Assistant Professor
Postdoc, Data Analytics/Optimization, Texas A&M University (2021)
Ph.D., Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University (2020)
M.S., Chemical Engineering, Carnegie Mellon University (2014)
B.S., Chemical & Biological Engineering, Koc University (2013)
Current Research
- Process Systems Engineering
- Machine Learning/AI
- Data-driven Optimization
- Supply Chain Optimization
- Energy Systems Design
- Data-driven Modeling of Environmental & Biological Systems
- TEA/LCA
Professional Activities
Member: American Institute of Chemical Engineers
Member: Institute for Operations Research and the Management Sciences
Awards & Honors
2023 | ACS Petroleum Research Fund Doctoral New Investigator Award |
2020 | AIChE CAST Directors’ Award |
2020 | Outstanding Graduate Student Award, Artie McFerrin Department of Chemical Engineering, Texas A&M University |
2019 | MIT Rising Stars in Chemical Engineering |
Student Awards
- Hasan Nikkhah, 1st Place Poster Award, 2024 Foundations of Computer Aided Process Design (FOCAPD) Conference
- Hasan Nikkhah, 2024 Research Excellence Award, Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Connecticut
- Amir Shahbazi, 2024 Graduate Teaching Assistant Award, Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Connecticut
- Benjamin G. Cohen, 3rd Place Presentation Award, 2024 University of Connecticut Center for Clean Energy Engineering Graduate Research Summit on Sustainability
- Hasan Nikkhah, Honorable Mention, 2024 University of Connecticut Center for Clean Energy Engineering Graduate Research Summit on Sustainability
- Hasan Nikkhah & Dev Barochia, 2023 Eversource Energy Clean Energy & Sustainability Innovation Program Finalists
- Hasan Nikkhah, 2023 Teaching Fellow, Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Connecticut
- Hasan Nikkhah, 2023 Graduate Teaching Assistant Award, Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Connecticut
- Benjamin G. Cohen, 1st Place Poster Award, 9th Annual School of Engineering Poster Competition, University of Connecticut
- Zahir Aghayev, 2022 Predoctoral Travel Award, Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Connecticut
- Zahir Aghayev, 2022 Graduate Teaching Assistant Award, Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Connecticut
- Benjamin G. Cohen, 3rd Place Poster Award, University of Connecticut Center for Clean Energy Engineering Symposium
- Benjamin G. Cohen, 2022 Graduate Teaching Assistant Award, Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Connecticut
- Hasan Nikkhah, 2022 Graduate Teaching Assistant Award, Department of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering, University of Connecticut
Selected Publications
- H Nikkhah, Z Aghayev, A Shahbazi, VM Charitopoulos, S Avraamidou, B Beykal. Bi-level data-driven enterprise-wide optimization with mixed-integer nonlinear scheduling problems, Digital Chemical Engineering, 2025, 100218.
- H Nikkhah, A Di Maria, G Granata, B Beykal. Sustainable process design for lithium recovery from geothermal brines using chemical precipitation, Resources, Conservation and Recycling, 2025, 212, 107980.
- H Nikkhah, D Ipekci, W Xiang, Z Stoll, P Xu, B Li, JR McCutcheon, B Beykal. Challenges and opportunities of recovering lithium from seawater, produced water, geothermal brines, and salt lakes using conventional and emerging technologies, Chemical Engineering Journal, 2024, 498, 155349.
- BG Cohen, B Beykal, GM Bollas. Physics-informed genetic programming for discovery of partial differential equations from scarce and noisy data, Journal of Computational Physics, 2024, 514, 113261.
- H Nikkhah, B Beykal, MD Stuber. Comparative life cycle assessment of single-use cardiopulmonary bypass devices. Journal of Cleaner Production, 2023, 425, 138815.
- Z Aghayev, AT Szafran, A Tran, HS Ganesh, F Stossi, L Zhou, MA Mancini, EN Pistikopoulos, B Beykal. Machine Learning Methods for Endocrine Disrupting Potential Identification Based on Single-Cell Data. Chemical Engineering Science, 2023, 119086.
- H Nikkhah, B Beykal. Process Design and Technoeconomic Analysis for Zero Liquid Discharge Desalination via LiBr Absorption Chiller Integrated HDH-MEE-MVR System, Desalination, 2023, 116643.

beykal@uconn.edu | |
Phone | (860) 486-2756 |
Office Location | PWEB-282 |
Link | https://beykal.engr.uconn.edu/ |