As part of the 2018 Research Symposium, ND Energy hosted a poster session for graduate students and postdoctoral scholars to present their energy-related research projects.  Twenty-four associated researchers representing 18 research groups and six different departments participated in the inaugural event.

Presenters were evaluated on their statement of research purpose, explanation of methods, analysis of results, and their ability to answer questions about their conclusions.  The aesthetic effectiveness of the poster was also considered in the scoring.

The judges were Jay LaVerne, Professional Specialist and Concurrent Professor of Radiation Physics; Dr. Ian Lightcap, ND Energy Research and Facilities Program Director; Dr. Thomas Loughran, Professional Specialist in High Energy Physics; and Arnie Phifer, External Relations Program Director for Advanced Diagnostics and Therapeutics. 

While all four reviewers were impressed with the quality of work done by each researcher, ND Energy handed out awards to the top three presenters.  The presenters recognized and their research projects were:

• Nick Kempf, A Robust High-sensitivity Scanning Thermal Probe for Simultaneous Microscale Thermal and Thermoelectric Property Mapping (Zhang Laboratory)
• Rebecca Scheidt, Modulation of Charge Recombination in CsPbBr3 Perovskite Films with Electrochemical Bias (Kamat Laboratory)
• Brooke Stemple, Enhanced Ionic Liquid Tolerance of Yarrowia Lipolytica Through Evolutionary Engineering for Simultaneous Saccharification and Fermentation of Lignocellulosic Biomass (Wei Laboratory)

The poster session was just one part of the daylong symposium, which highlighted the diverse range of energy-related research conducted through the Center for Sustainable Energy at Notre Dame.

ND Energy is a University Research Center whose mission is to build a better world by creating new energy technologies and systems and educating individuals to help solve the most critical energy challenges facing our world today. For more information, visit the ND Energy website at energy.nd.edu or contact Barbara Villarosa, Business and Communications Program Director, at bvillaro@nd.edu or 574-631-4776.