UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — Six Penn State researchers were recognized with Institute of Energy and the Environment’s (IEE) Research Awards at the IEE reception on Jan. 18 at the Hintz Family Alumni Center. Three two-person teams, Donghai Wang and Adri van Duin, Laura Leites and Allyson Muth, and Siela Maximova and Estelle Couradeau, were nominated by the Penn State community for their collaborative, interdisciplinary research efforts and mentorship. 

Bruce Logan, IEE’s director, said these awards not only celebrate individual accomplishments but also reflect the spirit of collaboration and excellence that defines the Penn State community. 

“We are thrilled to recognize the outstanding achievements of these esteemed researchers at Penn State. The collaborative efforts of our award recipients highlight the transformative impact of interdisciplinary research,” Logan said. “Their dedication underscores the vital role played by our faculty in addressing complex energy and environmental challenges and fostering international cooperation.” 

Donghai Wang, a professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering with an appointment in chemical engineering, and Adri van Duin, a distinguished professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering with appointments in chemical engineering, engineering science and mechanics, chemistry, and materials science and engineering, received the Advancement of Knowledge Award. This award recognizes a team of two or more Penn State faculty whose interdisciplinary research in one of the five IEE themes has led to a significant advance in science as shown by a peer-reviewed article.  

Wang and van Duin received the award for their paper "Stable metal anodes enabled by a labile organic molecule bonded to a reduced graphene oxide aerogel," published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences in 2020. Their collaborative effort addressed a critical challenge in energy research in lithium battery technologies, which addressed uneven metal plating and stripping at metal anodes. Their work not only advanced battery development, but it was also made possible by engaging students from several different departments and colleges. 

Laura Leites, a research professor in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, and Allyson Muth, an assistant research professor in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, received the Translational Research Award. This award recognizes a team of two or more Penn State faculty researchers for their collaborative, interdisciplinary research efforts on a topic within one of the five IEE themes that have benefited society. Example activities include public engagement, promotion of inclusion efforts, societal well-being, workforce development, partnerships or community infrastructure development. 

The collaboration between Leites and Muth addressed potential impacts of climate change through educating nursery professionals and landowners on how changes can impact seed source selection strategies to maintain climate-adapted, resilient forests. Highlights of their outreach include delivering several presentations to the public and publishing a climate-smart seed sourcing educational guide. 

Siela Maximova, a research professor in the Department of Plant Science, and Estelle Couradeau, an assistant professor in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, received the Research Guidance Award. This award recognizes the efforts that a faculty member may make in demonstrably helping a pre-tenured or non-tenured faculty member begin studying a research topic relevant to at least one of the five IEE themes.  

The recognition highlights the successful partnership between Maximova and Couradeau and Maximova’s guidance toward the team’s collaborative achievements since 2021. Most significant examples of these achievements include co-organizing the inaugural Penn State Microbiome Center Symposium funded by U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Energy, and adopting an interdisciplinary approach for groundbreaking microbiome research in Colombia and the Andean region funded by the National Science Foundation, Division Of Environmental Biology.

The awards process was guided by IEE’s Award Committee, which is led by Chris Gorski. The committee members are Ying Gu, Jessica Myrick and Chris Scott.