Two research teams have received funding from the Department of Energy (DOE). Working with researchers from Iowa State, data science fellow Jim Pfaendtner (UW Chemical Engineering) and eScience Director of Research David Beck (UW Chemical Engineering) will integrate the chemistry of biomass conversion, reaction network analysis and data science to create a systematic process for identifying novel bioproducts that create enhanced performance properties in their end use application.

The project, titled “Identifying performance advantaged biobased chemicals utilizing bioprivileged molecules” will be supported by a $2.5 million award from the DOE Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO).

The second project, led by Hugh Hillhouse (UW Chemical Engineering), and including Marina Meila (UW Statistics), UW PhD student Ryan Stoddard (UW Chemical Engineering) and David Beck will use machine learning to improve perovskite solar cell efficiency, performance and stability. Supported by a $1.5 million award from the DOE Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO), this project is called “Machine learning assisted enhancement of perovskite stability and performance.”