Associate Dean for Research & Graduate Education Mehdi Anwar announced that the School of Engineering has launched a search for a permanent Director of the Center for Clean Energy Engineering (C2E2). The C2E2, established in 2001 with significant investment from Connecticut Innovations and Connecticut industry, is housed in a dedicated, state-of-the-art facility located at the Storrs campus. The Center has enjoyed funding of over $9 million during its six years of operation and ranks among the largest academic fuel cell R&D centers in the nation.
The Director will report directly to the dean of engineering and will oversee all short- and long-range operations of the C2E2. Dr. Anwar said that candidates should possess the leadership qualities necessary to attract significant financial and human resources to the Center, along with a commitment to building and maintaining collaborative partnerships between the C2E2 and industrial and government partners. Additionally, applicants should have demonstrated experience and interest in marketing and promotion, a record of successful funds generation, and the leadership skills necessary to foster visionary team-based research and development.
The School seeks to fill the open position immediately with a qualified individual. Applicants must hold a Ph.D. in engineering or a related physical science discipline, a distinguished record of research in fuel cell technology, and an established national/international reputation in their research areas. Dr. Anwar said the School invites self nominations as well as secondary nominations of individuals who fit these criteria.
The C2E2 serves as a nucleus for research, commercialization and educational activities focusing on proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs), solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs), direct methanol fuel cells (DMFCs), molten carbonate and other fuel cell types, and by efforts in micro- and micro-miniature fuel cell systems. The Center partners with Connecticut fuel cell leaders, such as UTC Power, FuelCell Energy, Distributed Energy Systems; Connecticut state alternative energy leaders including the Connecticut Clean Energy Fund/Connecticut Innovations; and national funding agencies such as the U.S. Department of Energy, National Science Foundation, DARPA, ONR and many others.
With faculty researchers from various engineering disciplines as well as chemistry and biology, the C2E2 is advancing the state of the art in fuel cell science and technology and bringing fuel cells to the next stage of commercial development in countless domestic and military applications, from laptop computers and automobiles to primary power units used by infantry personnel in remote environments. Our center also offers on-site facilities for fuel cell and stack performance testing, and education aimed at training tomorrow’s energy leaders in diverse fuel cell and other sustainable energy technologies.
