Our Team
We are a tight-knit team of scientists, engineers, inventors, and entrepreneurs who push the boundaries in science to discover new insights. Our organic, multidisciplinary, and cohesive team shares a vision to become the global leader in leveraging the sustainability and versatility of hydrogen to achieve a carbon-neutral society.
Yushan Yan, Ph.D.
CEO and Co-Founder
Yushan is a leading electrochemical engineer, inventor, educator and entrepreneur. He has worked in both industry and academia, and his 20+ U.S. patents have contributed to multiple startups, including Versogen and NanoH2O. He serves as the Henry B. du Pont Chair in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Delaware, where Versogen’s research and development efforts began. His research has focused on developing AEMs and AEM fuel cells and electrolyzers for twenty years. He earned a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the California Institute of Technology. Among his many recognitions are Fellow of the Electrochemical Society, National Academy of Inventors, and American Association for the Advancement of Science, and recipient of the Electrochemical Society’s Energy Technology Division Research Award.
Balsu Lakshmanan, Ph.D.
Chief Technology Officer
Balsu has over 20 years of leadership experience in hydrogen and fuel cell technology, business development, and commercialization. As CTO, he leads the efforts to design, build and commercialize the Anion Exchange Membrane (AEM) electrolyzer. Previously, he developed a 100kW scale Proton Exchange Membrane (PEM) electrolyzer stack at Ohmium, and led the stack and system design effort for Gen3 fuel cell system (FCS) at GM. Balsu is an inventor on over 45 U.S. patents and has co-authored many peer-reviewed publications. He earned a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of South Carolina and a Bachelor of Technology in Chemical and Electrochemical Engineering from Central Electrochemical Research Institute (CECRI), India.
Tim Krebs, CFA
Chief Financial Officer
Tim Krebs is an experienced financial leader for companies in the energy sector. Tim has participated in +50 mergers, acquisitions, and capital markets transactions. Previously, Tim has been the CFO of three energy technology companies and earlier in his career worked at a search fund and as an investment banker. Tim holds degrees as an MBA, B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, and is a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA).
Jim Prendergast
Chief Commercial Officer
Jim brings significant experience in chemical sales and marketing to Versogen. He enjoys applying his experience to enable business growth in the dynamic market space of green hydrogen. His passion is connecting the needs of our customers with the significant capabilities of Versogen. He earned his degree in Chemical Engineering from the University of Michigan and his MBA from the University of Delaware.
Junhua Wang, Ph.D.
Chief Scientist and Co-Founder
Junhua Wang, Ph.D.
Chief Scientist and Co-Founder
Junhua has extensive knowledge and experience in organic and polymer chemistry. His career interests lie primarily in organic and polymer chemistry to design, synthesize, and characterize new materials for clean electrochemical technologies, particularly for applications in energy storage and hydrogen utilization. He earned a Ph.D. Organic Chemistry from the Chinese Academy of Sciences Changchun Institute of Applied Chemistry.
Lan Wang, Ph.D.
China Market Manager and Co-Founder
Lan was trained as an organic and inorganic synthesis chemist and gained extensive experience in AEM design, synthesis and scale up during his early career at Versogen. In his technical role, Lan co-invented PiperION (poly(aryl) piperidinium) polymer, established the AEM production process and holds 10 polymer patents and patent applications. Now Lan represents Versogen in China and helps the growth of PiperION® in global market. Lan earned a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Delaware.
Brian Setzler, Ph.D.
Senior Chemical Engineer and Co-Founder
Brian dedicates his work to the development of enabling technologies for the deep decarbonization of the global economy. He invented a set of electrochemical separation technologies to remove carbon dioxide from air for use in fuel cell systems and direct air capture. His research focuses on polymer electrolyte fuel cells, electrolyzers, and electrochemical separators, emphasizing on modeling and device testing. Brian earned a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology.
Keda Hu, Ph.D.
Senior Chemist and Co-Founder
Keda applies his expertise in organic/polymer synthesis and material characterization to polymer development, production, and membrane quality control. His work areas include polymer development and characterization, and establishment of quality control for membrane production. He earned a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of New Mexico.
Mehul Vora
Head of Membrane Production and MEA Development
Mehul is leading Versogen’s production of commercial membranes and the development of new products including next generation membranes and MEAs. Prior to Versogen, Mehul lead a team at General Motors Fuel Cell to design their next generation PEM stack and plate hardware. His experience at General Motors also included development of GDL and MEA components. He got his M.S. in Materials Science and Engineering from University of Minnesota, M.Eng. in Advanced Materials from Nanyang Technological University, Singapore, and B.Eng. in Chemical Engineering from D.D.I.T., Nadiad, India.
Archana Sekar, Ph.D.
Research Engineer
Archana applies her background from materials and electrochemical engineering towards the development of Versogen’s AEM electrolyzer. She earned her Ph.D. in Analytical Chemistry from Kansas State University where she developed durable PGM and PGM-free electrocatalysts for DMFCs, PEM and AEM based hydrogen fuel cells and water electrolyzers. Her expertise includes handling various characterization techniques and analysis. She has a Bachelor of Technology degree in Chemical and Electrochemical Engineering from CSIR-Central Electrochemical Research Institute (CECRI), India. Her current focus is to apply her skills towards realizing green hydrogen economy.
Board of Directors
Sridhar Kanuri, M.B.A., M.S.
As a renowned figure in the fuel cell industry, Sridhar has written a book chapter on fuel cells, served on Connecticut’s Hydrogen Task Force, and holds more than 10 U.S. patents and 21 international patents. He began his career working on automotive PEM fuel cells, and his product development experience includes transportation fuel cells, stationary fuel cells and electrolyzers.
He currently serves as the Chief Technology Officer for HyAxiom, where he manages Global Research & Engineering and Service & Installation. In this role, he leads product development, cost reduction initiatives, sustaining engineering, product installation and field service. Previously, he had served as the Director of Cell Stack and Fuel Processing Engineering and the Technology Manager for UTC Power.
Under his leadership at HyAxiom, Sridhar’s team collaborates with universities, governmental and non-governmental organizations on technology development, prototype demonstrations and funding. Kanuri was elected to the Connecticut Academy of Science and Engineering in 2018 for his contributions to fuel cell technology, and he holds a M.B.A. from Carnegie Mellon University as well as a M.S. degree in Chemical Engineering from Florida State University.
Chuck Xu, Ph.D.
Chuck is a highly regarded global business executive with strong passion and track record for sustainable clean energy. He is currently a vice president and general manager (VPGM) at DuPont leading strategy and M&A for the $5B Electronics and Industrials division, which has recently closed the $2.3B acquisition of Laird Performance Materials and signed the definitive agreement for the $5.2B acquisition of Rogers Corporation. Previously Chuck was VPGM of DuPont’s Non-Core division, a $2B portfolio of global businesses including photovoltaics (PV), biomaterials, environmental technology solutions, and advanced materials. Prior to Non-Core, Chuck was VPGM of DuPont’s $1B Photovoltaic and Advanced Materials business unit.
Chuck is recognized as a thought leader in PV and sustainable clean energy through more than 10 years of leadership of DuPont’s PV businesses, the world’s largest non-silicon PV material provider. Chuck was also an entrepreneur, and was Executive Director of Telephotonics, a U.S. based venture capital funded telecom startup. He played a key role in the development of the company, transforming it from an R&D organization to a commercial business and leading its acquisition by DuPont in 2002.
Chuck received his Bachelor of Science degree in Chemistry from Peking University, a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Southern California and an MBA from Columbia University.
Yushan Yan, Ph.D.
Yushan is a leading electrochemical engineer, inventor, educator and entrepreneur. He has worked in both industry and academia, and his 20+ U.S. patents have contributed to multiple startups, including Versogen and NanoH2O. He serves as the Henry B. du Pont Chair in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Delaware, where Versogen’s research and development efforts began. His research has focused on developing AEMs and AEM fuel cells and electrolyzers for twenty years. He earned a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the California Institute of Technology. Among his many recognitions are Fellow of the Electrochemical Society, National Academy of Inventors, and American Association for the Advancement of Science, and recipient of the Electrochemical Society’s Energy Technology Division Research Award.
Scientific Advisors
Mark Mathias, Ph.D.
Mark is an Energy System Development consultant with extensive expertise in Electrochemical Systems. His career work has been instrumental in commercializing global fuel cell development. At General Motors, he led the fuel cell research program with Honda that resulted in a manufacturing joint venture. He also served as R&D director of fuel cell and battery development and managed GM’s internal design capability for their MEA. Mark is an inventor on over 25 U.S. patents and an author of many peer-reviewed technical papers. He has received numerous awards, including GM Chairman’s Award and NATO Postdoctoral Fellowship Recipient. Mark earned a Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Wisconsin and currently serves as a consultant at Geojule, LLC.
Paul F. Browning, M.S.
Paul F. Browning is an experienced executive specializing in energy transition, infrastructure acquisitions, and global energy markets. He is the co-founding partner of Energy Transition Finance, an advisory firm assisting U.S. companies in securing funding, projected to generate $3M in 2024 revenue. Previously, he served as President & CEO of Fortescue Future Industries North America, launching a green hydrogen project development team and securing major infrastructure acquisitions. As CEO, he also led Mitsubishi Power Americas, growing sales from $1.2B to $2.5B and expanding into hydrogen fuels and battery energy storage. Browning held executive roles at Irving Oil, GE Power & Water, and Caterpillar, with experience in global sales, manufacturing, and R&D. He has served on multiple corporate boards and holds degrees in Materials Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and Metallurgical Engineering from Carnegie Mellon.
Cortney K. Mittelsteadt, Ph.D., MBA
Cortney “Corky” Mittelsteadt received his PHD working on polymers for polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells and electrolyzers in 1999 from SUNY-ESF in Israel Cabasso’s group. He then went on to work at Giner, Inc. a small electrochemical R&D firm outside of Boston, founded by Jose Giner, whose son had recommended Corky after being a TA. At Giner Corky led a Giner/GM JV that worked on automotive fuel cells for 20 years. In 2016 he received his MBA from MIT, Cambridge, MA and became CEO of Giner. In 2020 Giner ELX was sold to Plug Power and Corky left Giner to create an R&D and small manufacturing facility outside of Boston where they scaled the technology from kW to 1 GW/yr. After launching their 3rd generation stack Corky left Plug to start his own consulting company, and is working on launching a PEM materials company in Germany with a partnership with Element 22. Over his career, Corky has been funded as PI for a quarter of a billion dollars in public and private funding. He has over a dozen patents and has authored numerous chapters on PEM materials and devises.
Join Our Team
Are you passionate about developing breakthrough technologies to substantially reduce carbon emissions and lay the foundation for a sustainable energy future?
We seek talented and experienced scientists, engineers, inventors, and entrepreneurs to join our team, leading the way in transforming the energy sector. Strong candidates will demonstrate an ability to manage multiple projects, adapt to new ideas, and solve complex problems, in addition to possessing a self starter spirit and passion for a carbon-neutral society.
About Versogen
Mission
Versogen decarbonizes the energy, chemical, and manufacturing sectors with our breakthrough AEM electrolyzers that produce green hydrogen at scale—efficiently, reliably, and affordably.
Vision
Versogen will become the global leader in leveraging the sustainability and versatility of hydrogen to achieve a carbon-neutral society.