Achievement

A materials science IGERT trainee was funded through an IGERT fellowship that permitted him to have more freedom to choose an advisor and a project that aligned with his interests. He eventually worked on developing nanorods as fuel cell electrodes grown by GLAD (glancing angle deposition). This work involved consulting and working closely with (and in their labs) of a material scientist, a physicist, a mechanical engineer, and an electrochemist. Applying the principles of thin film growth to electrochemistry, which are from very different fields, has been at the center of his research. The emphasis of interdisciplinary research in the IGERT made this collaboration possible and greatly strengthened the capabilities and knowledge of the trainee.