John Langhout
John has a Bachelors degree in Materials Science and Engineering from UF, where he’s returned as a graduate student in MSE in 2021. His research focus spans is processing-structure-property relationships in new electrode materials, as well as phase-change materials. This will involve X-ray characterization, including scattering and spectroscopy.
When not poring over X-ray data spaghetti, John enjoys cooking, digital art, and collecting, listening to, and playing music.
Kausturi Parui
Kausturi has her Bachelors and Masters in Chemistry and began her time at UF in the Chemistry department. In 2020, her interest in energy technology brought her and her analytical interests to the Butala group where she is focusing on new battery electrode materials.
When she’s not keeping an eye on all of the engineers, she can be found sipping iced coffee and watching thrillers!.
Danielle Alverson
Danielle has a Bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Arkansas (2020) and came back to UF as a graduate student following a summer of computational research experience in the MSE department in 2019.
When she’s not mastering the fundamentals of X-ray scattering and designing experiments, she likes to run, play guitar, and listen to music.
Megan M. Butala, PhD
Assistant Professor of Materials Science & Engineering
Megan grew up in southern California and completed her B.S. in Materials Engineering at California Polytechnic State University, San Luis Obispo. She did her graduate work at University of California, Santa Barbara with Prof. Ram Seshadri, completing her Ph.D. in Materials in 2017. She then spent two years at the National Institute of Standards and Technology in Maryland as a National Research Council Postdoctoral Fellow, and started as an Assistant Professor in Materials Science and Engineering at University of Florida in November 2019.
When she isn’t working with great students, Megan likes to cook, hang out with her dog and friends, and take modern dance classes.
