Lara Kassab

Background

I was born and raised in Homs, Syria. My family and I moved to California about five years ago. I am a first-generation student. I majored in Chemistry and then changed to Chemical Engineering. Currently, I go to Ventura College, and after that, I will be transferring to a four-year university. In my free time, I enjoy singing, cooking, and watching movies.

Current Research

I am working with Hanna Porter on developing new chemistries for sodium ion battery (NIB) cathodes, mainly focusing on weberites, which are sodium metal fluoride-based structures. Throughout the process, I will be synthesizing NIB cathodes and then analyzing them using experimental techniques such as X-ray diffraction (XRD), solid-state nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy, and electrochemical techniques.

Education

• 2022-Present – A.S. in Engineering & Associate for Transfer in Chemical Engineering, Ventura College.
• 2019-2022 – Ventura High School.

Honors & Awards

• 2022 – Faculty Choice Award from Ventura High School.