DARYL TAN

Undergraduate Researcher (joined the Gunasooriya Lab, Spring 2026)
B.Sc. Petroleum Engineering, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Expected-2029
B.Sc. Economics, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Expected-2029

Born in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, Daryl developed an early curiosity about how energy systems shape everyday life, from enabling economic activity to keeping communities connected and electrified. He later received a scholarship to attend United World Colleges Dilijan in Armenia, where he became actively involved in sustainability-focused initiatives and gained a broader perspective on energy access and environmental challenges. He joined the Gunasooriya Lab under the First-Year Research Experience (FYRE) Program and studies on propylene epoxidation and competing oxygen evolution reactions. This research has sparked a deeper interest in electrocatalysis, particularly how catalyst design influences activity and selectivity at the atomic scale. He is also interested in integrating electrocatalysis with economic analysis to develop energy and chemical processes that are both efficient and scalable, contributing to the design of clean energy systems that can support sustainable industrial growth.

Awards
- President’s Award for Outstanding Freshmen, 2026, University of Oklahoma
- Mewbourne College Scholarship 2026-2027, University of Oklahoma
- Champion, International Economics Olympiad Winter Business Case Study, 2024
- Finalist, Armenian National Economics Olympiad, 2024
- Finalist, Armenian & Georgian National Brain Bee Neuroscience Olympiad, 2024
- Semi-finalist, Malaysian Public Policy Competition, 2024
- Semi-finalist, London School of Economics ELF Business Case Study, 2023