research, she seeks to improve our understanding of atmospheric processes and their environmental impacts.
Santhi Vakapalli
slk420@byu.edu
Santhi Lavanya Vakapalli is a Ph.D. student in Chemistry and Biochemistry at Brigham Young University and conducts research in the J Hansen Lab. Her research focuses on improving the conversion of organic waste into renewable biogas through biological pretreatment and anaerobic digestion. She works with the thermophilic bacterium Caldicellulosiruptor bescii to study biomass degradation and its effects on methane production, volatile fatty acids, and overall digester performance. She is interested in applying analytical chemistry, microbiology, and biochemical methods to develop more efficient and sustainable waste-to-energy technologies.
Santhi Lavanya Vakapalli is a Ph.D. student in Chemistry and Biochemistry at Brigham Young University and conducts research in the J Hansen Lab. Her research focuses on improving the conversion of organic waste into renewable biogas through biological pretreatment and anaerobic digestion. She works with the thermophilic bacterium Caldicellulosiruptor bescii to study biomass degradation and its effects on methane production, volatile fatty acids, and overall digester performance. She is interested in applying analytical chemistry, microbiology, and biochemical methods to develop more efficient and sustainable waste-to-energy technologies.
Undergraduate Students
Dallin Giauque
dallin60@byu.edu
Dallin is a biochemistry student at BYU interested in pursuing a career in medicine. He currently works in the Hansen lab studying atmospheric chemistry, where his research focuses on measuring volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in air using thermal desorption tubes and GC-MS. His work has also involved studying mercury oxidation in the atmosphere and developing methods to accurately identify and quantify VOCs. He is interested in using chemistry and research to better understand environmental factors that can affect human health.
Dallin is a biochemistry student at BYU interested in pursuing a career in medicine. He currently works in the Hansen lab studying atmospheric chemistry, where his research focuses on measuring volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in air using thermal desorption tubes and GC-MS. His work has also involved studying mercury oxidation in the atmosphere and developing methods to accurately identify and quantify VOCs. He is interested in using chemistry and research to better understand environmental factors that can affect human health.
Katy Brewster
kaitly15@byu.edu
Lizzy Lowe
elowe7@byu.edu