Achievement

Trainees J. Hackenberg,& M. Haibach (A. Goldman lab) and G. Gardner (C. Dismukes lab) have been recognized with individual Research Excellence awards by their home graduate program in chemistry. In a doctoral program of 125 students, they were 3 of 12 so honored. Their research focuses on developing novel chemical catalysts that are applicable to renewable and sustainable fuels/energy solutions. Hackenberg & Haibach focus on “greening” the Fischer-Tropsch process for making transportation fuels and commodity chemicals from non-petrochemical sources. An end-goal of Gardner’s research is to make fuel cells a viable alternative to internal combustion engines for automobiles and other machinery by inventing cheaper, more effective catalysts to generate the hydrogen and oxygen on which fuel cells run. The awards recognize their research scholarship and productivity as evidenced in part by contributions to their groups’ refereed publications, patent applications, and technology transfers.