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CEEE Graduate Research Assistant Joseph Baker Receives Ph.D

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Graduate Research Assistant Joseph Baker received his Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from University of Maryland this summer. He was a part of the Energy Efficiency and Heat Pump (EEHP) consortium group. 

His thesis is titled, "Analysis of Mass Transfer Phenomena in Electrochemical Membrane Pumping Devices". 

Through his research he found that, while electrochemical (EC) pumps and compressors are effective, some of the working fluids travel backwards through the membranes, which separate the high concentration and the low concentrations sides of the device. He was measuring and characterizing these mass transfer processes to better understand them. His goal was that this should help us design better EC membrane systems in the future. 

Prior to joining CEEE and pursuing a Ph.D., he received a bachelor’s degree in Mechanical Engineering in 2017 from University of Maryland. During his undergraduate studies he began working in the Heat Pump Lab, now known as the Daikin Energy Innovation Lab, in 2015. “Back then, I was doing experiments with desiccant wheels,” he said. 

I've always been passionate about sustainability and thermodynamics really clicked with me. Plus, I liked getting my hands dirty building test setups in the lab. So, I decided to stay for graduate school.
 

“I've always been passionate about sustainability and thermodynamics really clicked with me. Plus, I liked getting my hands dirty building test setups in the lab. So, I decided to stay for graduate school.”

His main goal is to do what he can to help build more sustainable energy systems and pursing a Ph.D. was a natural progression because he wanted to continue working in the lab and continue learning as much as he could. 

“I will miss the hands-on aspects of the job,” he said. “Putting the experimental facilities together was always my favorite part.”

He is now a Technical Consultant at Nexight Group in Silver Spring, Maryland. 

Published September 28, 2022