Our Team

Dr. Xiaochen Shen is the Principal Investigator at WaterUS LLC serving both as CEO and CTO. With extensive expertise in electrochemistry, he specializes in flow batteries and fuel cells. Currently a research specialist at the USC, Dr. Shen's background includes postdoctoral research at BEES EFRC, CWRU. His work has led to patents with the Toyota Research Institute of North America and over 35 academic papers, cited more than 1900 times. At WaterUS LLC, he leads R&D, leveraging his academic and innovative achievements to drive our startup's success.

Dr. Zhenmeng Peng is the Technical Advisor and USC Subawardee at WaterUS LLC. A Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering at USC since January 2023, he previously served in the Department of Chemical, Biomolecular, and Corrosion Engineering at UA from 2012 to 2022. Dr. Peng leads a research group focusing on electrochemical engineering for energy and environmental applications. He has authored over 100 publications with more than 10,000 citations and holds eight U.S. patents. At WaterUS LLC, he provides technical expertise in experimental design for optimal water softening performance.

Dr. Yanbo Pan is an accomplished chemical engineer with a PhD in Chemical Engineering. He specializes in process R&D, scale-up, and filtration technologies. Dr. Pan brings a diverse background, including significant experience as a Data Scientist and industry expertise in a semiconductor company where he developed innovative purification technologies that enhance efficiency and reduce costs. Currently enrolled in the MBA program at Boston University, he combines robust analytical skills with strategic business acumen. His multifaceted expertise and innovative approach drive our project's success.

Mr. Christopher Devlin is the R&D Technician at WaterUS LLC and a senior Mechanical Engineering major at the University of South Carolina. With diverse experience ranging from desktop support at the University of South Carolina to technical roles in water pump systems and automotive maintenance, he brings a strong technical and problem-solving skillset to the team. Christopher is also a U.S. Army veteran, decorated with several commendations for his service.

Mr. Aaron Zapolin is the Commercialization Specialist Intern at WaterUS LLC and is currently an undergraduate Finance and Operations and Supply Chain Management Major at the University of South Carolina. Aaron has experience in internally building overall professionalism and will leverage those skills to ultimately commercialize our product. With strong interpersonal skills, Aaron will bring his skillset to the table to help communicate our project to the public eye and create an online presence. Outside of work, Aaron enjoys watching sports and keeping up to date with business news.

Peng's lab research is driven by the attempts to understand reactions at the molecular level, and to develop new catalysts based on multidisciplinary knowledge in Heterogeneous Catalysis, Materials Science, Nanoscience, and Physical Chemistry. The research efforts cover rational search of new catalytic structures of interest, development of synthetic approaches to realize the desired structures, evaluation of their catalytic property, and in-depth study of the reaction mechanism. We are currently focusing on catalysts developments for important reactions in sustainable energy research, including fuel cell reactions, water electrolysis, hydrogen storage, and others. 

Mr. Tyler Tatum, Board of Advisors, has over 25 years of experience in technology focused startup ventures, including 20 years in a management/leadership role. Tyler’s core strength is his ability to turn customer needs into marketable products by facilitating communication between business leaders, current and prospective customers, and technology developers. Over the last several years, Tyler has helped clients raise over $30M in SBIR/STTR funding.

Mr. Kyle Salazar, Board of Advisors, brings more than a decade of experience in small business growth and development and technology commercialization. He serves as a Principal at Ripple Technology, LLC focused on SBIR/STTR funded company growth, development, and commercialization and as Associate Director of Technology Commercialization for USC where he has successfully transitioned more than 52 technologies from university to industry.