Catalyst Design
Heterogeneous catalysis, supported noble metal catalysts, alumina-based catalyst systems, catalyst synthesis, and catalyst characterization.
Principal Scientist
Nate Shakouri
Scientist and technical leader working at the interface of catalyst design, reaction engineering, materials synthesis, and applied aerospace systems.
Nate translates atomic-level catalyst design into scalable processes, propulsion hardware, environmental systems, and AI-assisted scientific R&D workflows.
- Focus
- Catalysis and advanced materials
- Systems
- Propulsion, ECLSS, water treatment
- Location
- USA
Scientific Focus
Technical focus areas stated at a public, non-confidential level.
Applied Aerospace Systems
Space propulsion catalysts, monopropellant decomposition, environmental control systems, air revitalization, and catalytic oxidation.
Scientific Workflows
Electrochemical advanced oxidation, water treatment, nanomaterials, ceramic and porous materials, process design, and AI agents for scientific R&D.
Working Principles
Fundamental catalysis translated into practical systems
Clear treatment of uncertainty, constraints, and evidence
Research-to-product translation across aerospace, ECLS, propulsion, and sustainability
AI-assisted workflows grounded in scientific judgment
Selected Work
A compact preview of selected technical achievements, with confidential details omitted.
ChemE Cat project area
Precision Site Synthesis And Supported Single-Atom Catalysts
Public project work includes precision site synthesis, scalable supported single-atom catalyst methods, and isolated-atom catalyst preparation on support substrates.
ChemE Cat project area
Energy Conversion Catalysts
Public work includes PGM-free Fe–N–C cathodes for anion-exchange membrane fuel cells and catalyst systems for methanol electrooxidation.
ChemE Cat project area
Selective Hydrogenation And Oxidation Catalysis
Project topics include selective hydrogenation of α,β-unsaturated aldehydes, hydrocarbon oxidation, Pd/Au single-atom alloy systems, and isolated-site reactivity.
ChemE Cat project area
Membrane And Photocatalytic Water Treatment
Public project areas include antifouling GO/PES hollow-fiber membranes, photocatalytic dye degradation, and organic contaminant removal using nanoparticles.
ChemE Cat project area
Rheology And Nanofluid Materials
Public work includes electrostatic rheology control and polymer/TiO₂ nanofluid rheology for materials and heat-transfer applications.
Professional application area
TCPS Gas-Processing System
Public-safe summary of technical leadership for a TCPS gas-processing system designed, built, and qualified from scratch, with flight expected in 2027.
Professional application area
Space Propulsion Catalyst Translation
Professional work translates catalyst synthesis and materials control into propulsion catalysts, space habitation concepts, and scalable production pathways.