A record-tying four University of Notre Dame students, all from the College of Science, have been named 2026 Goldwater Scholars in recognition of their exceptional promise as future leaders in the natural sciences, engineering and/or mathematics. Juniors Charles Sander, Katherine Sopko, Ian Talty and Oliver Wardhana each will receive $7,500 for tuition and other expenses for the upcoming 2026-27 academic year.

This is the third consecutive year that Notre Dame has had four Goldwater Scholars.

“At Notre Dame, we seek to form scientists who are driven by curiosity, grounded in purpose and committed to serving others through scientific discovery,” said Holly Goodson, interim associate dean for education and undergraduate programs in the College of Science. “The Goldwater Scholarship affirms those same ideals by supporting students who aspire to research careers that advance the natural sciences, engineering and mathematics. Charles, Katherine, Ian and Oliver exemplify this alignment of mission by balancing intellectual excellence with a desire to make a difference. Their achievements reflect the very best of a Notre Dame science education.”

Charles Sander

Sander is an honors biological sciences, economics, and applied and computational mathematics and statistics (ACMS) triple major from Sacramento, California. He is a Glynn Family Honors Scholar, a Phi Beta Kappa early inductee and a Stamps Scholar. At Notre Dame, Sander conducts neurobiology research in the lab of Christopher Patzke, the John M. and Mary Jo Boler Assistant Professor of Biological Sciences. His work with Patzke has led to research collaborations under the mentorship of Patrick Flynn, the Fritz Duda Family Professor of Engineering; Meenal Data, the Jane Schoelch DeFlorio Collegiate Professor of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering, and others at Notre Dame. He has also conducted neuroscience research on Alzheimer’s disease under Nobel laureate Thomas Südhof at Stanford University. Currently, he is involved in bioinformatics research with Jun Li, professor of ACMS at Notre Dame. He is also writing a review paper on the therapeutic properties of psychedelics under the mentorship of Diane Lane, assistant teaching professor of biological sciences. Outside of his research, Sander does community health work with the Eck Institute for Global Health. He also serves as director of academic affairs for Notre Dame Student Government, is a teaching assistant in the introductory biology lab, and is associate chief of staff of Scientia.

Katherine Sopko

Sopko is an honors biochemistry major from Waltham, Massachusetts. She conducts research in the lab of Mariko Morimoto, the Huisking Foundation, Inc. Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry at Notre Dame. In the Morimoto Lab, Sopko contributes to research around the development of chimeric molecules to promote cancer cell elimination through immune response modulation. She is co-president of the Biotechnology Club, a chemistry tutor, a peer tutor for first-year chemistry and biochemistry students, and a member of both Farley Hall Council and the Hesburgh Women of Impact program.

Ian Talty

Talty is an honors chemistry and mathematics double major from Haddonfield, New Jersey. He conducts research with Aliaksandra Lisouskaya, associate research professor at Notre Dame, in the Radiation Laboratory. Talty contributes to research around the formation rate of transition metal oxides. He is vice president of the Chemistry and Biochemistry Club and treasurer of the Curling Club. In his free time, he volunteers around South Bend through Mercy Works.

Oliver Wardhana

Wardhana is an honors biological sciences and ACMS double major from Arcadia, California. A Glynn Family Honors Scholar, he conducts research in the lab of Xin Lu, the John M. and Mary Jo Boler Collegiate Associate Professor of Biological Sciences at Notre Dame. In the Lu Lab, Wardhana is involved in a benchmarking study comparing single-cell RNA sequencing cell type annotation methodologies, algorithms and tools. The study is also his thesis project. He is president and co-founder of iGEM@ND, a student-run synthetic biology team. The team won a gold medal at the 2025 iGEM Grand Jamboree in Paris. In his free time, he volunteers at Holy Cross School in South Bend through Mercy Works.

In applying for the Goldwater Scholarship, Sander, Sopko, Talty and Wardhana all worked closely with the Flatley Center for Undergraduate Scholarly Engagement (CUSE), which supports the intellectual development of Notre Dame students via scholarly engagement, research, creative endeavors and the pursuit of fellowships.

Emily Buika Hunt is assistant director of scholarly development for CUSE.

“Congratulations to Charles, Ian, Katherine and Oliver on the well-deserved recognition of their hard work and accomplishments. Each one of them has chosen to take advantage of the opportunities available to them at Notre Dame, including research, mentorship and rigorous coursework,” Buika Hunt said. “Many Notre Dame faculty and staff members have played an important role in their development thus far, and will continue to do so as they move forward into their future studies and careers.”

CUSE works with dozens of aspiring Goldwater Scholars each application cycle, Buika Hunt said, supporting them through the application process by offering guidance on writing, content framing and reference choices. A faculty nomination committee reviews the materials and selects the nominees. Rising sophomores and juniors who are interested in applying for the 2027 application cycle should reach out to CUSE by September to learn more.

Named for former U.S. Sen. Barry Goldwater, the Goldwater Scholarship seeks to foster and encourage outstanding sophomores and juniors to pursue research careers in the natural sciences, engineering and mathematics. It is the preeminent undergraduate award of its type in these fields.

For more on this and other scholarship opportunities, visit cuse.nd.edu.

Originally published by Erin Blasko at news.nd.edu on April 07, 2026.

Prashant Kamat, Rev. John A. Zahm Professor of Science in the Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, has been selected as a 2025 Pioneer in Energy Research (PIER) by Energy & Fuels. This honor, awarded since 2021, recognizes scientists who have made substantial fundamental contributions in energy research. A special issue of Energy & Fuels published in Kamat’s honor can be found here.

Prof. Kamat’s research focuses on solar energy and fuels, developing fundamental understanding of light-induced charge-transfer processes in quantum-confined semiconductors and other hybrid materials. His pioneering work on the design of nanostructured materials for energy conversion and storage using hybrid assemblies laid the groundwork for understanding the interfacial charge transfer processes in quantum dot and perovskite solar cells. He is a prominent figure in advancing the understanding of photodynamics and photochemical processes in semiconductor nanomaterials, particularly dye-sensitized and quantum dot-sensitized wide-band semiconductors. Kamat has also explored the utilization of carbon nanotubes and graphene-based assemblies to improve efficiencies in solar and fuel cells.

Prof. Kamat has published over 500 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters that have garnered over 91,000 citations, resulting in him being named to Clarivate Analytics “Most Cited Researchers” list from 2014-2023. He has also been recognized with numerous awards, including the Henry H. Storch Award in Energy Chemistry, the Porter Medal, and the Richard E. Smalley Research Award. He is a member of the American Academy of Sciences and Letters, a Fellow of the Materials Research Society, the American Chemical Society, the American Association for the Advancement of Science, and The Electrochemical Society. Prof. Kamat also serves as Editor-in-Chief of ACS Energy Letters.

Originally published by Rebecca Hicks at chemistry.nd.edu on January 30, 2026.

A 2025 Goldwater Scholar, Finley is an honors track physics-in-medicine major from Kentucky with research and clinical interests in radiation oncology — an orientation shaped by witnessing family members and hospice patients undergo cancer treatments.

He will pursue a Master of Philosophy degree in pathology next year at the University of Cambridge, where he will conduct research under the tutelage of David Fernandez-Antoran in the School of the Biological Sciences.

“I feel both blessed and humbled to be selected as a Churchill Scholar — an opportunity through which I intend to carry forward Notre Dame’s commitment to being a ‘force for good’ by advancing cancer treatments for patients who need them,” Finley said.

Active in research, Finley is an assistant to Sylwia Ptasinska, professor of physics and astronomy, in the Ptasinska Research Laboratory, where he contributes to research related to various aspects of radiation. He is also a junior scholar-in-training with the Radiation Research Society.

He previously worked as a CPRIT CURE fellow under Steven Lin, professor of radiation oncology, at MD Anderson Cancer Center in Houston and as an Amgen Fellow under Todd Aguilera, assistant professor of radiation oncology, at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas-Fort Worth.

Around campus, he is an associate news editor for Scientia, the undergraduate journal for scientific research for the College of Science; president of the Quiz Bowl Club; a member of the College of Science Council and the College of Science Honor Code Committee; and a resident assistant at Morrissey Hall.

“Beyond his impressive accomplishments, (Finley) actively stimulates and motivates our scientifically grounded discussions that often extend to broader aspects of college life, continually pushing me to be a better professor. Working with him has been both a privilege and an inspiration.”

In his free time, he volunteers for Heartland Hospice and Saint Joseph Mishawaka Medical Center. He has completed extensive medical shadowing across various specialties, experiences that further affirmed his desire to aid those afflicted with cancer.

“Receiving this scholarship would not be possible without the loving support of my family and the invaluable tutelage of my professors and research mentors,” Finley said. “I am especially grateful to Sylwia Ptasinska, Ian Carmichael, Steven H. Lin and Todd Aguilera for stoking my love of science while equipping me with the skills necessary to initiate real change.”

He also thanked Emily Buika Hunt with the Flatley Center for Undergraduate Scholarly Engagement (CUSE) at Notre Dame “for her assistance with navigating my future goals and with applying for the Goldwater and Churchill scholarships.”

“It has been a pleasure working with Jacob over the past two years as he applied for the Goldwater Scholarship and the Churchill Scholarship,” said Buika Hunt, assistant director of scholarly development at CUSE. “His dedication to research and improving the experience of those undergoing cancer treatments is evident.”

She continued, “Conducting a year of research with Dr. David Fernandez-Antoran at Cambridge University prior to pursuing an M.D./Ph.D. is an unparalleled opportunity to expand on the research training he has received at Notre Dame. I look forward to following his career and witnessing the positive impact his research will have on countless lives.”

Ptasinska expressed pride in “Jacob’s achievement in receiving such a prestigious scholarship,” calling him “an exceptionally capable young individual with remarkable intellectual ability and a strong work ethic.”

“He is a distinguished student with multifaceted capabilities and a strong foundation in the core sciences, consistently demonstrating outstanding dedication and academic excellence,” Ptasinska said. “Beyond his impressive accomplishments, he actively stimulates and motivates our scientifically grounded discussions that often extend to broader aspects of college life, continually pushing me to be a better professor. Working with him has been both a privilege and an inspiration.”

Established in 1963, the Churchill Scholarship fulfills its namesake’s vision of deepening the U.S.-U.K. partnership while advancing science and technology on both sides of the Atlantic. It encompasses 18 scholarships — 16 Churchill Scholarships in science, math and engineering and two Kanders Churchill Scholarships in science policy.

The award covers tuition, roundtrip airfare to the United Kingdom, visa fees and health surcharge, plus a stipend exceeding the UK Research Council standard. Recipients can also apply for a $4,000 special research grant.

It is considered one of the most prestigious and competitive international fellowships available to American graduate students, alongside the Marshall, Rhodes, Gates Cambridge, Fulbright and Mitchell scholarships. Eight Churchill Scholars have gone on to win the Nobel Prize.

For more on this and other scholarship opportunities, visit cuse.nd.edu.

Originally published by Erin Blasko at news.nd.edu on January 23, 2026.

University of Notre Dame faculty members Margot Fassler, Sherif Girgis, Brad Gregory and Prashant Kamat have been inducted into the American Academy of Sciences and Letters in recognition of their outstanding scholarly achievement.

Fassler, the Keough-Hesburgh Professor Emerita of Music History and Liturgy; Girgis, a professor of law; Gregory, a professor of history; and Kamat, the Rev. John A. Zahm Professor of Science; were recognized during an investiture ceremony on November 12 at the historic Decatur House in Washington, D.C.

They join a prestigious list of AASL members including Salman Rushdie, Jonathan Haidt, Steven Koonin, Henry Louis Gates Jr., Steven Pinker, Akhil Reed Amar and Nobel laureate scientists Arieh Warshel, Jennifer Doudna and David W.C. MacMillan.

Fassler is renowned for her work at the intersection of musicology, liturgical studies and theology and is a specialist in sacred music. She is a member of the North American Academy of Liturgy, a former president of the Medieval Academy of America, a fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences and an honorary member of the American Musicological Society. Her 2010 book “The Virgin of Chartres: Making History through Liturgy and the Arts” was awarded both the ACE/Mercers’ Award and the Otto Gründler Prize.

Girgis, who teaches constitutional law, is the author of “Debating Religious Liberty and Discrimination,” among other works. His work in constitutional law and theory has appeared in venues including the Columbia Law Review, the New York University Law Review, the American Journal of Jurisprudence and the Harvard Law Review Forum. Prior to his academic career, he clerked for both U.S. Court of Appeals D.C. Circuit Judge Thomas B. Griffith and U.S. Supreme Court Justice Samuel Alito.

A historian of Western Europe in the Reformation era, Gregory has analyzed the effects of early modern religious disagreement and religiopolitical conflict in the 16th and 17th centuries, as well as in the long-term shaping of Western modernity up to the present. His books have been awarded numerous prizes, including the Gustave O. Arlt Award in the Humanities of the Council of Graduate Schools, the John Gilmary Shea Prize of American Catholic Historical Association and the Thomas J. Wilson Prize of Harvard University Press.

Kamat’s research aims to elucidate the mechanistic and kinetic details of charge transfer processes in nanostructured assemblies with an objective to improve energy conversion efficiencies. He is a fellow of numerous societies, including the American Association for the Advancement of Science and the American Chemical Society. Among other honors, he has won the Richard E. Smalley Award of The Electrochemical Society and the Henry H. Storch Award in Energy Chemistry of the American Chemical Society.

Four Notre Dame faculty were also invited to join the academy in 2024: Gary A. Anderson, the Hesburgh Professor of Catholic Thought; Paolo Carozza, a professor of law and concurrent professor of political science; Richard Garnett, the Paul J. Schierl Professor of Law and a concurrent professor of political science; and Christian Smith, the William R. Kenan Jr. Professor of Sociology.

The American Academy of Sciences and Letters promotes scholarship and honors outstanding achievement in the arts, sciences and learned professions. It supports learning by encouraging the exchange of ideas within academia and in society at large, and by sponsoring occasions for scholarly interaction and providing platforms for the presentation and dissemination of scholarship in the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, mathematics and engineering.

Contact: Carrie Gates, associate director of media relations, c.gates@nd.edu, 574-993-9220

Originally published by Notre Dame News at news.nd.edu on November 19, 2025.

More than six decades later, the Radiation Laboratory at the University of Notre Dame (Rad Lab) continues to play a leading role within the national research landscape.

Read the story

Originally published by Erin Fennessy at research.nd.edu on November 06, 2025.

ND Energy at the University of Notre Dame is pleased to announce the recipients of its 2025 Summer Slatt Fellowship Program. The seven recipients listed below will pursue their research and educational goals while advancing sustainable energy research at Notre Dame.

“We would like to congratulate these students on receiving competitive Slatt Fellowships,” said Edward Maginn, Keough-Hesburgh Professor of Engineering and Associate Vice President for Research. “The Slatt fellowships provide these young scholars an incredible opportunity to focus on full-time research over the summer. We are excited that Notre Dame faculty will be able to guide them as they learn new technical skills and scientific methodologies, broaden their education, and gain a clearer vision of their future.”

The 2025 Summer Slatt Scholars are:

Rita Barhouche ‘27
Major: Aerospace Engineering
Faculty Advisor: David Go, Viola D. Hank Professor of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering and Vice President and Associate Provost for Academic Strategy
Project: Revealing the Underlying Physics of Plasma Self-Organization for Energy-Efficient Plasma Processing
About the project: Nature constantly self-organizes, from the formation of sand ripples to the patterns in chemical reactions, and this research explores how plasmas—high-energy ionized gases—form structured patterns on liquid surfaces. By understanding how these patterns emerge and evolve, this study aims to uncover fundamental principles of plasma behavior, improve plasma modeling, and enhance control over plasma-liquid interactions, which could lead to breakthroughs in energy technologies, such as more efficient plasma-based chemical processing and innovative approaches to energy conversion.

Charlie Desnoyers ‘26
Major: Chemistry
Minor: Scientific Computing
Project Title: Photoremixing Studies of Mixed-Halide Perovskite Thin Films
Faculty Advisor: Masaru Kuno, Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
About the project: Perovskites are a solar-cell material that are more efficient than traditional solar cells. This research aims to understand, and reverse, a phenomenon where the material separates and loses efficiency under light.

Emma Lee ‘26
Double Major: Biochemistry and Anthropology
Project Title: Liquid Crystal Properties of Iron-sulfur Clusters
Faculty Advisor: Emily Tsui, Associate Professor in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry
About the project: This research aims to combine the charge transfer properties of iron-sulfur clusters and the tunability of liquid crystals in order to produce a new material. The resulting material has the potential to be useful in energy storage devices, like batteries, as well as energy-efficient electronics.

Joseph Mathew ‘26
Major: Aerospace Engineering
Minor: Engineering Corporate Practice
Project Title: Optimizing Methane Conversion Using Gliding Arc Reactors for the Production of C₂ Species
Faculty Advisor: David Go, Viola D. Hank Professor of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering and Vice President and Associate Provost for Academic Strategy
About the project: Gliding arc plasma reactors can convert natural gas components like methane into more complex and valuable chemicals using only electricity, offering a promising path to decarbonize chemical production through renewable energy. This project aims to optimize the conversion of methane into higher-order olefins that could lead to more efficient and sustainable plasma reactor designs for industrial applications.

Kristen Mohan ‘26
Major: Mechanical Engineering
Minor: Theology
Project Title: WFIP-3:3rd Wind Forecast Improvement Project
Faculty Adviser: Harindra Fernando, Wayne and Diana Murdy Endowed Professor of Engineering and Geosciences
About the project: This research focuses on understanding how physical phenomena in the atmosphere and ocean influence the variability of wind resource in the marine atmosphere boundary layer. This study will improve models that can forecast winds and turbulence over the ocean to allow for optimal harnessing of offshore wind energy.

Jack Nichols ‘26
Major: Chemistry
Project Title: Understanding Perovskite/Hole Transport Layer Interactions
Faculty Adviser: Prashant Kamat, Rev. John A. Zahm Professor of Science
About the project: This research focuses on understanding the next generation of solar cells called perovskite solar cells that display greater potential for energy generation than current silicon solar cells. The aim is to understand the chemistry behind these cells to improve their efficiency and longevity.

Ray Yang ‘27
Major: Computer Science
Project Title: Membrane-Based Separations for Critical Mineral Recovery in Sustainable Energy Systems and Economic Sustainability
Faculty Adviser: Alexander Dowling, Associate Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
About the project: This research focuses on developing new, efficient, and environmentally friendly methods to extract essential minerals, like lithium, and rare earth elements. This project aims to reduce harmful chemical use and improve resource recovery using advanced membrane-based separation techniques to help create a more sustainable and resilient energy future.

About the Slatt Fellowship Program:

The summer Vincent P. Slatt Fellowship for Undergraduate Research in Energy Systems and Processes is a full-time research opportunity for students interested in addressing some of the most critical energy challenges facing the world today. Beginning in May through July, students will embark on a ten-week journey involving research and discovery in collaboration with faculty experts and mentors, learning new methodologies, techniques, and skills, and gaining a deeper understanding of the impact their research has on society.

Slatt scholars will participate in workshops and social events with students in other programs, including the humanities and social sciences, to broaden their understanding of interdisciplinary research, meet new friends, and prepare for the Summer Undergraduate Research Symposium, where students in all programs present their research projects to the Notre Dame and Saint Mary’s College communities. Students may also opt to compete in the Summer Undergraduate Three-Minute Thesis (3MT) Competition held in conjunction with the symposium.

To help scholars navigate their summer research experience, a Welcome Convocation is held so they can meet senior leadership in the Colleges of Arts and Letters, Engineering, and Science, the Graduate School, and Notre Dame Research, connect with students in other programs, and learn about the summer-long workshops and social events.

Workshops include Improving Your CV, Writing Your Personal Statement, Career Discernment and Graduate School, Creating an Effective Research Poster, and Effective Research Communications. Social events include Trivia Night, Movie Night, Latin Dance Night, Skating at the Family Compton Ice Arena, and a Sports Tournament. Additionally, faculty in the Fanning Center for Business Communications in the Mendoza College of Business will provide one-on-one coaching to help students prepare their research presentations for the symposium and 3MT competition.

New this year, the students will participate in a service project in collaboration with the TRIO Upward Bound program. Similar to a mini college fair, students will participate in a panel discussion, small group discussions, and answer questions from high school students about their own personal experiences in deciding to attend college, what college life is like, and why they chose to conduct summer research.

Contact:

Brett Beasley / Research Content Strategy Program Director

Notre Dame Research / University of Notre Dame

bbeasle1@nd.edu / +1 574-631-8183

research.nd.edu / @UNDResearch

About Notre Dame Research:

The University of Notre Dame is a private research and teaching university inspired by its Catholic mission. Located in South Bend, Indiana, its researchers are advancing human understanding through research, scholarship, education, and creative endeavor in order to be a repository for knowledge and a powerful means for doing good in the world. For more information, please see research.nd.edu or @UNDResearch.

Originally published by Brett Beasley and Barbara Villarosa at research.nd.edu on May 13, 2025.

A record-tying four University of Notre Dame students have been named 2025 Goldwater Scholars in recognition of their exceptional promise as future leaders in the natural sciences, engineering and mathematics.

Juniors Jacob Finley, John Howe, Thomas Reimer and Connor Smith each will receive a maximum $7,500 for tuition and other expenses for the upcoming 2025-26 academic year.

Jacob Finley

Finley, from Kentucky, is an honors track physics-in-medicine major in the College of Science. He is a research assistant to Sylwia Ptasinska, professor of physics and astronomy, in the Ptasinska Research Laboratory. He previously worked under Steven Lin, associate professor of biomedical sciences, at MD Anderson Cancer Center. He will pursue research this summer as an Amgen Scholar at UT Southwestern Medical Center. Outside of the classroom, he is a hospice volunteer. He also volunteers at a local hospital. After graduation, he plans to pursue a doctorate in physics and then work as a radiation oncology physician scientist.

John Howe

Howe, from Texas, is an electrical engineering major in the College of Engineering. A two-time NDnano Undergraduate Research Fellow, he is an assistant to Kai Ni, assistant professor of electrical engineering, in the Nanoelectronic Devices and Systems Group. He previously worked under Svetlana Neretina, professor of aerospace and mechanical engineering, in the Nanomaterial Fabrication Research Laboratory. Outside of the classroom, he is a member of the Notre Dame Marching Band and the Robotic Football Club. He plans to pursue a doctorate in electrical engineering after graduation and then work as a researcher for the semiconductor industry, with a focus on memory technologies.

Thomas Reimer

Reimer, from Maryland, is an honors track chemistry major in the College of Science. He is a research assistant to Brandon Ashfeld, professor of chemistry and biochemistry, in the Ashfeld Research Group. He previously worked under Kaiya Fu, assistant professor of chemistry and biochemistry, in the Fu Lab. A past recipient of a summer research abroad grant from the National Science Foundation and a Summer Language Abroad Grant from the Center for the Study of Languages and Cultures, he plans to pursue a doctorate in chemistry after graduation and then pursue solutions to unsolved or overlooked biological problems in the medical context as an organic chemist.

Connor Smith

Smith, from Texas, is a Glynn Family Honors Scholar and an honors track physics major in the College of Science. He is a research assistant to Justin Crepp, associate professor of physics and astronomy and director of the Engineering and Design Core Facility. He conducted research on gravitational waves with Quynh Lan Nguyen, affiliate scholar of physics and astronomy, and was a recipient of the Quazi and Shaheen Islam Summer Undergraduate Research Fellowship in Physics and Astronomy from the College of Science. Outside of the classroom, he is a bilingual tutor with La Casa de Amistad. He also co-hosts a weekly radio program on campus. He plans to pursue a doctorate in astrophysics after graduation and then conduct astrophysical research at an observatory or national laboratory or research and teach at the university level.

In applying for the scholarship, the students worked closely with the Flatley Center for Undergraduate Scholarly Engagement (CUSE), which supports the intellectual development of Notre Dame students via scholarly engagement, research, creative endeavors and the pursuit of fellowships.

Emily Hunt is assistant director of scholarly development for CUSE.

“Our success with the Goldwater Scholarship points directly to the transformative research opportunities available to Notre Dame students in the Colleges of Engineering and Science,” Hunt said. “Each one of our recipients has received guidance from dedicated faculty mentors both on campus and off. Thank you to those mentors, CUSE postdoctoral fellow Grace Song and our dedicated faculty nomination committee for supporting our applicants.”

Named for former U.S. Sen. Barry Goldwater, the Goldwater Scholarship seeks to foster and encourage outstanding sophomores and juniors to pursue research careers in the natural sciences, engineering and mathematics. It is the preeminent undergraduate award of its type in these particular fields.

For more on this and other scholarship opportunities, visit cuse.nd.edu.

Originally published by Erin Blasko at news.nd.edu on April 04, 2025.

Ed Maginn, associate vice president for research and the Keough-Hesburgh Professor in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering at Notre Dame, said, "This cohort of fellowship recipients is representative of the many students at Notre Dame who combine high academic achievement and a strong desire to be a powerful force for doing good in the world. We would like to thank each student who applied and congratulate this year’s awardees. We look forward to the contributions each of you will make to ND Energy as we work to address global energy and sustainability challenges."

The Vincent P. Slatt Fellowship for Undergraduate Research in Energy Systems and Processes provides awards of $2,500 per student per semester to support their stipend and research supplies while gaining a deeper understanding of sustainable energy through research and discovery.

Ryan Bencivengo ’25, Aerospace Engineering major
Project Title: Characterization of Coated C-C Composite Destruction under Various Environmental Scenarios
Advisor: Sergey Leonov, Research Professor of Aerospace and Mechanical Engineering

Katie Bowsher ’27, Chemical Engineering major; Engineering Corporate Practice minor
Project Title: Fabrication of Pentiptycene Polybenzoxazole (PPBO) Asymmetric Membranes for Gas Separation
Advisor: Ruilan Guo, Frank M. Freimann Collegiate Professor of Engineering, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Luke Brown ’25, Science Pre-Professional Studies major; Compassionate Care in Medicine minor; History minor
Project Title: The Role of Graphene Oxide Coatings in Heat Resistance and Dissipation and Conductance in Electrical Wires and its Scope in Sustainable Energy
Advisor: Ian Lightcap, Research and Facilities Program Director, Materials Characterization Facility, Notre Dame Research

Nevis Dickson ’27, Chemical Engineering major; Energy Studies minor
Project Title: Significance of Metal Ion Reactivity in Nuclear Reactor Cooling Water
Advisor: Aliaksandra Lisouskaya, Associate Research Professor of the Radiation Laboratory

Batradz Djikkaity ’26, Chemical Engineering major
Project Title: Improving Models for Hydraulic Permeability in Complex Membrane Structures Using Computational Fluid Dynamics Simulations
Advisor: William Phillip, Rooney Family Collegiate Chair of Engineering and Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Mae Fischer ’25, Environmental Engineering major; Energy Studies minor
Project Title: Effects of Anionic Species on Hydrogen Peroxide Production and Uranyl Peroxide Formation in Uranyl Salt Solutions Exposed to Nonthermal Plasma
Advisor: Peter C. Burns, Dorini Family Professor of Energy Studies, Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, and Concurrent Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Aaviskar Khatiwada ’26, Chemical Engineering major; Energy Studies minor
Project Title: Unraveling the Role of Extra-Framework Aluminum in Hydrocarbon Cracking Reactions
Advisor: William Schneider, Keating-Crawford Professor of Chemical Engineering, and Chair of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Sara Murray ’25, Chemistry major with Honors Computing; Energy Studies minor
Project Title: Upconversion of solar energy: triplet-triplet annihilation upconversion from FAMAPbI3 to TiO2
Advisor: Prashant Kamat, Rev. John A. Zahm Professor of Science, Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Radiation Laboratory

Brynn O'Donnell ’25, Chemical Engineering major; Energy Studies minor
Project Title: Impact of Ozone on Alteration of U3O8
Advisor: Peter C. Burns, Dorini Family Professor of Energy Studies, Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, and Concurrent Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Sarah Oliva ’26, Environmental Engineering major; Earth Science minor; Energy Studies minor
Project Title: Improving the Sustainability of Uranium Mining Using a Gliding Arc Plasma
Advisor: Peter C. Burns, Dorini Family Professor of Energy Studies, Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences, and Concurrent Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry

The Patrick and Jana Eilers Graduate Student Fellowship for Energy-Related Research provides awards of $11,350 to each graduate student to support their stipend.

Damian Agi, fourth-year PhD Candidate in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Project Title: Physics-Informed Machine Learning Surrogate Kinetic Modeling for the Design and Optimization of Oligomerization Reactors for Sustainable Shale Gas Processing
Advisor: Alexander Dowling, Associate Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Noah Cabanas, third-year PhD Candidate in Chemistry
Project Title: Irradiation-Induced Changes of (Th1-xUx)O2 Materials towards Improved Nuclear Energy Safety
Advisor: Ani Aprahamian, The Frank M. Freimann Professor of Physics and Concurrent Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Mawuli Degbevi, fourth-year PhD Candidate in Chemistry and Biochemistry
Project Title: Surface Radical Reactions at Quantum Dots for Photocatalytic Hydrogen Evolution and CO2 Reduction
Advisor: Emily Tsui, Associate Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Jizhou Jiang, fourth-year PhD Candidate in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Project Title: Electrochemical Validation of Donnan Exclusion Mechanisms in Molecular Layer-by-Layer Membranes
Advisor: Jennifer Schaefer, Sheehan Family Collegiate Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Jose Rebolledo-Oyarce, third-year PhD Candidate in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Project Title: Understanding Copper Sites in Cu-Zeolites through Mechanistic Insights from H₂-TPR
Advisor: William Schneider, Keating-Crawford Professor of Chemical Engineering, and Chair of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

Alba Scotto d'Apollonia, third-year PhD Candidate in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering
Project Title: Single Ni2+ Active Sites Isolated on Polyoxometalates for Light Olefin Oligomerization
Advisor: Jason Hicks, Tony and Sarah Earley Collegiate Professor of Energy and the Environment, Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, and Associate Dean for Graduate and Postdoctoral Affairs, College of Engineering

The John ’00 and Karla Forgash Graduate Student Fellowship for Solar Energy Research provides an award of $6,000 to a graduate student to support their stipend, research supplies, and travel to present their research at a national conference.

Akshaya Chemmangat, third-year PhD Candidate in Chemistry and Biochemistry
Project Title: Electron Extraction from Upconverted Photons for Enhanced Solar Energy Conversion
Advisor: Prashant Kamat, Rev. John A. Zahm Professor of Science, Chemistry and Biochemistry and the Radiation Laboratory

The John ’00 and Karla Forgash Graduate Student Fellowship for Energy Storage Research provides an award of $5,000 to a graduate student to support their stipend, research supplies, and travel to present their research at a national conference.

Grace Robertson, third-year PhD Candidate in Chemistry and Biochemistry
Project Title: Atom Transfer in Solid-state Materials: A Molecular Approach to Solid-state Synthesis
Advisor: Adam Jaffe, Assistant Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry

Originally published by Brett Beasley and Barbara Villarosa at research.nd.edu on March 03, 2025.

Professionally, the 43-year-old glassblower fashions the exactingly precise, demandingly functional and elegantly designed glassware required in labs throughout campus. Working with researchers performing many, diverse investigations, he builds to order — based on need, conversations, visions, explanations, diagrams sketched onto a whiteboard, trial and error, and his own keen eye and profuse skills.

In his workshop in a first-floor corner of the Radiation Laboratory, Ford does what he dreamed of doing as a boy: he makes a living making things.

Read the full story at magazine.nd.edu.

Originally published by Brett Beasley at research.nd.edu on January 08, 2024.

As part of this year's Notre Dame Day celebration, Notre Dame Research (NDR) is proud to showcase the research and innovation efforts that align with our mission to advance human understanding through research, scholarship, and creative endeavor. Your support helps researchers foster knowledge and innovation to address some of the world's most pressing challenges.

Several of NDR’s reporting units can be supported during Notre Dame Day, and each has a unique focus and expertise. Gifts to these units can help support cutting-edge research and provide valuable resources for Notre Dame's researchers, faculty, and students. Below is a list of the units that can be supported:

• Analytical Sciences and Engineering at Notre Dame (ASEND)
• Berthiaume Institute for Precision Health (BIPH)
• Center for Research Computing (CRC)
• Eck Institute for Global Health (EIGH)
• University of Notre Dame Environmental Research Center (UNDERC)
• Harper Cancer Research Center (HRCI)
• Notre Dame Institute for Advanced Study (NDIAS)
• Notre Dame Energy (NDE)
• Notre Dame Integrated Imaging Facility (ND-IIF)
• Notre Dame Nanoscience and Technology (NDnano)
• Notre Dame Radiation Laboratory (NDRL)
• NDTL Propulsion & Power (Notre Dame Turbomachinery Laboratory)
• W.M Keck Center for Transgene Research

To contribute, please visit the Notre Dame Day website and donate to the specific research unit they wish to support. Donors can also track progress on the Notre Dame Day website and social media pages, and participate in various events and activities related to the days of giving.

About Notre Dame Research:

The University of Notre Dame is a private research and teaching university inspired by its Catholic mission. Located in South Bend, Indiana, its researchers are advancing human understanding through research, scholarship, education, and creative endeavor in order to be a repository for knowledge and a powerful means for doing good in the world. For more information, please see research.nd.edu or @UNDResearch.

Originally published by Courtney Sniadecki at research.nd.edu on April 25, 2023.

The RRS’s Fellows program, which was created this year, recognizes and honors the RRS’s most dedicated members. LaVerne joins an inaugural class of 27 Fellows, all chosen on the basis of their awards, service and years of membership in the Society. 

LaVerne, who is a faculty affiliate of Notre Dame Energy, conducts research on nuclear energy reactor water chemistry, separations and waste disposal. LaVerne is especially known for his work on radiation track modeling, state selected decomposition of liquid aromatics and radiation stability of Uranyl clusters.

RRS President Sally A. Amundson thanked LaVerne for all his contributions to the field of radiation research and his dedicated service to the Society, saying, “it is only through the efforts of members like [LaVerne] that the RRS can continue to be such a vibrant scientific home for all radiation scientists.”

Prashant Kamat, Rev. John A. Zahm Professor of Science, has been ranked number 31 in the United States and 45 in the world in the first edition of the Research.com list of Top Chemistry Scientists. Read more.

Intro to TCSPC - Time Correlated Single Photon Counting 

Principles of Transient Absorption Spectroscopy - Part 1

Instrumentation for Nanosecond and Femtosecond Transient Absorption Spectroscopy - Part 2