Plugging into Creative Juices

The Notre Dame Energy Center has named five recipients of the 2007 Slatt Fellowship. They are Joseph Basconi, Patrick Brown, Shawn Coleman, Kyle Kron, and Felipe Witchger. Created by Christopher Slatt (B.S., EE ’80) and Jeanine Slatt, in honor of his father Vincent P. Slatt (B.S., EE 43), the fellowship supports undergraduate research, up to $5,000, in the field of energy systems and processes for hands-on projects.

Selected projects, which began this summer, cover a wide range of topics. For example, Basconi, a sophomore in the Department of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering, is studying the impact of Daylight Saving Time on energy consumption in Indiana.

Brown, a sophomore, is investigating single-wall carbon nanotube-based photochemical solar cells. He is focusing on the desired properties necessary for harvesting light energy.

Coleman is working on first-principle prediction of active sites for catalytic hydrogenation. His findings will help provide insight into the development of improved catalytic materials and processes. Coleman is a sophomore studying chemical and biomolecular engineering.

Kron, a sophomore in aerospace and mechanical engineering, is performing finite element analyses of SIC-Si3N4 nanoceramic composites for high-temperature structural applications, such as earth and space-based power generation systems.

A junior, Witchger’s project studies biofuel development and sustainability in Latin America. Witchger is pursuing energy studies and economics.