Two chemistry professors at UGA have received $1.5 million to conduct energy-related research. Tina Salguero and Gary Bouberly, assistant professors of chemistry in the Franklin College of Arts and Sciences have been awarded $750,000 each for five years from the DOE's office of Science's Early Career Research Program for potentially groundbreaking, energy related projects.

“This is tremendous news which continues the very strong performance of the chemistry faculty in recent years,” said UGA President Michael F. Adams. “At a time when this country faces serious questions about the future of its energy supply, research focused on energy efficiency is a national priority. I am proud that Drs. Salguero and Douberly are being supported by the Department of Energy in their groundbreaking research.”

Salguero will be focusing on increasing the energy capacity for compact electrical devices and Douberly will be looking to new technologies to improve fuel efficiency.

Salguero and Douberly are among a small group of researchers nationwide to receive funding through the DOE’s Early Career Research Program. Only 68 researchers, eight percent of all applicants who passed the pre-proposal phase, were accepted for funding this year. Of those, 14 work in chemistry departments or divisions.

“This is the first time since the inception of the program in 2010 that these prestigious and highly competitive awards have been given to faculty researchers in the state of Georgia, so we’re enormously proud of Tina and Gary,” said David Lee, vice president for research. “The fact that two awards were given to UGA chemistry faculty in the same year is an unambiguous indication of the strength and upward trajectory of the department.”