USM Polymer Professor Secures Prestigious Department of Energy Grant

Tue, 08/08/2023 - 10:03am | By: Van Arnold

University of Southern Mississippi (USM) polymer Professor Dr. Xiaodan Gu has worked steadfastly over the past several years to expand his team’s research horizons. A recent grant by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) marks a significant step in that determined pursuit.

Last month the DOE announced $33 million to support 14 clean energy research projects as part of a program to ensure the Department’s research funding is reaching pockets of the country that traditionally have received disproportionally low amount of federal scientific funding. The funding is provided through DOE’s Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCOR).

Gu served as principal investigator on a project titled, “DREAM: Data-driven Reinvigorated Advanced Membrane Discovery Platform” that was chosen for one of the prestigious awards. The grant is approximately $1 million for two years.

“Our team has been dedicated to the field of wearable electronics and stable renewable energy generation through plastic solar cells,” said Gu. “The recent news of receiving the EPSCOR seed grant marks a pivotal moment, as it will empower us to harness the potential of machine learning in innovating new membrane technologies for batteries, water purification, and carbon capture.”

Added Gu: “The grant has ignited a sense of enthusiasm within our team as we anticipate the transformative possibilities it holds over the next two years.”

The collaborative project team includes five graduate students, four USM faculty members, one external faculty member, Dr. Wenjie Xia from Iowa State University, and three scientists from the Department of Energy laboratory.

Projects were chosen based on competitive peer review under a DOE Funding Opportunity Announcement for EPSCoR Implementation Grants. The DOE EPSCoR program is managed by the Department’s Office of Science through its Office of Basic Energy Sciences. Selected projects cover a range of energy research topics, from fundamental science topics to efforts in fusion energy, climate and ecosystem modeling, grid integration, wind energy, and sensors for energy conversion.

“America’s next big energy breakthrough can come from anywhere in the nation, and that’s why Federal R&D investments should reach and benefit all parts of the country,” said U.S. Secretary of Energy Jennifer M. Granholm.“The funding we’re announcing will spur innovation and create energy jobs around the nation.”

Gu points out that the project’s core objective is to establish a pioneering research, education, and technology hub in the southeastern region, specifically geared toward advancing data-driven design of polymer materials to address multifaceted challenges within the Department of Energy’s energy applications.

The team’s comprehensive approach encompasses high-throughput materials discovery, covering:

• Rapid material synthesis
• Computational simulations utilizing high-performance computing
• Advanced morphology and property characterization employing robotic technology
• State-of-the-art Machine Learning techniques for deciphering polymer properties

“By seamlessly integrating these methodologies, our team aims to unravel persistent obstacles in energy materials, aligning with the DOE’s mission to meet escalating energy demands and expedite the transition toward a carbon-neutral society,” said Gu.

Dr. Derek Patton, Director of USM’s School of Polymer Science and Engineering, serves as a team member and co-principal investigator on the project. He emphasized that the DOE grant further validates the transformative research being conducted at the school.

“This prestigious work not only affirms the pioneering work we have been doing in other areas, but also provides us with a platform for future innovation,” said Patton. “I am particularly excited that this project engages early-career faculty, such as Assistant Professor Boran Ma, who also serves as a co-principal investigator. This dynamic collaboration among scientists at different career stages and across multiple institutions ensures a rich and diverse perspective in our research ideas and directions.”

He added, “It is an excellent example of how we are fostering new generations of scientific leaders dedicated to addressing pressing energy challenges and contributing to a sustainable energy future.”

Beyond the practical applications, Gu expects the project to yield significant educational benefits.

“Our center holds the distinction of being among the pioneers in training students to adeptly employ machine learning for material development – a burgeoning field that is pivotal for ensuring Mississippi’s students remain competitive in the ever-evolving job market,” he said.