Pioneering full-value mining for an electrified future

An aerial view of a large open-pit copper mine with terraced levels surrounding a turquoise pit lake at its center, with surrounding hills and mountains in the background.

By harnessing the unique properties of silicon, we’ve created technology that recovers critical minerals from dilute and complex streams without the chemical and energy intensive processes that have long defined the industry. At our core, we strive to turn inefficiency into opportunity, unlocking value from even the most difficult sources and strengthening the supply chains our future depends on.

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Our Team

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    Brendan Smith, PhD

    Co-founder & CEO
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    Brendan Smith is the Co-Founder & CEO of SiTration, Inc., where he sits at the nexus of technical development, commercial partnerships, team growth and culture, and fundraising. Brendan earned a Ph.D. in materials science & engineering from MIT, followed by a postdoctoral appointment before founding SiTration in 2020 to commercialize technology he co-invented at The Institute. Prior to MIT, he received a B.S. in nanotechnology engineering from the University of Waterloo. Having served in diverse leadership roles throughout his career, Brendan enjoys building great teams as much as transforming jagged-edge technologies to create value and impact on an industrial scale. 

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    Prof. Jeffrey Grossman, PhD

    Co-founder & Chief Scientist
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    Professor Jeffrey Grossman is the Co-Founder and Chief Scientist of SiTration, Inc. Prof Grossman joined the MIT Department of Materials Science in 2009, where he developed a research program known for its contributions to energy conversion, energy storage, membranes, and clean-water technologies, and served as department head from 2020 to 2024. Jeffrey earned a BA in physics at Johns Hopkins University in 1991 and a PhD in theoretical physics at the University of Illinois Urbana Champaign in 1996.

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    Daniel Bregante, PhD

    VP of Engineering
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    Daniel Bregante is the Vice President of Engineering at SiTration, Inc., where he leads the development of advanced separation technologies that redefine performance and sustainability in critical materials processing. At SiTration, he oversees engineering strategy, product development, and cross-functional execution—from early-stage R&D through commercial deployment. He previously led pilot system development and scale up at Boston Metal and has published over 25 scientific papers. Daniel completed his postdoctoral work in Chemistry at MIT, earned his Ph.D. in Chemical Engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and earned his B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of California, Berkeley.

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    Sarah Melvin

    VP of Strategy & Operations
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    Sarah Melvin is the Vice President of Strategy and Operations at SiTration, Inc., where she leads commercialization strategy, partnerships development, and business operations. Sarah previously held early-stage investing roles at E14 Fund and Foothill Ventures, where she focused on supporting startups commercializing novel energy and materials technologies. She was previously a consultant with Accenture Strategy, leading engagements with clients across technology, life sciences, and industrial sectors to drive revenue growth and operational improvements. Sarah holds an MBA from Harvard Business School and a B.S. in Physics from MIT.

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    Jatin Patil, PhD

    VP of R&D
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    Jatin Patil is Vice President of Research and Development at SiTration Inc., where he leads fundamental innovation, validation, and translation of R&D across multiple technological areas. His leadership spans nanomaterials fabrication for electrochemical and filtration technologies that enable efficient critical mineral extraction, processing, and valorization from primary and waste streams. Jatin brings deep expertise from fundamental R&D roles at Harvard, MIT, and UC Berkeley, combined with early-stage commercialization experience through VC experience at The Engine and E14 Fund. He holds a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from MIT and a B.A.Sc. in Nanotechnology Engineering from the University of Waterloo.

  • Michael Counihan

    Head of Electrochemistry
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    Michael Counihan is the Head of Electrochemistry at SiTration, where he oversees and heavily contributes to all R&D efforts. He brings three years of experience in novel battery R&D at Argonne National Laboratory. Michael completed his postdoctoral work at Argonne National Laboratory, and holds a Ph.D. in Chemistry from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, and a B.S. in Chemistry from Gettysburg College.

  • Chip Mulcahy

    Head of Process Engineering
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    Chip Mulcahy is the Head of Process Engineering at SiTration, Inc., where he leads the Process Engineering team with a focus on product commercialization and process scale-up. Chip brings deep experience from his prior work in membrane fabrication and system design, installation, and commissioning within the food and beverage industry, where he supported the deployment of advanced separation technologies in manufacturing environments. He holds an M.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Massachusetts Lowell and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Massachusetts Amherst.

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    Azi Agahi

    Senior Analytical Chemist
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    Azi Agahi is the Senior Analytical Chemist at SiTration Inc, where she leads purity analysis and advanced characterization to support wastewater treatment and metal recovery technologies and works closely with R&D and process engineering teams to support method development, technology validation, and optimization. In addition to her technical role, she serves as Safety Coordinator, contributing to the development and maintenance of a strong safety culture and providing support to ensure a safer workplace. Azi brings deep expertise from prior roles in ISO-accredited laboratories, with extensive experience analyzing mineralogical and environmental samples. She holds a Master’s degree in Chemistry from Carleton University, an M.S. from Isfahan University of Technology, and a Bachelor’s degree from Shiraz University.

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