A University of Wyoming senior in chemistry is the recipient of the Nielson Excellence Fellowship in Energy Studies for the 2012-13 academic year at UW.
Sakun Duwal, from Nepal, received the prestigious undergraduate fellowship which recognizes superior performance and future potential for students enrolled in energy resource science, energy resource management and development, energy systems engineering, petroleum engineering, chemical engineering, geology and geophysics, chemistry and physics. The fellowship provides students a unique experience to work directly with faculty mentors, graduate students and energy companies on relevant, authentic research and development projects.
Duwal's research project focuses on producing a catalyst that creates the best way to use hydrogen as a substitution for fossil fuels. Her faculty mentor is Assistant Professor Jing Zhou in the Department of Chemistry.
The fellowship is possible through a generous donation by the Nielson family to the UW School of Energy Resources.
Nielson fellows collaborate with research teams, leading to publications in peer-reviewed journals and potential commercialization. The fellowship also provides funding to attend a national or international professional conference. These experiences are intended to position students for long-term competitive success in the energy arena, promote "workforce-ready" skills and enhance student competitiveness in the workforce.
