Echo
St. Germain
Hello! I'm a PhD student at Northeastern University in mechanical engineering and materials science. I entered the PhD program to work on a project that merges materials science and combustion research, which brought me to iron fuel. Iron can be burned as a zero-carbon fuel, and combustion generates iron oxide particles as a byproduct. These solid particles can be easily collected and reduced back to iron using hydrogen produced via electrolysis. This makes iron a compelling method for long-term energy storage, since iron is abundant and chemically stable, meaning energy stored this way does not degrade the way other fuels or batteries do. My research specifically looks at how oxide layers form on iron particles during storage, how furnace heating rates reduce ignitability, what conditions lead to complete combustion, and what uses the nanometric byproducts might have.
Outside of the engineering lab, I work as a Communication Lab Fellow at Northeastern, supporting graduate students with research communication through office hours and workshops. I focus specifically on visual communication, including research posters and figures for papers. How scientific information is communicated, and whether it is actually accessible to its intended audience, is something I find genuinely interesting. Working in this role has motivated me to learn more about science education after my PhD.
My interest in education and communication extends outside the university. I attend local science fairs and STEM days in the Boston area, and participate in high school outreach programs that Northeastern hosts. Through the Petey Greene Program, I also tutor students in the carceral system, where barriers to education accessibility are especially visible.
Education
May 2028
PhD in Mechanical Engineering
Northeastern University
Materials Science Concentration · Boston, MA
Chair's Fellowship recipient. Advised by Prof. Levendis and Prof. Erb.
May 2023
BS in Mechanical Engineering
Northeastern University
Minors in History and Mathematics · Boston, MA
Connections Merit Scholarship recipient.
Publications
Iron Particle Ignition Inhibition by Prior Surface Oxidation
E. St. Germain, X. Mi, R. M. Erb, Y. A. Levendis · Combustion and Flame, vol. 289, Article 115029, 2026
Pre-existing oxide layers as thin as 1 μm (from humid storage or slow furnace heat-up) reduce iron particle ignition rates and require gas temperatures more than 100 K higher to achieve comparable ignition percentages. This is the first experimental study quantifying how oxide layer thickness and furnace heating rate govern the ignitability and conversion efficiency of iron powder fuel.
doi → open accessAn experimental study on the ignition temperature of iron particles in an electrically-heated drop-tube furnace
D. Chang*, E. St. Germain*, R. M. Erb, X. Mi, J. M. Bergthorson, Y. A. Levendis · Fuel, vol. 404, Article 136199, 2026
*Co-first authors
Ignition temperatures of iron particles spanning four size populations were mapped in a drop-tube furnace across a range of gas compositions, with onset temperatures ranging from 968 K to 1037 K depending on particle size and shape. Three independent measurement techniques confirm that particle size, shape, and concentration influence ignitability, while oxygen fraction in nitrogen has no discernible effect, though replacing nitrogen with helium raises ignition temperature significantly.
doi → open accessThermoformable Boron Nitride Based All-Ceramics
J. E. Bice, E. St. Germain, S. J. Wohlever, G. Goddard, R. M. Erb · Advanced Materials, vol. 34, Article 2203939, 2022
Thermoforming, traditionally limited to thermoplastics and metals, is extended to boron nitride all-ceramics by exploiting the oriented microstructure that forms during vibration-assisted tape casting. Compression-molded parts achieve features down to 200 µm and outperform metal heat sinks as low-profile thermal management solutions on printed circuit boards.
doi →Experience
Present
CommLab Fellow
Northeastern University
Boston, MA · Hybrid · Part-time
Supporting graduate students with research communication through office hours and workshops, with a primary focus on posters.
Present
Research Fellow
Northeastern University
Boston, MA · On-site
Studying iron particle combustion and nanoparticle formation as a source of clean energy in the Levendis and Erb labs.
Jul 2023
R&D Materials Engineer
Fourier LLC
Boston, MA · On-site
Continued development of a novel thermoformable ceramic for thermal management applications.
Jun 2022
Materials Engineering Co-op
Fortify
Boston, MA · On-site
Formulation and printing workflow for new materials, including build setup, post-processing, and property characterization.
Dec 2021
ME Research Assistant
Northeastern University
Boston, MA · On-site
Prepared ceramic resin samples on a custom vibration table, examined particle alignment via SEM, and used FEA to map vibrational nodes.
Jun 2021
Hardware & Production Co-op
Hydrow
Cambridge, MA · Hybrid
Designed testing rig modifications for product lifetime testing and an encoder case for a new flywheel system.
Jun 2020
ME Co-op
Zaiput Flow Technologies
Waltham, MA · On-site
Created ASME Y14.5M SolidWorks drawings, supported early-stage development of a multichambered continuous-flow crystallization device, and implemented ~100 Kanban cards.
Dec 2019
Teaching Assistant
Northeastern University
Boston, MA · On-site
Lab sections and grading for Cornerstone of Engineering 1, a first-year introduction to engineering design and practice.
Conferences
Presentations
Investigating the Combustion Synthesis of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Within the Iron Fuel Cycle
MRS Fall Meeting & Exhibit
Effects of Heating Rate and Oxide Layer Growth on the Ignition of Iron Powder
14th U.S. National Combustion Meeting
Exploring the Practicality of Iron as a Sustainable Replacement to Coal
MRS Fall Meeting & Exhibit
Generation of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Through Iron Combustion
Northeastern MIE Graduate Research Expo
Posters
Generation of Iron Oxide Nanoparticles Through Iron Combustion
Northeastern MIE Graduate Research Expo · Best Poster
An Overview of the Iron Fuel Cycle
Radcliffe Science Symposium on Alternative Energy, Harvard
Understanding Rapid Iron Oxidation During Various Combustion Conditions for a Carbon-Free Energy Cycle
Princeton-Combustion Institute Summer School
On the Performance of the Iron Fuel Cycle by Examining Combustion Products
RISE, Northeastern University
Byproduct Generation in the Iron Fuel Cycle: Research and Outreach
ASEE Northeastern Section Conference, Fairfield University
Understanding Rapid Iron Oxidation During Various Combustion Conditions for a Carbon-Free Energy Cycle
Northeastern MIE Graduate Research Expo
Thermoformable Boron Nitride Ceramics for Thermal Management
Northeastern ME Capstone Day
Involvements
Present
Petey Greene Program
Tutoring incarcerated people in college-level math at the Boston Pre-Release Center, with training in teaching methods for system-impacted learners.
2025
Young Scholar Program Mentor
Mentored two high school seniors (~100 hrs) in research motivation, data analysis, and sample preparation; advised on their poster and presentation.
2024
Engineering for Women's Health Conference
Outreach coordinator on the 2024 program committee; organized event prep and created a mentor/mentee speed-dating activity between students and faculty.
Fall 2023
Fall 2024
Building Bridges Presenter
"Engineering with Fire": energy generation and iron-fuel research paired with live combustion demonstrations. "Cool Materials": thermal management with a guided-play station.
Spring 2025
Guest Lecturer
"Utilizing additive manufacturing techniques to align thermally anisotropic particles" (ME 5640, Spring 2025) and a 3D printing mini-lecture (ME 2340, Fall 2023).
Fall 2025
Science Fair Judge
Volunteer judge at the Broadmeadow Elementary School Science Fair, questioning students on their process and possible next steps.
Fall 2021
Data Team Lead, Sunrise Movement
Led data and IT infrastructure for a campus hub of the national youth climate organization during the 2020 election cycle.
Fall 2021
Sorority & Panhellenic Leadership
Educational Programming Co-Chair, Sigma Sigma Sigma (2019–2020); Rho Gamma recruitment counselor advising ~70 first-year students through Panhellenic recruitment (2020–2021).