Rice University has unveiled the recipients of its 2025-26 Chevron Energy Graduate Fellowships, selecting a distinguished group of ten graduate students whose research exemplifies the cutting edge in energy innovation and sustainability. This fellowship program, forged through an influential partnership between the Rice Sustainability Institute and Chevron, provides each fellow a $10,000 award aimed at advancing scalable energy technologies designed to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, expedite the adoption of low-carbon solutions, and enhance the efficiency and reliability of both present and future energy systems. By supporting this cohort of emerging scholars, Rice University is reinforcing its commitment to transformative research that addresses some of the most urgent energy challenges facing society today.
Since its inception last year, the Chevron Energy Graduate Fellowship has served as a critical platform encouraging pioneering scientific inquiry within the energy sector. The partnership’s strength was underscored during the award reception, where Rice University President Reginald DesRoches articulated the shared vision driving this collaboration. He emphasized that the initiative not only aligns with Rice’s strategic mission but also exemplifies a broader commitment to fostering scalable innovations that yield meaningful reductions in emissions across energy value chains—a goal paramount to mitigating climate change. This fellowship program is thus more than a financial grant; it is a catalyst fostering the development of future leaders poised to revolutionize energy research and technology.
The Chevron leadership echoed this sentiment, highlighting the essential role of nurturing talent dedicated to energy innovation. Chris Powers, Chevron’s director of exploration commercial and portfolio, remarked on the exceptional caliber of Rice’s graduate researchers. He emphasized that the fellows’ projects span critical areas such as carbon conversion technologies, solar energy materials, and geothermal sensing methods, all of which contribute to a more sustainable energy landscape. Powers expressed pride in these students’ achievements and a forward-looking optimism regarding their continued influence on shaping sustainable energy futures, demonstrating how corporate academia partnerships can accelerate innovation pathways.
Beyond the financial incentive, the fellowship offers extensive networking and developmental resources. Fellows are integrated into a dynamic environment wherein Chevron and the Rice Sustainability Institute actively facilitate access to industry experts with deep commercial experience. This engagement is vital for translating laboratory-scale breakthroughs into practical applications capable of market deployment. Moreover, a cross-university virtual symposium scheduled for spring allows fellows to showcase their research projects, foster interdisciplinary exchange, and create collaborative networks. These integrated experiences develop technical expertise, business acumen, and leadership skills imperative for driving the energy transition worldwide.
The 2025-26 fellowship cohort represents a wide spectrum of disciplines at Rice University, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of sustainable energy research. Scholars hail from departments such as chemical and biomolecular engineering, Earth sciences, civil and environmental engineering, mechanical engineering, materials science, and electrical and computer engineering. Their research projects address a broad array of pressing issues including novel energy storage solutions, advanced carbon capture methodologies, sustainable fuel production, and the creation of resilient infrastructure capable of withstanding environmental stressors. This diversity of research foci underscores the multifaceted approach required to address global energy challenges comprehensively.
Among the projects receiving support, Cristel Carolina Brindis Flores investigates molecular simulations of carbon dioxide and hydrogen interactions pertinent to geostorage. This work advances our understanding of subsurface gas dynamics critical for effective carbon sequestration and the safe storage of hydrogen as an energy vector. Similarly, Davide Cavuto focuses on optimizing floating catalyst chemical vapor deposition processes for the synthesis of carbon nanotubes, a key material for developing lightweight, conductive energy storage and conversion devices. Such studies illustrate the importance of fundamental science in material innovation, with direct implications for energy sustainability.
Another fellow, Jaewoo Kim, explores distributed acoustic sensing technologies for real-time stress monitoring within enhanced geothermal systems. This research utilizes fiber optic sensing to provide continuous subsurface data, improving the safety and efficiency of geothermal energy extraction—a renewable energy source poised for significant expansion. Jessica Hema Persaud’s investigation into tin perovskite crystallization dynamics aims to enhance the performance of all-perovskite tandem solar cells by understanding the mechanisms governing material formation at the nanoscale. Enhancing solar photovoltaic efficiency remains paramount to meeting renewable energy targets globally.
Projects like Johanna Ikabu Bangala’s work on upcycling methane-derived zero-valent carbon for sustainable agriculture underscore the potential for integrating energy research with environmental applications. By converting methane—a potent greenhouse gas—into beneficial soil amendments, this approach offers a pathway to mitigate emissions while enhancing agricultural productivity. Bridging energy and environmental domains represents a transformative strategy toward holistic sustainability.
Fellows focusing on waste management and resource recovery, such as Kashif Liaqat, investigate hybrid waste heat recovery systems for commercial and industrial data centers. This work aims to repurpose low-grade thermal energy, improving overall energy efficiency and reducing the carbon footprint of energy-intensive operations. Such efforts are critical as digital infrastructure continues to expand globally, contributing substantially to energy consumption.
In the realm of materials science, Md Abid Shahriar Rahman Saadi examines biopolymer engineering to develop sustainable structural, energy, and food systems. This research targets the creation of renewable, biodegradable materials as alternatives to conventional, petroleum-based plastics—addressing environmental pollution and resource scarcity simultaneously. The chemical engineering work of Ratnika Gupta on developing micro-silicon/carbon nanotube composite anodes emphasizes enhancement of lithium-ion battery performance, tackling energy storage limitations essential for integrating intermittent renewable energy sources.
Wei Ping Lam investigates high-pressure electrochemical carbon dioxide capture and conversion technologies, aiming to electrify chemical manufacturing processes. This strategy could dramatically reduce emissions from energy-intensive industrial sectors by leveraging renewable electricity to transform CO2 into valuable chemicals and fuels. Finally, William Schmid’s research explores solar-driven thermal desalination technologies utilizing transient solar illumination, providing an innovative solution to address global water scarcity sustainably by harnessing abundant solar resources.
Carrie Masiello, director of the Rice Sustainability Institute, lauded the fellows for their innovative and diverse research efforts. She highlighted that the fellowship program amplifies the depth and breadth of sustainability research at Rice, fostering scholarly endeavors that extend across multiple fields. Masiello emphasized the indispensable role of Chevron’s generous support in enabling this pioneering research, aptly demonstrating the impact of strategic collaboration between academia and industry.
With the second cohort of Chevron Energy Graduate Fellows now advancing their research, the program is solidifying a robust pipeline of innovation geared toward facilitating societal shifts to affordable, reliable, and environmentally responsible energy systems. By nurturing talent across numerous scientific domains and fostering industry engagement, the fellowship exemplifies how collaborative models can accelerate the global energy transition, driving progress toward a sustainable and resilient future.
Subject of Research:
Graduate research advancing scalable energy innovations, including carbon capture, renewable energy materials, geothermal sensing, energy storage, electrochemical processes, and sustainable infrastructure.
Article Title:
Rice University Announces 2025-26 Chevron Energy Graduate Fellows Advancing Next-Generation Energy Innovations
News Publication Date:
September 2024
Web References:
- Rice Sustainability Institute (https://si.rice.edu/)
- Chevron Energy Graduate Fellowships (https://si.rice.edu/chevron-fellows-call-applications-fy26)
- Rice University Faculty Profiles (https://profiles.rice.edu/)
Image Credits:
Gustavo Raskosky/Rice University
Keywords
Energy, Sustainable Energy, Sustainability, Carbon Capture, Renewable Energy, Chemical Engineering, Materials Science, Geothermal Energy, Solar Energy, Energy Storage, Electrochemical Conversion, Environmental Engineering
