The Nebraska Center for Energy Sciences Research is seeking innovative energy sciences research and collaboration ideas from University of Nebraska faculty.  The Request for Proposals was released March 21, 2022. This is the seventeenth 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. In addition, the RFP has a special short term support program in hydrogen technology. This is a short cycle project lasting up to three (3) months. to support university researchers collaborating to develop the best concept of university support for a Nebraska Hydrogen Hub as described in the Federal Infrastructure Bill (H.R. 3684) – Regional Clean Hydrogen Hubs (Sec. 40314). The NCESR award will be made based on the preproposal document only, and with a limited maximum budget allowed of $30,000 due to the expected federal RFP during summer 2022.  Funding for this opportunity is made possible through an investment in energy sciences research by the Nebraska Public Power District.  Preproposals are due May 16, 2022 by 1:00 p.m. Full proposals will be by invitation.    Applications for internal funding must be submitted via the Internal Competitions module in NuRamp (https://nuramp.nebraska.edu). Sign in to NuRamp using your institutional credentials. Click on IC Application. Then from the drop down, select Nebraska Center for Energy Sciences Research (NCESR) – Cycle 17 Preproposal Submission.

The Nebraska Center for Energy Sciences Research has released its Request for Instrumentation Proposals (RFP).   NCESR has available $150,000 to be expensed toward the purchase of one or more pieces of equipment to support energy science research at UNL. Researchers are invited to submit proposals for any increment up to this amount; any costs above $150,000 are the responsibility of the proposal research team. NCESR seeks innovative laboratory instrumentation proposals that will facilitate energy science research. All areas of energy science research will be considered. Proposed instrumentation requests must show that the instrumentation obtained will be maintained and made accessible by all faculty, researchers and students at UNL. Proposals demonstrating a higher number of users and potential users will be scored higher in the evaluation process. Evaluation of the proposal will also include the extent to which the equipment is unique or can provide unique capabilities. Instrumentation here refers to either a single piece of equipment or a system comprised of multiple integrated components. Proposals are due April 29, 2022 by 5:00 p.m. CDT

Winifred (Wini) Waters, a graduate student from the lab of Dr. Alexander Sinitskii in the Department of Chemistry and a researcher on an Energy Center project, participated in the inaugural Student Research Days Slam. This event, sponsored by the Office of Research and Economic Development in partnership with Graduate Studies, was held on April 13, 2022 in the Walter Wick Alumni Center.  Five finalists were chosen to present at the Slam.  Each Slam participant gave an 8-minute talk on the topic of “What skill or ability have you developed through your research experience or creative activity that you think would make the world better if everyone had it?”  Congratulations to Wini for giving an excellent presentation. She received $100 for being a finalist in the competition. First place received $500.