David Van Wagener is currently a Ph.D. Candidate and Graduate Research Assistant at The University of Texas at Austin in the department of Chemical Engineering. He works under Dr. Gary T. Rochelle in the area of absorption/stripping with aqueous amines for carbon capture from coal-fired power plants. He has been a member of this research group since October 2006 and focuses on modeling the stripper and reducing its energy requirement. Mr. Van Wagener received his undergraduate degree from Bucknell University in 2006 with Magna Cum Laude honor.