Varun Gopalakrishnan

About Varun Gopalakrishnan

I am a Materials Engineer working at the intersection of carbon materials and climate technology. My current work centers on synthesizing and optimizing porous carbon foam catalysts designed for simultaneous CO₂ capture and CO conversion. This involves combining rigorous multi-modal characterization using SEM, FTIR, OES, and GC/MS with iterative synthesis to push material performance forward. Alongside this, I am contributing to a technical report in support of Illinois Public Act 10•••31, helping inform the Illinois EPA\'s evaluation of fluoropolymer safety in consumer products for the state\'s General Assembly. Before transitioning into materials engineering, I built a strong foundation as a Life Cycle Engineer, where I specialized in GHG emissions modeling, ISO-compliant LCA reporting, and sustainability analytics for decarbonization projects. I quantified carbon intensities, evaluated carbon removal pathways, and led project evaluations for the Voluntary Carbon Market, assessing compatibility with leading MRV frameworks including Isometric, Puro.Earth, and Verra. Across all of it, I worked closely with engineering, regulatory, and investor teams to translate complex environmental data into actionable project decisions, always with an eye toward helping industries meaningfully decarbonize.

Experience

1. Materials Engineer

   Illinois Sustainable Technology Center

   Jan 2026 — Present · Champaign, IL, US

   Synthesized and optimized porous carbon foam catalysts for simultaneous CO₂ capture and CO conversion, and performed multi-modal material characterization (SEM, FTIR, OES, and GC/MS) to evaluate structural, surface, and compositional properties across iterative synthesis workflows.• Assisted in researching and developing an extensive technical report in support of Illinois Public Act 10•••31, which directs the Illinois EPA to assess the viability of a fluoropolymer review program for potential threats to human health and the environment in consumer products.

Education

• University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

  Master of Science, Materials Science and Engineering (Graduate Certification in Energy and Sustainability Engineering)

• Vellore Institute of Technology

  Bachelor of Technology , Mechanical engineering (Recipient of the Raman Research Award, 2022)

  2018 — 2022