Penn Materials Science Ph.D. Student Selected for Prestigious DOE Research Fellowship

Penn Materials Science Ph.D. Student Selected for Prestigious DOE Research Fellowship

George Hollyer, a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Materials Science and Engineering at the University of Pennsylvania, has been selected for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science Graduate Student Research (SCGSR) Program. He is one of just 79 doctoral students nationwide to receive this highly competitive award, which enables graduate researchers to conduct part of their thesis work at a DOE national laboratory.

This summer through December, Hollyer will conduct research at Brookhaven National Laboratory (BNL), where he will collaborate with Dr. Anatoly Frenkel on in-situ characterization of heterogeneous catalysts. Using advanced tools such as transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and synchrotron X-ray spectroscopy, his project aims to observe how catalyst materials evolve under realistic industrial conditions—insights that could lead to more efficient and durable energy technologies.

Hollyer’s work at Brookhaven builds on a year of prior research as a user at the Center for Functional Nanomaterials, where he developed a novel ultra-high pressure in-situ TEM holder. This device allows scientists to image materials at tens of atmospheres of pressure, offering a rare look at the behavior of catalysts under the same conditions found in real-world reactors and chemical plants.

“Being selected for SCGSR is an incredible opportunity,” Hollyer said. “It allows me to work at the forefront of materials science and take full advantage of the DOE’s world-class resources and expertise. I’m excited to deepen this collaboration and continue exploring the complex behavior of catalysts under real conditions.”

The SCGSR program is designed to prepare graduate students for impactful careers aligned with the DOE Office of Science’s mission, including breakthroughs in clean energy, quantum science, fusion energy, and advanced materials. Participants benefit from mentorship by national lab scientists and access to cutting-edge research infrastructure not typically available at universities.

Hollyer’s selection highlights both his scientific promise and the University of Pennsylvania’s commitment to advancing interdisciplinary research with global relevance. His work exemplifies how strong academic-laboratory partnerships can help shape the future of sustainable technologies and energy innovation.