Taking lithium-ion battery materials to a higher level

Ascend Elements is creating a domestic supply of critical minerals and engineered lithium-ion battery materials through “urban mining” and the innovative Hydro-to-Cathode® direct precursor synthesis technology.

We are creating the future of sustainable, EV battery
manufacturing and recycling

Revolutionizing battery materials production for a clean and sustainable supply chain

Working toward 100%
Li-ion battery recycling by improving recycling economics

Returning 100% of critical battery active materials back into the domestic supply chain

Preserving and uplifting critical materials for the batteries that power the clean-energy transition

Patented Hydro-to-Cathode® direct precursor synthesis process completes the supply chain loop.

Ascend Elements is revolutionizing the production of lithium-ion battery materials by establishing a clean and sustainable supply chain using recycled feedstock. The patented Hydro-to-Cathode® direct precursor synthesis technology produces new cathode materials from spent lithium-ion cells more efficiently than traditional methods, resulting in reduced cost, improved performance, and lowered GHG emissions. Our approach launches a truly closed-loop circular battery economy by:

A decade of innovation in battery materials and recycling

Leadership Team

Linh Austin
President & Executive Director

Linh Austin, a veteran of the U.S. and International energy industry, joined Ascend Elements as President and Executive Director in December 2024. He had previously served on the company’s Board of Directors. Linh has 30+ years of progressive experience in directing U.S. and International oil & gas businesses, hydrogen companies, P&L management, mergers & acquisitions, strategy and EPC (engineering, procurement and construction). He has held senior-level roles at McDermott, BP and ARCO.

Eric Gratz Ph.D.
Chief Technology Officer

Eric Gratz, Ph.D. is Co-Founder and Chief Technical Officer at Ascend Elements. He served as CEO of Battery Resourcers from 2016 to 2020. He holds a Ph.D. in Materials Engineering from Boston University and was a post-doctoral fellow at Worcester Polytechnic Institute in the lab of Prof. Yan Wang. Working closely with Prof. Wang, Eric co-developed the innovative cathode synthesis technology that has grown into Ascend Elements’ Hydro-to-Cathode™ direct precursor synthesis technology. Eric frequently speaks at EV battery industry events and he serves on the technology committee of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Li-Bridge public-private program. 

Andrew Aberdale
Chief Financial Officer

Andrew Aberdale joined Ascend Elements as CFO in February 2020. Previously, he served as the CFO of Target Hospitality (NASDAQ: TH), where he led the organization through a $1.4 billion initial public offering (IPO) in March 2019. Before joining Target Hospitality in 2010, he worked in private consulting and engineering, manufacturing, and plant management with W.R. Grace & Co. He holds an MBA from St. Mary’s College of California and a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Worcester Polytechnic Institute. He has served as co-vice chair of the Worcester Polytechnic Institute Board of Trustees.

Kelley Burke
VP of Human Resources

Kelley Burke joined the Ascend Elements leadership team as Vice President of Human Resources in 2024. Kelley joined the company from Wayfair, where she held several leadership positions over 9 years. She brings exceptional experience in talent strategy, team leadership, training and development, and performance management to the company. Kelley has also held HR roles at Ropes & Gray LLP and Greylock Federal Credit Union.

Andrea Lobato, J.D.
General Counsel

Andrea joined the company in 2024 as General Counsel. She has extensive experience advising cutting-edge technology companies in highly regulated industries, including as Director of Compliance for Lyft and Chief Legal Officer for Eaze Technologies. Previously, she practiced as a litigator at Latham & Watkins and clerked for the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. She holds a J.D. from University of Southern California Law School and a bachelor’s degree from the University of California Berkeley.

Tomasz Poznar, Ph.D.
SVP, Business Development & Strategy

Tomasz Poznar, Ph.D. joined Ascend Elements in 2021 and currently serves at SVP of Strategy and Business Development. He has diverse battery industry experience in multiple functional areas, including strategic planning, products and new business development. His previous employers include A123 Systems, EnerDel, Delco Remy and Volvo. He holds a Ph.D. in Mechanical Engineering from Wroclaw University of Science and Technology in Poland.