Six new research projects were selected for funding by the Energy Center in its tenth annual grant competition. The faculty selected for the awards were Professors Bai Cui, Mechanical and Materials Engineering; Axel Enders, Department of Physics and Astronomy; Li Tan, Mechanical and Materials Engineering; David Berkowitz, Department of Chemistry; Ravi Saraf, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering; and Paul Black, Department of Biochemistry. To learn more go to Research Grant Awards – Cycle 10.
Author Archives: Sue Wesely
NCESR announces undergraduate internship for the summer of 2016 – Applications due January 29, 2016
The Nebraska Center for Energy Sciences Research (NCESR) is taking applications for the summer undergraduate internship in energy sciences research. The Darrell J. Nelson Summer Undergraduate Internship in Energy Sciences Research is being offered for the third time in the amount up to $5,000 per recipient for the summer of 2016. The application deadline has been extended to January 29, 2016. For additional information about the 2016 application requirements, click here: NCSER Summer Undergraduate Internship – 2016 Information. For a copy of the application form (Word document), click here: NCESR Summer Undergraduate Internship – 2016 Application Form
Elena Echeverria wins American Vacuum Society award
Ms. Elena Echeverria won an American Vacuum Society Graduate Research Award. She worked on an NCESR project entitled “Enhancement of Pyroelectric Effect on Organic-Inorganic Interfaces. Her advisor is Professor Peter Dowben. The Graduate Research Awards were established by the American Vacuum Society in 1984 to recognize and encourage excellence in graduate studies in the sciences and technologies of interest to AVS. The award consists of a cash award, a certificate, and reimbursed travel support to attend the International Symposium. Approximately ten awards are given annually.
Ethiyal Raj Wilson receives NDConnect prize
The Center for Nano Science and Technology at the University of Notre Dame announced the finalists for the fifth annual NDConnect undergraduate nanotechnology research competition. Among the 14 finalists was Ethiyal Raj Wilson, a junior electrical engineering major at the University of Nebraska. His project was “Boron carbide for neutron voltaics in deep space missions and other applications.” Ethiyal was a 2015 summer research intern with the Nebraska Center for Energy Sciences Research. His adviser is Professor Peter Dowben. Continue reading
NCESR hosts biofuels / bioproducts symposium
On Friday, September 18, 2015, the Nebraska Center for Energy Sciences Research (NCESR) hosted the UNL Biofuels and Bioproducts Symposium at the University of Nebraska City Campus Union. The goal of this symposium was to foster future collaborations among UNL biofuels/bioproducts scientists in going forward with grant applications. During the symposium, UNL faculty working in the biofuels/bioproducts presented their energy science research interests through oral and poster presentations. (Biofuels/Bioproducts Symposium Agenda) Biofuels and Bioproducts Symposium Photos
NCESR hosted materials symposium
On Tuesday, July 21, 2015, the Nebraska Center for Energy Sciences Research (NCESR) hosted the UNL Materials for Energy Systems Symposium. The goal of this symposium was to foster future collaborations among UNL materials scientists in going forward with grant applications. During the symposium, UNL faculty working in the materials area presented their energy science research interests through oral and poster presentations. This day-long event was held in the Nebraska Union. Materials Symposium Agenda To view photos from the poster session, please click on Materials Symposium Photos.
Energy Center releases RFP for Cycle 10 energy research grants
The Nebraska Center for Energy Sciences Research released its Request for Proposals (RFP) seeking innovative energy sciences research and collaboration ideas from UNL faculty. This is the tenth annual cycle in which UNL faculty can compete in this internal competition for energy research grants. These grants are considered seed funding to help UNL faculty develop energy-related research capacity and improve their competitiveness for external funding. Funding for this opportunity is made possible through an investment in energy sciences research by the Nebraska Public Power District. Click here for a copy of the NCESR Cycle 10 RFP. The deadline to submit a pre-proposal is May 22, 2015 at 5:00 p.m., CDT. Full proposals will be by invitation only.
If you have any questions concerning this RFP, please contact Ember Welsch, interim program manager (402-472-6743 or ewelsch2@unl.edu) or Michael Nastasi (402-472-3852 or mnastasi2@unl.edu). You may also leave a message with Lorraine Moon, Office Associate (402-472-6082 or lmoon1@unl.edu).
Modeling of new atomic structures of gold nanoparticles is funded by Energy Center
Led by UNL’s Xiao Cheng Zeng and former visiting professor Yi Gao, new research has revealed four atomic arrangements of a gold nanoparticle cluster. The arrangements exhibit much lower potential energy and greater stability than a standard-setting configuration reported last year by a Nobel Prize-winning team from Stanford University.
The modeling of these arrangements could inform the cluster’s use as a transporter of pharmaceutical drugs and as a catalyst for removing pollutants from vehicular emissions or other industrial byproducts, Zeng said.
Energy Center projects exhibited at 2015 Spring Research Fair
The 2015 Spring Research Fair was held April 14-15 at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln City Campus Union. Sponsors of the event were the Office of Research and Economic Development, the Office of Graduate Studies, and NUtech Ventures. A total of 120 posters were showcased at the Fair. Of the 120 posters, 13 were submitted by students who worked on NCESR-funded research.
Elena Echeverria Mora was selected by the event sponsors as having one of the top ten posters overall and awarded a $400 travel grant to present her research at a regional or national conference.
To view the posters related to NCESR-funded projects, click here
Summer undergraduate internships selected for 2015
Four undergraduate students were selected as recipients of the Darrell J. Nelson Summer Undergraduate Internship in Energy Sciences Research for the summer of 2015. The four recipients and their supervising faculty members are: Boqiang Tu sponsored by Professor Concetta DiRusso, Department of Biochemistry; Riley Giesler sponsored by Professor David Berkowitz, Department of Chemistry; Mason Marcolina sponsored by Professor Wayne Riekhof, School of Biological Sciences; and Ethiyal Raj Wilson sponsored by Professor Peter Dowben, Department of Physics and Astronomy. The internship is named after Mr. Darrell J. Nelson, who served 41 years on the Custer County Public Power District and Nebraska Public Power (NPPD) Boards. In 2005, Mr. Nelson proposed a partnership between NPPD and the University of Nebraska–Lincoln for the purpose of engaging in energy sciences research. The following year, the Nebraska Center for Energy Sciences Research (NCESR) was created with NPPD’s support. At the end of the paid internship, each student will prepare a summary report that describes their experience and prepare a poster to describe the accomplishments or results of their work experience in energy sciences research. The research poster will be presented at the Nebraska Summer Research Symposium which will take place on Wednesday, August 12 from 1:00 – 3:00 p.m. in the Nebraska Union.