2024 year in review

As the inaugural year of the Stanford Energy Postdoctoral Fellowship concluded and we welcomed the second cohort of 9 fellows, the fellowship celebrated its fellows' achievements and their growing impact on the energy research landscape in addition to the launch of several initiatives focused on energy leadership.

Skill development

The program began this year with a new professional development series featuring interactive workshops on science TED Talks, job search strategies, and effective networking, enhancing fellows' skill set while promoting a collaborative learning environment for idea exchange.

Leadership Lunches

Cultivating perspectives in leadership, fellows engaged in experiential learning focused on essential leadership qualities. From dynamic discussions on starting a research group to identifying your north stars, fellows reflect on their own leadership styles and aspirations.

Industry engagement

Fellows participated in Precourt's Stanford Energy Research Showcase, bridging the gap between academia and the energy sector. This connection expands fellows' professional networks and inspires them to translate innovative research into impactful solutions.

16 conferences

Materials research, Energy and economics, Electrochemistry, Environmental resources, X-ray microscopy, Autonomous energy systems, Physics, and more...

Highlighted publications

Effects of catholyte aging on high-nickel NMC cathodes in sulfide all-solid-state batteries. Yukio Cho examines how solid-state batteries slowly degrade while sitting unused, revealing a new reaction mechanism that explains why some material choices outperform others.

Electron inertial effects in the rarefied regime of a direct-current (DC) breakdown. Luca Vialetto compares different models to understand how electrical breakdown occurs in gases, revealing that considering electron inertia is crucial at low pressure and electron distance, which affects how energy is lost during the breakdown process.

First Demonstration of an NP Oxide Semiconductor Complementary Gain Cell Memory. Fabia F. Athena demonstrates a new monolithic three-dimensional (3D) integrated memory that combines two complementary transistor types based on emerging materials. By integrating these distinct devices within a single monolithic 3D stack, the design lowers the energy-delay-product, offering a path toward more energy-efficient chips in future technology nodes.

A Vision for the Future

The energy landscape is evolving rapidly, and the fellowship is committed to cultivating fellows to meet these challenges. New initiatives for next year will foster interdisciplinary discussion, expand outreach, and support fellows in becoming leaders in the energy sector.

The vision for the future is bright, with opportunities to cultivate a culture of curiosity among fellows that promotes the sharing of ideas and collaborative discussion across disciplines.

2024 photo album