My work is a stepping stone to the creation of energy storage systems that are cheap and reliable.”
Emily Mahoney
PhD Candidate in Chemistry
Emily Mahoney is a PhD candidate in the Department of Chemistry in the Weinberg College of Arts and Sciences. Her research focuses on the sustainable implementation of grid-scale energy storage systems, specifically designing batteries using accessible and inexpensive materials. Emily is a member of the Malapit Lab and the Keynotes a cappella group. She was awarded the Ryan Fellowship in 2024.
How would you describe your research and/or work to a non-academic audience?
My work focuses on the sustainable implementation of grid-scale energy storage systems. I work to design batteries that are based on more accessible and inexpensive materials than are currently used.
What have been some of the most memorable twists and turns of your career?
I came to NU with a particular lab in mind that I was hoping to join. When I arrived, I met a brand-new professor who was starting in January. I really enjoyed his enthusiasm for his science, and thought the research he wanted to pursue was very interesting. I decided to join his lab and got the opportunity to work with a small, tight-knit group of people who were all driven, hard-working, and independent. I got to order instruments, help build culture, and design completely new experiments. This was an awesome twist that I did not see coming, but I am happy I took.
Tell us what inspired your research and/or work.
I began skiing when I was three years old, so my love of snow has never faltered. Now, I have seen multiple ski hills, including the one I raced at for 10 years, shuttered due to the inability to sustain themselves with the lack of snow we are now receiving. This was an obvious and disheartening development and just one example of things that have made me passionate about sustainability. I also scuba dive and have seen the terrible effects human activity has had on the reef systems. I want to help stop or even reverse these developments, and I hope my work will someday do that.
What is a mistake you have learned from in your career?
Sometimes it is easy to get caught up in the reaction that did not work, the experiment that felt monotonous, or even the paper that got rejected. That is science, but it is not the "why" of science. I have pursued a scientific career to help the earth and learn interesting things. Sometimes re-centering the "why" can help make a boring or bad day much better!
What is the biggest potential impact or implication of your work?
My work is a stepping stone to the creation of energy storage systems that are cheap and reliable. I hope that one day, someone will use the organic molecules I study to implement this on a real-world scale.
Why Northwestern?
Northwestern has a history of working on science that is very application-driven. I am well-suited since I am inspired by commercialization and implementation of technology. Additionally, my brother did his MBA at Kellogg during my first two years of graduate school, and I was excited to be close to family!
How do you unwind after a long day?
I usually end up hyper-focusing on whatever task I decide to do when I get home. That could include cleaning my apartment, reading a book, watching a show, or trying to play the piano! I am also in an a cappella group, and singing is a great way to unwind after a long day!
What books are on your bedside table?
The Girl With The Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson, How to Be More Creative by Dr. Jeffery Pfeiffer, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle.
What inspires you?
I am driven by the hope to one day bring my scientific achievements to the market. I am very excited about the idea of commercialization and how to implement all the amazing scientific achievements of my colleagues.
How would your closest friends describe you?
Kind, disciplined, love of adventure, enjoys being a leader, overbearing, goes to bed too early
What did you originally want to be when you grew up?
Doctor! The medical kind though—close enough :)
Tell us about a current achievement or something you're working on that excites you.
I am excited to pursue an internship at AbbVie this summer in photochemistry and flow chemistry. I will have the opportunity to work with an engineer and learn a lot of new concepts I can apply to my research at Northwestern.
Tell us about a time when things did not go as you planned. What did you learn?
I recently had to change a project because I was unable to get the result I was looking for. From this, I learned that it is okay to admit you cannot solve something. It is an ego hit, but it is an important skill to know when to reevaluate and attempt to pivot your project.
What are you most proud of in your career to date?
I am most proud of my first-author JACS paper that was published in January 2025. I worked very hard on this, especially considering the newness of my lab. I am also very happy with the subject of the research— energy and sustainability!
Publish Date: May 6, 2025
If you know a graduate student, postdoctoral scholar, graduate faculty member, staff member, or a member of our TGS alumni population who would make a great candidate for our TGS Spotlight Series, please complete this brief TGS Spotlight Series Nomination Form.