Assistant Professor Wei Wang has received the Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement Award from the Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) in recognition of his work in engineering. ORAU presented the competitive award to 36 junior faculty from their member institutions, with Wang being the sole recipient from UT.
The award includes one year of funding in the amount of $5,000 with an additional $5,000 in matched funds from UT. Wang will be using the funds to design novel ice-repellent surfaces that have ultra-low adhesion to ice.
“The ice adhesion is a severe hazard to many industries and our lives,” said Wang. “Developing ice-repellent surfaces that facilitate easy removal of ice is so important and can help prevent these hazards.”
ORAU was started over 75 years ago to provide innovative scientific and technical solutions to advance national priorities in science, education, security, and health. More than 150 major colleges and universities are part of the consortium. This is the 32nd year they have awarded the Ralph E. Powe Junior Faculty Enhancement grants, which are intended to help young tenure-track faculty further their research careers.
For more information on the ORAU award and a full list of this year’s recipients, visit https://www.orau.org/university-partnerships/member-grant-programs/powe/index.html.