Dr. Oliviero Andreussi, a computational scientist in the UNT Department of Physics, received $600,000 from the National Science Foundation's Faculty Early Career Development Program to develop and apply new tools that help characterize chemical processes at solid-liquid interfaces. Many common devices, ranging from chemical sensors to lithium-ion batteries, involve a liquid solution interacting with a solid electrode. Improving the performances of these devices requires a better understanding of these interactions. Dr. Andreussi is developing computer models that will capture the complexity of these systems and help screen existing or innovative compounds, such as two-dimensional materials. The inexpensive nature of computer simulations will simplify the design process and guide future experiments.

National Science Foundation CAREER awards are granted to faculty within their first 10 years in a full-time college appointment whose scholarly products are considered to have had a high impact in their discipline and/or on society. Dr. Andreussi was one of three UNT professors to recently receive the award, and one of two in the College of Science, along with Dr. Nam Trang of UNT Mathematics.

"While it's our faculty who won the awards, our students will also benefit from a true hands-on experiential learning experience," said Mark McLellan, vice president for research and innovation. "Alexis Palmer, Oliviero Andreussi and Nam Trang are three of the reasons UNT continues to expand its leading programs as a world class research institution."

As part of the NSF grant Dr. Andreussi will develop educational programs so that UNT students can be involved in his research. The programs include online learning modules, hands-on computer workshops and more.

UNT has 14 researchers who have been awarded a CAREER grant in the last 12 years-the most prestigious recognition offered by the NSF for young researchers. It supports early-career faculty who have the potential to serve as academic role models in research and education.

Learn more at UNT News