Ph.D. Candidate Pranav Thacker Selected as a Chevron Energy Graduate Fellow

The Energy Institute at the University of Texas at Austin is pleased to announce this year’s recipients of the Chevron Energy Graduate Fellowship Endowment. Made possible by a generous gift from Chevron, the program supports the bold work of outstanding graduate students conducting energy systems research in carbon capture, energy storage, hydrogen and gas separations, and technology commercialization, among other research areas. 

Ph.D. Candidate Pranav Thacker is being recognized for “Ionic Liquids for Carbon Capture & Hydrogen,” which investigates how the structures of cation in ionic liquids (ILs) influence gas solubility and key process-relevant properties for CO₂/CH₄ separation. By introducing a novel screening index, this work challenges the notion that ILs are limited by viscosity and offers a valuable framework for guiding rational IL design and future solvent discovery.

“It’s a privilege to be selected for this fellowship. I sincerely thank my advisor, Dr. Joan Brennecke, for her invaluable mentorship, along with Dr. Michael Baldea and Dr. Mark Stadtherr for their guidance. I would also like to acknowledge the McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, the Energy Institute, and Chevron for their support and recognition. This work reflects the collaborative effort behind advancing the design of ionic liquids for carbon capture processes and developing a novel screening index to guide future solvent discovery,” he offered. 

Learn more about the 2025-26 UT Chevron Energy Graduate Fellows HERE.