Kate WattenbargeR

Undergraduate Researcher (joined the Gunasooriya Lab in Fall 2025)
B.Sc. Chemical Engineering, University of Oklahoma, Expected-2026

Kate was born in Vinita, Oklahoma. Following in the footsteps of her two older brothers, she developed an interest in engineering during high school, where she attended a technical program in her junior and senior years. She is now a senior at the University of Oklahoma, pursuing a Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering. In the Gunasooriya Lab, Kate’s research focuses on the effects of acid electrolyte anions on metal surfaces and oxides through computational methods. In her free time, she enjoys baking and cooking.

Awards
- Phillips 66 Research Scholarship