UW’s SER and College of Engineering and Physical Sciences Fund Energy-Related Equipment Proposals

Recipients have been selected from among 41 proposals for funding following a request from the University of Wyoming’s School of Energy Resources (SER) to UW employees in need of energy-related laboratory equipment -- including repairs -- or supplies to conduct energy-related research.

“The volume of proposals, totaling more than 10 times the funds SER had available, was extremely telling of the need for support for equipment to bolster the UW energy research enterprise,” says SER Executive Director Holly Krutka. “It quickly became apparent that we needed to find a way to support more proposals than we had initially expected, and we’re grateful to our partners in the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences for stepping in.”

Recognizing the need and merit among the proposals, the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences joined the commitment to fund additional equipment proposals from multiple departments around campus.

“We want to set up our researchers for success, facilitate the shared access to new and existing equipment, and promote further collaboration across UW colleges and departments,” says Cameron Wright, the Carrell Family Dean of the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences. “We’re grateful for our increased Tier 1 funding, which allowed us to make these investments to improve our research tools and facilities. We look forward to seeing these new purchases and upgrades put to good use.”

Proposals were considered for repairing or upgrading existing equipment up to $100,000; new equipment purchases up to $500,000; and requests for purchasing supplies, such as laboratory and testing supplies or computational resources, up to $100,000.

Eight proposals were funded by SER, and nine were funded by the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, with a total of $4.5 million allocated for equipment purchases.

Selected recipients are:

-- Kyle Summerfield, program manager of SER’s 3D Visualization Center, and Jeff Hamerlinck, director of the Wyoming Geographic Information Science Center, were selected for their requested high-resolution data visualization LED wall system along with matching funds from the School of Computing.

-- A proposal by John Hoberg, a professor in the Department of Chemistry, was selected for a high-pressure hydrogenation reactor.

-- Haibo Zhai, the Roy and Caryl Cline Distinguished Chair and a professor in the Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering and Construction Management, will receive funding for laboratory computers.

-- Jonathan Brant, a professor in the Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering and Construction Management and SER’s Center of Excellence in Produced Water Management, will receive funding for an integrated electrolysis system for hydrogen production.

-- Shane Murphy, an associate professor in the Department of Atmospheric Science and SER’s Center for Air Quality, will receive funding for repairs and upgrades to existing equipment in the Atmospheric Science Mobile Lab.

-- A collaborative proposal from Fabian Nippgen and Kristina Hufford, both associate professors in the Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, along with Roger Coupal, a professor in the Department of Agricultural and Applied Economics, will receive funding for a fixed-wing unmanned aerial vehicle and associated sensor to measure discharge and trigger water sampling for reclaimed mine land.

-- Grant Copeland, an SER research professional in the Center for Economic Geology Research, submitted a successful proposal for an ashing furnace and hood to improve current critical mineral research capabilities.

-- Jonathan Naughton, a professor in the Department of Mechanical Engineering and director of the Wind Energy Research Center, will receive funding for a laser-particle image velocity system.

-- Minou Rabiei, an associate professor in the Department of Energy and Petroleum Engineering, will receive funding for a rock compressibility system for the testing and characterization of cavern storage formations for carbon capture and storage.

-- Tawfik Elshehabi, an assistant professor in the Department of Energy and Petroleum Engineering, will receive funding for Eco-Cem liquid cement (slurry) testing equipment.

-- Kam Ng, a professor in the Department of Civil and Architectural Engineering and Construction Management, submitted a successful proposal for a 4D X-ray microtomography system.

-- Vamegh Rasouli, a professor and head of the Department of Energy and Petroleum Engineering, will receive funding for a G200X nanoindenter from KLA Instruments, which will be used for nanoscale mechanical testing.

-- Soheil Saraji, an associate professor in the Department of Energy and Petroleum Engineering, will receive funding for a micro-X-ray fluorescence spectrometer and an automated petrography polarization microscope for geological formation characterization capabilities.

-- Maddie Lewis, an assistant professor in the Department of Geology and Geophysics, will receive funding for instrument, electrical and venting renovations in a lab dedicated to the characterization of critical minerals.

-- Brian Leonard, a professor and head of the Department of Chemistry, will receive funding for four new furnaces, ceramic reaction tubes, thermocouples and heating elements.

-- Brad Carr, an associate research scientist in the Department of Geology and Geophysics, will receive funding for a SmartSolo seismic receiver, a Geometrics Stratagem EH-5 magnetotelluric system and a Proceq Screening Eagle multifrequency ground penetrating radar system for drill pad technology.

-- David Reid, a graduate teaching assistant, and Rasouli, both in the Department of Energy and Petroleum Engineering, submitted a successful request for a HPHT foam rheometer for the Integrated Research Lab.

Overall, the proposals will support individuals in 14 departments and centers of excellence on a range of energy-related projects.

“We are very pleased to see the desire of our researchers and faculty to do so much more than they are already doing to drive quality energy exploration,” Wright says. “Providing access to proper tools and equipment will make a huge difference in the outcomes for those who are already dedicated to making a tangible difference in Wyoming’s energy industry.”