Today, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Technology Transitions (OTT) announced 10 Faculty Explorer award recipients in the EnergyTech University Prize (EnergyTech UP) Faculty Track. OTT awarded each faculty competitor $5,000 for showing promising interest, ideas, and/or materials that promote energy entrepreneurship at their collegiate institutions.

Those competing in EnergyTech UP 2025 as faculty are challenged to develop innovative educational activities to engage more students in energy technology commercialization and entrepreneurship at their institution. This track is designed to incentivize and support faculty directly, with $110,000 in cash prizes available for their efforts. 

The EnergyTech UP 2024 Faculty Explorers are as follows (organized alphabetically by last name): 

  • Sevki Cesmeci, Georgia Southern University (Statesboro, GA)
    • Developing programming to equip students to bridge technical innovation and market application, preparing future leaders in the energy sector.
  • Jeff Dusek, Baldwin Wallace University (Berea, OH) 
    • Creating a pathway for energy innovation in the Baldwin Wallace engineering program through industry-engaged curricular enhancements and entrepreneurship.
  • Pejman Kazempoor, The University of Oklahoma (Norman, OK) 
    • Combining technology and business strategies to explore innovative entrepreneurship in green energy solutions.
  • Charles McElroy, Cleveland State University (Cleveland, OH)
    • Engaging students, faculty, government, nonprofit stakeholders in the use of AI to make business plans for commercializing energy technologies.
  • Selvaprabu Nadarajah, University of Illinois Chicago (Chicago, IL)
    • Creating a digital badge to train students in energy technology commercialization, bridging education and clean energy careers.
  • Nelson Pizarro, University of the Virgin Islands (St. Thomas, VI)
    • Integrating energy tech and entrepreneurship at the University of the Virgin Islands to foster innovation, resilience, and equity in tackling Caribbean energy challenges.
  • Amy Quarkume, Howard University (Washington, D.C.)
    • Developing a 7-week accelerator empowering HBCU students to create energy tech solutions for underserved communities, fostering equity and impact.
  • Arif Rahman, Hawai’i Pacific University (Honolulu, HI)
    • Empowering students to develop market-ready clean energy solutions by integrating entrepreneurial fundamentals into curriculum.
  • Jian Shi, University of Houston (Houston, TX)
    • Creating an energy technology commercialization course and certificate that will enable students to develop business plans, receive mentorship, and participate in pitch competitions.
  • Liwei Zhou, The University of Texas at Arlington (Arlington, TX)
    • Developing a four-step program to educate, research, and commercialize energy technologies, bridging students with industrial practice for a sustainable future.

As part of EnergyTech UP, faculty develop a proposal throughout three phases of competition: the Explore Phase, the Develop Phase, and the Implement Phase. 

Faculty Explorers, as well as any other interested faculty, are encouraged to submit a plan by April 25 as part of the Implement Phase to reflect how their idea could be integrated into educational activities for students. Up to eight faculty teams will split the $60,000 prize pool as winners and runners-up.

Don’t forget: Students interested in participating in EnergyTech UP 2024 can join a final informational webinar on Jan. 23 at 1 p.m. ET.  To enter the competition, students must upload a submission that is focused on an energy technology commercialization business plan by Feb. 3 at 11:59 p.m. ET. 

Congratulations to the 2025 Faculty Explorers!