Friday Obuzor Ebere is a PhD candidate in the Department of Energy and Petroleum Engineering at the University of North Dakota (UND). In addition, he works as a Graduate Research Assistant working on cutting-edge energy projects at the Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC). With a solid foundation in petroleum and natural gas engineering, his academic and professional journey reflects a deep commitment to advancing energy innovation, particularly in enhanced oil recovery (EOR), energy storage, carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS), and application of artificial intelligence in optimizing oil production.

Dylan Geiger is a mechanical engineering major at the University of Mary. He completed my associate’s in science at Bismarck State college and has had a passion for engineering since freshman year of high school in Mandan. He is currently an intern at Basin Electric Power Cooperative and have worked for Basin since Summer of 2024. He plans to complete my bachelor’s degree at the University of Mary and pursue a full-time job at Basin shortly after.

Martin Heberlie, a Berthold High School graduate, is pursuing a Bachelor of Applied Science degree in Mechatronic Engineering Technology at Bismarck State College. He is interested in applying robotics and automation to advance safety and efficiency in North Dakota’s oil and gas industry. Martin also volunteers with his therapy dog, Bruno, bringing support to hospitals and nursing homes.

Md Jakaria is a Ph.D. candidate in Petroleum Engineering at the University of North Dakota. His research focuses on the recovery of lithium and salts from Bakken-produced water, with the goal of transforming oilfield wastewater into a valuable resource. He has published multiple peer-reviewed journal papers and presented his work at the Society of Petroleum Engineers Annual Technical Conference and Exhibition. He is the developer of the NanoLiSal model, an innovative process for extracting critical minerals from high salinity produced water. Currently, he is serving as a Graduate Teaching Assistant for Production and Reservoir Engineering. He previously assisted in the senior design capstone course. After graduation, he plans to continue his career as a researcher and entrepreneur in the energy sector, with a strong commitment to advancing sustainable resource development in North Dakota’s oil and gas industry.

Rachael Josephs is a doctoral student at the University of North Dakota studying for a Ph.D. in Energy Engineering. In addition, she works as a Graduate Research Assistant working on hydrogen production and storage research at the College of Engineering & Mines Research Institute (CEMRI). Her Ph.D. research is focused on subsurface hydrogen storage in the North Dakota Williston Basin. Rachael has also authored and co-authored 8 Scopus indexed journals and conference papers on energy-related topics.

Opeyemi Oni is a Ph.D. candidate and a graduate research assistant in the Energy and Petroleum Engineering Department at the University of North Dakota. His Ph.D. research focuses on repurposing some of North Dakota’s waste materials as additives for developing inexpensive and efficient water-based drilling mud for elevated-temperature wells. Opeyemi’s study will enhance value-added opportunities for by-products to improve drilling efficiency in oil, gas, and geothermal wells. He has published 6 first-authored and co-authored several Scopus-indexed journal and conference papers in petroleum engineering.

Treyton Price is a senior at the University of North Dakota majoring in chemical engineering. He has had a couple of internships with Marathon Petroleum where he worked as a Process Controls Intern at the Mandan Refinery and later as a Process Engineering Intern at the Catlettsburg Refinery in Kentucky. He is an active member of the American Institute of Chemical Engineers (AIChE) and leads the university’s Chem-E-Car team, which is set to compete at the national level in November 2025.

Rockson Aluah is a Ph.D. candidate in Petroleum Engineering at the University of North Dakota (UND), where he also serves as a Graduate Teaching Assistant in the Department of Energy and Petroleum Engineering. His research centers on evaluating the reliability of underground storage for CO₂ and H₂ in depleted oil and gas reservoirs, focusing on caprock and wellbore integrity to advance carbon capture and storage (CCS) and underground hydrogen storage (UHS). He holds a master’s degree in petroleum production engineering from Aberdeen, UK, and brings industry experience from Maersk Venturer and Wood Plc. As President of the SPE Student Chapter and Secretary of the IADC UND Chapter, he is dedicated to leadership, professional development, and knowledge sharing. With eight Scopus-indexed publications, Rockson continues to contribute to sustainable energy research and innovation.

Brayden Wehseler, originally from Gwinner, ND, is a senior studying Mechanical Engineering at North Dakota State University in Fargo, ND. In addition to his studies, he is an active leader in various student organizations where he coordinates student activities and supports the growth of his peers.

A dedicated and driven individual, Rim is an engineering major with an insatiable curiosity for machine design and exploring innovative solutions in intricate mechanical systems. Rim is also committed to fostering sustainable practices and looks forward to internship experience that intertwines the creation of technologies with the efficiency of machinery and problem-solving. Rim is a mechanical engineering major with a minor in computer science at the University of North Dakota.