Nathan Chao

Experience

• 

  ALL Power Labs

  Jan 2020 - Jul 2020

  Research and Development Engineering Intern

  All Power Labs develops and manufactures biomass gasification equipment, which convert biomass waste to biochar, syngas, and heat.Developed and implemented cost-effective in-house analytical methods to quantify tar species in process streams, eliminating external lab testing costs and enabling real-time process monitoring and optimization:- Retrofitted gas absorption skid for mobile in-line tar quantification- Created an ex-situ tar species characterization method by building a vapor pressure analyzer and correlating with dew point temperature data- Hands-on troubleshooting including plumbing and electrical repairs Show less

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  SoCalGas

  Aug 2020 - May 2022

  SoCalGas is the largest natural gas distribution utility in the U.S. The Integrity Management & Strategic Planning (IMSP) department ensures the safety and reliability of natural gas storage wells and pipelines through routine inspection, maintenance, and risk assessment.Team of 4, strategically managed $100M+ integrity projects for 100+ natural gas storage wells, ensuring regulatory compliance and uninterrupted gas distribution:- Developed a first-of-its-kind Excel forecasting tool to enhance project planning by predicting how integrity projects affect customer deliverability, using mechanical test data, project scope, and historical flow rates- Built a Power BI dashboard to report forecasted deliverability and regulatory compliance, providing real-time insights for stakeholders- Coordinated weekly cross-departmental (4) meetings to maintain project timelines and seamless hand-offs- Presented monthly program spending and schedule updates to VPs, ensuring alignment on financial and operational priorities- Collaborated with integrity management directors to develop onboarding training for C-suite, enhancing executive understanding of regulatory and operational challengesAwards:- Recognized with the SoCalGas “Builder’s Award” for pioneering deliverability forecasting and reporting tools- Nominated for the “Up and Comer Award” for proactively seeking learning opportunities and driving innovation Show less

  • Associate Project Engineer

    May 2021 - May 2022

  • Engineering Intern

    Aug 2020 - Jun 2021
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  Lilac Solutions

  Jul 2022 - now

  Lilac is a direct lithium extraction (DLE) technology provider utilizing proprietary ion exchange materials and reactors to recover lithium from global brine deposits and produce battery-grade products.Team of 2, specializing in end-to-end flowsheet innovation through mechanical prototyping, process design, skid fabrication, experimentation, and techno-economic analysis.- Co-inventor on 2 provisional patentsUnit Operations & Process EquipmentReaction Engineering: • Stirred Tank Reactor (STR) • Packed Bed Reactor (PBR) • Fluidized Bed Reactor (FBR)Membrane & Filtration Processes: • Ultrafiltration (UF) • Reverse Osmosis (RO) • Nanofiltration (NF) • Multimedia Filtration (MMF) • Filter Press (FP)Separation & Classification: • Hydrocyclone (HC) • Reflux Classifier (RC) Show less

  • Process Engineer, Innovation

    Mar 2024 - now

  • Process Engineer, Reactor R&D

    Jul 2022 - Mar 2024