About

Hello! I’m Henry Freer, a fourth-year PhD student in Georgia Tech’s School of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering. My work sits at the intersection of experimental research, sustainability, and data analytics. Whether I am designing an experiment, developing a predictive model, or studying decision-making in sports, I enjoy using data to solve complex problems.

I began my time at Georgia Tech in 2019 as a walk-on long snapper for the varsity football team while pursuing a bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering. I completed my undergraduate degree in May 2023 and began my PhD that fall. During that year, I earned a full athletic scholarship and became the first active Georgia Tech football player to enroll in a PhD program. Over my collegiate career, I appeared in 39 Division I games and was recognized as an Academic All-American in 2024.

Alongside my studies and athletic career, I worked part-time as a data analyst at Control Southern, an Atlanta-based process automation and engineering firm. In this role, I developed tools that automated repetitive business processes and used predictive analytics to support engineering decisions. You can learn more about this work in the Projects section of my portfolio.

My doctoral research focuses on electrochemical systems that recover valuable products from feed streams. The first part of my research explored the recovery of nitrogen compounds from wastewater for use in fertilizer. This work was supported by the National Science Foundation’s CASFER Engineering Research Center. The second part of my dissertation focuses on hydrogen production using anion exchange membrane water electrolyzers. Both areas reflect my interest in developing practical technologies that can contribute to a more sustainable, net-zero future.

To complement my chemical engineering research, I am completing a graduate certificate in data analytics as my PhD minor. Through graduate coursework and multiple semesters of industry experience, I have developed skills in statistical modeling, machine learning, automation, and data visualization. I apply these methods not only in my scientific and professional work but also to one of my longtime interests: sports analytics.

As a former collegiate athlete who grew up playing football and baseball, I remain an avid sports fan. I have built several analytics and machine-learning projects that examine strategy and decision-making in these sports, including models focused on football win probability and fourth-down decisions. These projects are also featured in the Projects section.

Outside of research and analytics, I enjoy golfing, painting (Bob Ross style landscapes), and spending time outdoors hiking.

Thank you for taking the time to learn about my journey. If you are interested in my research, projects, or potential opportunities to work together, I would be glad to connect.