Dear friends and alumni of the ENENG program,
As we approach the conclusion of the fall semester, it’s an opportune moment to reflect on the past year’s accomplishments. The Energy Engineering program proudly graduated fourteen students in spring 2024 and four more in summer, with an additional eight expected to graduate this fall. These graduates are set to embark on careers in energy and technology firms, utilities, and some will pursue further studies in graduate school. We are particularly excited to share that Olivia DiPrinzio, one of our fall graduates, has been nominated for the prestigious Rhodes and Marshall Scholarships, joining an elite group of Penn State nominees.
In April, a team of six students from our program showcased their skills by reaching the Final Championship of the Solar District Cup, organized by the U.S. Department of Energy. They presented their innovative solar power design to a panel of industry experts, competing against five other universities from across the country.
I am delighted to announce that in October, I received an Early Career Award from the Department of Energy, and Feifei Shi was honored with the Rustom and Della Roy Innovation in Materials Research Award in the Early Career Faculty Category. Additionally, Hilal Ezgi Toraman was recognized as a Pioneer of Catalysis and Reaction Engineering by the American Institute of Chemical Engineers earlier this year.
A notable project led by Mort Webster, professor of energy engineering, has been awarded up to $815,959 from the Grid Deployment Office of the U.S. Department of Energy. This initiative aims to assess market design changes to enhance the integration of batteries and unconventional resources into wholesale electricity markets, ultimately improving grid reliability.
This summer, we also celebrated the retirement of Serguei Lvov, who now holds the title of professor emeritus of energy and mineral engineering. In August, I took on the role of program chair for Energy Engineering, with Eugene Morgan supporting me as vice chair.
We welcome any news or updates you would like to share. Please feel free to reach out to me at nxd5313@psu.edu or join our LinkedIn group: Penn State Energy Engineering.
Sincerely,
Nelson Dzade
Assistant Professor of Energy and Mineral Engineering
Program Chair for Energy Engineering