The Center for Sustainable Energy at Notre Dame (ND Energy) has selected eight undergraduate students – five from Notre Dame and three from universities in Puerto Rico – to receive the Vincent P. Slatt Fellowship for Undergraduate Research in Energy Systems and Processes. These students will conduct research this summer to advance the mission of ND Energy both within our affiliated laboratories and abroad in low- to middle-income countries.
Meet the Slatt scholars from the University of Notre Dame who are working under the tutelage of Abigail Mechtenberg, assistant teaching professor in the Department of Physics and international sustainable development researcher with ND Energy. These students will continue their research with international collaborators to implement the Energy E3 program in low- to middle-income countries.
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Janaya Brown is a junior, aerospace and mechanical engineering major and energy studies minor. She will continue her work in Uganda on "Empowering Ugandans to Power Uganda: Analyzing the Mechanical Properties and Various Impacts of Novel Weaved Wind Turbine Blades." |
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Henri Francois is a junior computer science and engineering major and will continue his work in Haiti on "Empowering Haitians to Power Haiti: Restoring Energy Production Capacity to Haiti: Energy Generation Systems and Microgrid Optimization." |
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Kalule Guwatudde is a junior, management consulting major who will be working on "Evaluating Pay-as-you-go Systems for Energy Devices in Uganda." |
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Perfect Mfashijwenimana is a junior, electrical engineering major, who will continue his work in Rwanda on "Empowering Rwandans to Power Rwanda: Model Predictive Control for Noise Characteristics in Locally Built Devices." |
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Musodiq (Tolu) Ogunlowo is a junior, electrical engineering major, who will continue his work in Nigeria on "Empowering Nigerians to Power Nigeria: Understanding the Relationship Between Demand and Capacity Shortage to Design Multiple Energy Source Input Charge Controller with Locally Built Systems." |
“The Energy E3 program implemented by Abigail Mechtenberg and her students is the foundation of ND Energy’s expanded vision to advance global energy access where little to no power exists,” explains Peter C. Burns, director of ND Energy. “The core of the program, which is to empower nations to power their nation, further ensures access to affordable, reliable, and sustainable energy through long-term collaborations and the use of local materials and expertise.”
Meet the Slatt scholars from Puerto Rico who will be working on research projects with ND Energy affiliated faculty within their laboratories.
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Marrero Cabrera is a junior biotechnology/chemistry major at the Universidad del Sagrado Corazon. She will be working with Na Wei, assistant professor in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, on a project focused on biofuels. |
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Norbert Xavier Ramos Lopez is a junior chemical engineering student at the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez. He will be working with Jason Hicks, associate professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, on a project focused on biofuels. |
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Erick Mendez Rios is a junior chemical engineering major and project management minor at the University of Puerto Rico-Mayaguez. He will be working with Edward Maginn, Dorini Family Professor of Energy Studies and Department Chair in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, on a project focused on energy storage. |
Burns also stated, “I am equally pleased to welcome the three students from Puerto Rico to conduct research with our affiliated faculty. This new relationship between ND Energy and Puerto Rican universities builds upon the “Listening to Puerto Rico” initiative that was launched university-wide in early September 2018. It is our hope that this relationship will continue well beyond the summer months and include new initiatives and further collaborations.”
To view the list of other 2019 fellowship recipients, click here.
The Vincent P. Slatt Fellowship for Undergraduate Research in Energy Systems and Processes grants approximately 13 awards each year in the amount of $5,000 each to undergraduate students interested in creating new technologies and advancing energy systems world-wide. Funding for this fellowship is made possible through the generosity of Christopher (‘80) and Jeanine Slatt in honor of Vincent P. Slatt, Notre Dame Class of 1943. Since the start of the fellowship in 2006, 130 students have received awards totaling more than $585,000.
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.