ATLANTA--Dr. Nadine Kabengi, assistant professor in the Department of Geosciences and the Department of Chemistry at Georgia State University, has received a five-year, $750,000 award from the Early Career Research Program of the Department of Energy's (DOE) Office of Science.
Kabengi is one of 35 scientists from across the nation, including 17 from DOE's national laboratories and 18 from U.S. universities, to receive significant research funding from the Early Career Research Program.
The program supports exceptional researchers during the early career years when many scientists do their most formative work. University-based researchers will receive at least $150,000 per year to cover summer salary and research expenses. Awardees were based on peer review by outside scientific experts. To be eligible, their research must fall under one of the Office of Science's six major program offices.
Kabengi will study "In-situ Thermodynamics Measurements at Metal Oxides-Solution Interfaces Using Flow Adsorption Microcalorimetry." The goal of the project is to complete a systematic study of the thermodynamic properties of ion exchange, ligand sorption and surface charge reactions occurring at the surfaces of four metal oxides: goethite, gibbsite, rutile and quartz. The work will be accomplished primarily through the construction and development of unique and specialized flow microcalorimeter instrumentations and techniques. Studying metal oxides and solution interfaces is critical for our environmental and energy future.
The research was selected for funding by the Office of Basic Energy Sciences.