Printable Resume
Nate (Abolfazl) Shakouri, Ph.D.
Principal Scientist – Catalysis, Electrochemistry & Advanced Reactors
Chemical engineer with Ph.D.s in Chemical Engineering/Nanotechnology and 18+ years spanning academia and industry. Focused on predictive catalyst synthesis, electro/thermocatalysis, 3D-printed reactor architectures, aerospace/ECLSS/propulsion systems, and data-driven optimization.
Selected Achievements
- Public scholarship includes energy-conversion catalysis work in Nature Energy and related electrocatalysis venues; current citation metrics are available on Google Scholar.
- Lead technical development of the TCPS gas-processing system; designed, built, and qualified the system from scratch, with flight expected in 2027.
- Built a $5M+ state-of-the-art catalyst lab to accelerate research-to-product.
- Set strategy and led innovation across propulsion, ISRU, ECLSS, and catalytic systems.
- Mentored 50+ cross-disciplinary contributors across scientific, engineering, and product-facing work.
- Developed nanofluid thermal management for industrial heat exchangers, delivering +40% improvements in heat transfer.
Experience
Principal Scientist (Catalysis, ISRU, ECLSS, Propulsion)
Sierra Space
2022–Present
- Set strategy and led innovation across propulsion, ISRU, ECLSS, and catalytic systems; built a $5M+ state-of-the-art catalyst lab to accelerate research-to-product.
- Lead technical development of the TCPS gas-processing system; designed, built, and qualified the system from scratch, with flight expected in 2027.
- Delivered new product lines and advanced catalysts; strengthened business development through demos and technical tours for NASA, U.S. government customers, and partners.
- Mentored 50+ cross-disciplinary contributors and aligned R&D with aerospace standards and safety/quality systems.
- Drove technology roadmaps from concept to deployment, integrating manufacturing, test, and compliance.
Senior Scientist
NSF/IUCRC Center for Rational Catalyst Synthesis
2016–2022
- Led research in catalysis/electrocatalysis, pharmaceutical synthesis, and resource sustainability.
- Collaborated with ExxonMobil, BASF, UOP, and Biogen to translate advanced catalysts toward commercial deployment.
- Supervised postdoctoral researchers and graduate students; contributed to record-level performance in fuel cells and electrolyzers.
Process Engineer & Lecturer
Oil & Gas Research Center (FUM)
2007–2015
- Developed nanofluid thermal management for industrial heat exchangers; delivered +40% improvements in heat transfer.
- Conducted materials characterization, membrane technologies, and rheology research.
- Taught core chemical engineering courses and supported mentorship-centered instruction.
Research/Teaching Roles
University of South Carolina (USC)
- Postdoctoral Fellow / Procurement Assistant (2021–2022)
- Research/Teaching/Procurement Assistant (2016–2021)
- Visiting Research Scholar/Faculty (2015–2016)
Instructor, Chemical Engineering
Quchan University
2009–2012
- Taught chemical engineering coursework and supported student development.
Intern, Catalytic Reforming Overhaul
Isfahan Oil Refinery
Summer 2007
- Supported catalytic reforming overhaul work in an industrial refinery setting.
Education
Ph.D., Chemical Engineering (Catalysis)
University of South Carolina, USA
2016–2021
Ph.D., Nanotechnology (Chemical Engineering)
Ferdowsi University of Mashhad, IR
2010–2015
M.Sc., Chemical Engineering (Advanced Nanotechnology, Transport Phenomena)
Isfahan University of Technology, IR
2007–2009
B.Sc., Chemical Engineering (Petrochemical Processes)
Isfahan University of Technology, IR
2002–2007
Technical Skills
Catalysis
Rational synthesis, Chelate-fixation, Single-atom/multi-atom catalysts, Washcoat/ink rheology, Adhesion, Catalyst synthesis & scale-up, Low-PGM systems
Characterization
SEM/TEM/STEM, XPS, ICP-MS, FTIR/ATR-IR/Raman/UV-Vis, GC/MS, Chemisorption, BET/BJH, TPR/TPD/TPO, AFM, AAS
Systems And Software
AEM/PEM FCs & electrolyzers, CO₂-to-fuels, VOC/NOx systems, 3D-printed lattices and flow fields, COMSOL, MATLAB, Aspen/HYSYS, Design-Expert, Origin, ImageJ, Digital Micrograph, OMNIC, Fityk
Methods
Statistics, DOE, FEM/FDM, HSE systems, Environmental impact assessments, Data-driven optimization, Physics-informed AI
Leadership
Program And People Leadership
- Technical leader with experience building scientific organizations, laboratories, teams, safety systems, and research-to-product roadmaps.
- Hosted customer reviews and technical tours while partnering with NASA, AFRL/DoD, U.S. government customers, and industry collaborators.
- Mentored junior engineers, interns, postdoctoral researchers, graduate students, and undergraduate researchers.
Teaching And Mentoring
- Courses taught/ready to teach: Basic Principles/Calculations; Thermodynamics; Fluid Mechanics; Kinetics & Reactor Design; Unit Operations Laboratory; Materials in ChE.
- Unit Ops leadership: SOPs, calibration & safety systems; professional-grade reports and statistics.
- Built pod-style mentoring with graduate leads and undergraduate contributors.
Professional Service
- Graduate Committee Member, USC (2018–2020)
- Treasurer, Iranian Student Association (USC) (2016–2018)
- Peer reviewer for catalysis, materials, polymers, chemical engineering, environmental, and photobiology journals.
Selected Publications And Patents
Selected Scholar-Visible Records
- Klopotic, J.; Shakouri, N.; Petrie, Z.; Coleman, B.; Wetzel, J.; Moffatt, S. “Design & Testing of a Catalytic Oxidizer for Cleaning of Hazardous Compounds in the Trash Compaction & Processing System (TCPS) Effluent Gas.” International Conference on Environmental Systems (2024).
- Klopotic, J.; Shakouri, N.; Petrie, Z.; Wetzel, J. “Testing and Characterization of a Catalytic Oxidizer for Trace Contaminant Control.” Scholar-listed public record (2025).
- Moffatt, S. A.; Mentink, M. J.; Martinez, M. M.; Fischer, J.; et al. “The LIFE Habitat (Large Integrated Flexible Environment) Air Revitalization System Development.” International Conference on Environmental Systems (2023).
- Zhou, H.; Xiong, W.; Shakouri, A.; Lu, Y.; Regalbuto, J. R.; Monnier, J. R.; et al. “Precision Size Control of Supported Pd and Pt Nanoparticles via Controlled Electroless Deposition.” Catalysts 15(2), 156 (2025).
- Adabi, H.; Shakouri, A.; Zitolo, A.; Asset, T.; Khan, A.; Bohannon, J.; et al. “Multi-atom Pt and PtRu catalysts for high performance AEMFCs with ultra-low PGM content.” Applied Catalysis B: Environmental 325, 122375 (2023).
- Dong, A.; Shakouri, A.; Karakalos, S.; Blom, D.; Williams, C. T.; Regalbuto, J. R. “The preparation of silica supported, dilute limit PdAu alloys via simultaneous strong electrostatic adsorption.” Catalysis Science & Technology 13(10), 3020–3034 (2023).
- Shakouri, A.; Adabi Firouzjaie, H.; Stavros, K. G.; Mustain, W. E.; Regalbuto, J. R.; et al. “The Simple Synthesis of High Metal Loading Single-Atom Catalysts via Chelate Fixation.” ChemRxiv (2022).
- Adabi, H.; Shakouri, A.; Ul Hassan, N.; Varcoe, J. R.; Zulevi, B.; Serov, A.; et al. “High-performing commercial Fe–N–C cathode electrocatalyst for anion-exchange membrane fuel cells.” Nature Energy 6(8), 834–843 (2021).
- Adabi, H.; Santori, P. G.; Shakouri, A.; Peng, X.; Yassin, K.; Rasin, I. G.; et al. “Understanding how single-atom site density drives the performance and durability of PGM-free Fe–N–C cathodes in anion exchange membrane fuel cells.” Materials Today Advances 12, 100179 (2021).
- Xiong, W.; Mehrabadi, B.; Karakalos, S.; White, R.; Shakouri, A.; Kasak, P.; et al. “Enhanced performance of oxygen-functionalized, multi-walled carbon nanotubes as support for Pt and Pt-Ru bimetallic catalysts for methanol electrooxidation.” ACS Applied Energy Materials (2020).
Public Patent Records
- Method to produce high densities of isolated atoms on support substrates — US Patent 12,226,754 (2025)
- Electrostatic-based methods and systems for control of rheological behavior — US Patent 12,065,555 (2024)
- Scalable method for production of supported catalysts — US Patent 11,772,089 (2023)
- Scalable method to produce single-atom catalysts on support substrates — US Patent 62/241,231 (2021)
- Electrostatic effects as a tool to adjust rheological behavior — US Patent Tech ID# 1,522 (2021)
- Method to produce high densities of isolated atoms on support substrates — US Patent App. 63/131,858 (2020)
Public resume summary. Private address, phone number, references, confidential formulations, operating envelopes, and unpublished performance data are intentionally omitted.