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 eleventh 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 to view NCESR Cycle 11 RFP with attachment.  The deadline to submit a pre-proposal is May 20, 2016 at 5:00 p.m. CDT.   Full proposals will be by invitation only.

If you have any questions concerning this RFP, please contact 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).

Four undergraduate students were selected as recipients of the Darrell J. Nelson Summer Undergraduate Internship in Energy Sciences Research for the summer of 2016.  The four recipients and their supervising faculty members are:  Aaron Ediger (second from right, back row),  sponsored by Professor Natale Ianno (second from left, back row), Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering;  Rebecca Kiat (middle, front row), sponsored by Professor Karrie Weber (right, front row),  School of Biological Sciences; Vojislav Medic (middle, back row), sponsored by Professor Natale Ianno, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering; and Spencer Prockish (third from left, back row), sponsored by Professor Xia Hong (left, front row), Department of Physics and Astronomy.   Mike Nastasi, Director of the Nebraska Center for Energy Sciences Research is pictured on the left in the back row.  Alan Dostal from the Nebraska Public Power District is pictured on the right in the back row. 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 will prepare a poster to describe the accomplishments or results of their work experience in energy sciences research. Research posters were presented at the Nebraska Summer Research Symposium on Wednesday, August 10, in the Nebraska Union.  Click here to view the posters.

The Spring 2016 Research Fair hosted one-hundred and forty-one UNL graduate students on  April 12 in the Nebraska Union. These students gathered to showcase their research and creative accomplishments by displaying posters.  Seventeen of those students were sponsored by NCESR projects.  On April 13, the Undergraduate poster session was held.  This was  the first year that the Energy Center had an undergraduate student displaying his research at the Research Fair.  To view the posters, click here .

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.

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

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.

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 →

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

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.

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).