qut engineering research proposal

• Expression of Interest (EOI) FAQs
• Engage with us
• PhDs and Masters
• Where's the link to submit my EOI?   The online form can be found here: https://student-qut.studylink.com/index.cfm
• When do applications for the next PhD scholarship round close? The next round of applications for scholarships closes on September 8th, 2021. Project-funded scholarships are available at all times.
• What is the course code and CRICOS code? The Course code is IF49 and the CRICOS code is 006367J.
• When is the project start date? You should state the date that you would be able to start your PhD (NB: It must be before 30th June 2022).  This can be amended after discussion with your Supervisor if you are invited to submit an application.
• What is the faculty and school?  A PhD within the QUT Centre for Robotics is through the Electrical Engineering and Robotics (EER) school in the  Faculty of Engineering (FoE)
• What documentation do I need to provide in the EOI?   Documentation is assessed via the QUT HDR team - refer to this link for details of acceptable evidence.
•   How do I provide evidence that I have the supervisors support?   We ask all  potential PhD candidates to submit their CV and details of proposed projects to us directly in advance of completing the QUT EOI.  If you have not been in direct contact with a supervisor you should contact your proposed supervisor directly to see if they are willing to support your project.
• What keywords do I use? These are words that would be associated with your research - e.g. automation, drones, deep learning, computer vision, grasping
• How do I know whether there is potential to incorporate industry engagement?   You should think about whether the research could involve industry through collaboration.  This could be in different ways - e.g. an internship to understand how the industry works and would use the technology or a partnership with industry.
• Describe if and how your project aligns with your proposed faculty’s research programs.   QCR has 5 research programs and your research must align with one of them. Please state which one on the form
• I'm currently overseas: can I apply? Currently there's some likelihood that due to COVID-19 travel restrictions and uncertainty about when borders will open more fully, international students already in Australia and domestic students already in Australia will be priorities for PhD programs.
• I'm currently overseas: can I start my PhD overseas or do a PhD remotely? Given current COVID-19 travel restrictions and uncertainty about when borders will open more fully, this is not possible.

A research proposal to improve the environmental performance of the building industry by increasing the innovation activity of small contractors

Manley, Karen & Rose, Tim (2017) A research proposal to improve the environmental performance of the building industry by increasing the innovation activity of small contractors. In Wong, S C & Chow, B (Eds.) Proceedings of the World Sustainable Built Environment Conference 2017. Construction Industry Council and Hong Kong Green Building Council Limited, Hong Kong, China, pp. 2798-2805.

Open access copy at publisher website

Description

The World Building Council for Sustainable Development has singled out the building industry as an urgent problem where there are ‘large and attractive opportunities’ to reduce energy use at a lower cost and higher return than other sectors, given an appropriate investment in innovation (WBCSD, 2009, 1). Focus on the building industry is critical as it is the single largest contributor to climate change (UNEP, 2014, 16). It is the biggest consumer of energy amongst end-use sectors, and generates more greenhouse gas emissions than the transport sector (IPCC, 2014b, 47, IPCC, 2014a, 21-23). A shift to more sustainable building is seen as an essential part of urban renewal focused on reduced environmental impacts. Such a shift will require significant innovation, yet the building industry is renowned as an innovation laggard, rated second-last amongst all 17 Australian industries (ABS 8158.0, 2014). An exciting opportunity for fast-tracking innovation leading to sustainable buildings has been discovered by the research team. Through this study, they will divert attention given to large firms and iconic projects, where change is ponderously slow and impacts are marginal, to small contractors where change can be adopted much more rapidly and where major impacts are much more likely. The role of small contractors is significant. In fact, 98.5% of all Australian contractors are small, employing less than 20 people; yet they generate nearly half of the industry’s output and employ 62% of workers in the industry (ABS 8155.0, 2015, ABS 8165.0, 2015). Small contractors provide the most efficient lever for improving the sustainability of buildings. Small contractors are ubiquitous specialist intermediaries in the building industry, linking product manufacturers and distributors with building owners and users. From an innovation system’s perspective, the critical role of small contractors is clear; they hold a strategically important position within the industry and represent a focal point in the innovation system where the benefits of improved innovation activity to support environmental objectives would have strong multiplier effects. This role has not previously been examined in any depth, particularly with regard to environmental sustainability. The paper outlines a robust research proposal to address this gap in the literature.

Impact and interest:

Citation counts are sourced monthly from Scopus and Web of Science® citation databases.

These databases contain citations from different subsets of available publications and different time periods and thus the citation count from each is usually different. Some works are not in either database and no count is displayed. Scopus includes citations from articles published in 1996 onwards, and Web of Science® generally from 1980 onwards.

Citations counts from the Google Scholar™ indexing service can be viewed at the linked Google Scholar™ search.

• Notify us of incorrect data
• How to use citation counts
• More information

Full-text downloads:

Full-text downloads displays the total number of times this work’s files (e.g., a PDF ) have been downloaded from QUT ePrints as well as the number of downloads in the previous 365 days. The count includes downloads for all files if a work has more than one.

Export: EndNote | Dublin Core | BibTeX

Repository Staff Only: item control page

• Browse research
• TEQSA Provider ID: PRV12079 (Australian University)
• CRICOS No. 00213J
• ABN 83 791 724 622
• Accessibility
• Right to Information

• Help for students
• Help for staff

Browse Hierarchy EGH400-1: Research Project 1

Lists linked to research project 1, add list to this unit, add existing node.

• Bulletin Board
• Committee Charters
• Current Version
• Status and Details
• Associated Information
• Historic Versions
• Future Versions

External Research Funding Policy

Section 1 - purpose, section 2 - application, section 3 - principles, section 4 - roles and responsibilities, section 5 - preparation of a proposal, section 6 - budgeting and pricing a proposal, section 7 - review, approval and submission of proposals, section 8 - contract negotiation and agreement, section 9 - project management and locally managed consultancies, section 10 - definitions, section 11 - delegations.

(1) QUT aims to increase its collaboration with a wide variety of partners and staff are encouraged to seek external research funding from various sources and to participate in consultancies that are strategically important for the University. In this Policy the term External Research Funding includes all categories of research and consultancies that are conducted though QUT as set out below in Section 2, Application.

(2) The purpose of this Policy is to set out the structures within QUT that support and govern these activities, as well as the principles and procedures that apply to the process of seeking and expending external research funding.

(3) This Policy applies to:

• all QUT staff (including casual and sessional staff), research students, and any person taking part in a research activity at QUT, including a person holding an adjunct, conjoint or honorary role at QUT, and to any other person appointed or engaged by QUT to perform work, duties or functions for QUT;
• all research applications for external funding led by QUT, or where QUT is a participant, including all grants (competitive, domestic, and international), large programmatic initiatives such Cooperative Research Centres (CRCs), commercial research;
• externally funded positions (for example Chair or joint positions);
• scholarships that are part of larger research projects or programmes; and
• all consultancies conducted through QUT.

(4) The policy does not apply to:

• activities supported by QUTeX ( Non-award Study Policy );
• bequests, donations and gifts ( Trusts, Gifts and Privately Funded Positions Policy );
• Outside Work, Private Consultancies and Directorships Policy ; and
• stand-alone student scholarships, bursaries and prizes ( Student Scholarships, Bursaries and Prizes Policy ).

(5) All research activities administered by QUT must be strategically aligned with QUT priorities and conducted in a manner consistent with:

• The Australian Code for the Responsible Conduct of Research 2007 (the Code) and QUT Code for Responsible Conduct of Research ;
• Management of Research Data and Primary Materials Policy ;
• Intellectual Property Policy ; and
• QUT Code of Conduct - Staff and Conflict of Interest Policy .

(6) QUT accepts funding from reputable external sources that share the University’s commitment to addressing real-world problems and advancing knowledge with integrity. The Head of Research Portfolio may refuse external research funding where the funding is from individuals or organisations involved in certain activities (for example, individuals or organisations involved in the tobacco industry) or for activities which do not comply with applicable laws and regulations (such as the  Defence Trade Controls Act 2012 ).

(7) The first named investigator takes the role of ‘first among equals’, being responsible for coordinating the development of the proposal, for providing a complete and transparent approach to costing and for ensuring all investigators contribute similarly to the project and have approval from their Head of School to conduct the project.

(8) Guidance for  Developing a Research Proposal  (QUT staff access only) can be found in the Digital Workplace.

(9) First named investigators seeking a University Research Budget contribution should consult the University Research Budget Protocol (QUT staff access only) available in the Digital Workplace.

(10) The first named investigator must ensure that the proposed work is properly costed in accordance with User Charging Policy and/or the guidelines of the funding provider. Where appropriate the first named investigator will also need to ensure that pricing of the goods/services offered complies with the  National Competition Policy  in terms of competitive neutrality requirements.

(11) All budgets for external research funding must include at a minimum, direct costs and a recovery for indirect costs at the applicable rate in accordance with the appropriate QUT budget tool and QUT’s user charging policies unless the published conditions of the funding body explicitly exclude some of these costs.

(12) Where a Head of School approves a staff member to conduct consulting activities in addition to allocated workload, their direct salary cost can be distributed according to QUT finance policies and procedures.

(13) Prior to submitting a proposal to an external organisation, the first named investigator must contact the Office of Research Services to review and endorse the proposal. All named investigators on the proposal must also obtain approval from their Head of School/employer (or Supervisor in the case of a Head of School or senior or professional staff member) to undertake the proposed project or activity. The first named chief investigator is required to obtain, prior to submission of a funding application, written confirmation that each named investigator approves, and has approval from their HOS/employer to be named on and contribute to the project as outlined in the application.

(14) In seeking approval, investigators are required to notify any conflict of interest related to their involvement in the project or activity, in accordance with the Conflict of Interest Policy .

(15) Before giving their approval, the Head of School should consider the following:

• staff member’s workload (including whether this would be considered within the allocated workload or in addition to the allocated workload);
• benefit to the staff member (for example staff development, external engagement, disbursement of income);
• any staff conflict of interest.

(16) The Head of School should also consider the following in relation to the proposed project:

• availability of required QUT resources;
• whether each named investigator (internal and external), and their Supervisor/employer has confirmed (in writing) their willingness to participate on the project as outlined in the application;
• potential issues obtaining ethics approval;
• potential risks and how they could be managed; and
• whether the costing is appropriate.

(17) The Office of Research Services negotiates all agreements related to external research funding and any variations to these agreements. The Office of Industry Engagement would provide advice on agreements involving commercialisation or intellectual property considerations. QUT staff can negotiate scope, timing and deliverables, however Office of Research Services representatives are the contract managers for these agreements ( Contracts and Legal Instruments Management Policy ).  

(18) The positions delegated to sign agreements for external research funding are specified in the  Register of Authorities and Delegations  (QUT staff access only).

(19) Guidance for  Managing a research project  can be found in the Digital Workplace (QUT staff access only).

(20) Locally managed consultancies are managed at school/faculty or centre level and the Office of Research Services negotiates agreements when these consultancies are not conducted under an approved QUT template.   

(21) Refer to  Register of Authorities and Delegations  (VC012, VC025, VC027, VC028) (QUT staff access only).

   QUT acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands where QUT now stands.                       TEQSA Provider ID: PRV12079 (Australian University)    |    CRICOS No. 00213J   |   ABN: 83 791 724 622

Effect of the quenching temperature on the structural state of high-speed steels

• Published: 05 November 2009
• Volume 2009 , pages 329–333, ( 2009 )

Cite this article

• D. I. Doronin 1 ,
• A. D. Rusakov 2 &
• Yu. A. Lukina 1  

29 Accesses

Explore all metrics

The effect of the temperature of heating for quenching on the temperatures of the onset of intense grain growth and the onset of melting of grain boundaries is studied for high-speed steels of six grades. The mechanical properties of the tool are shown to be controlled with allowance for its design and operating conditions.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Price includes VAT (Russian Federation)

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Rent this article via DeepDyve

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

Structural Hardening of High-Speed Steel

I. K. Kupalova

Effect of Heat Treatment on Mechanical Properties and Microstructure of Advanced High-Strength Steel

M. V. Maisuradze, Yu. V. Yudin, … D. I. Lebedev

Laws of Formation of Structure and Properties in Cold-Deformed Low-Carbon Structural Steel Under Incomplete Quenching

T. Yu. Barsukova, D. O. Panov & Yu. N. Simonov

V. I. Baranchikov, A. V. Zharikov, N. D. Yudina, et al., Advanced Cutting Tools and Metal Cutting Conditions: A Handbook (Mashinostroenie, Moscow, 1990) [in Russian].

Google Scholar  

G. Hole, “High Speed Steel Alloys,” Metals Review 12 (115) (1965).

Yu. A. Geller, Tool Steels , 5th ed. (Metallurgiya, Moscow, 1983) [in Russian].

A. N. Popandopulo, “Study, Designing, and Implementation of a Series of Tungsten-Molybdenum and Molybdenum-Cobalt of Highly Effective High-Speed Steels and Their Heat Treatment,” Metalloved. Term. Obrab. Met., No. 6, 38 (1991).

D. I. Doronin and Yu. V. Vinogradov, “Effect of the Composition and Strain on the Carbide Heterogeneity in High-Speed Steel,” in Manufacture of High-Speed and Die Steels (Metallurgiya, Moscow, 1970), p. 14.

A. P. Gulyaev, K. A. Malinina, and S. M. Saverina, Tool Steels: A Handbook (Mashinostroenie, Moscow, 1975) [in Russian].

Download references

Author information

Authors and affiliations.

JSC Elektrostal Heavy Engineering Works (JCS EZTM), Elektrostal’, Moscow oblast, Russia

D. I. Doronin & Yu. A. Lukina

Baikov Institute of Metallurgy and Materials Science, Russian Academy of Sciences, Leninskii pr. 49, Moscow, 119991, Russia

A. D. Rusakov

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to D. I. Doronin .

Additional information

Original Russian Text © D.I. Doronin, A.D. Rusakov, Yu.A. Lukina, 2009, published in Metally, 2009, No. 4, pp. 63–66.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Doronin, D.I., Rusakov, A.D. & Lukina, Y.A. Effect of the quenching temperature on the structural state of high-speed steels. Russ. Metall. 2009 , 329–333 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1134/S0036029509040089

Download citation

Received : 18 February 2009

Published : 05 November 2009

Issue Date : August 2009

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1134/S0036029509040089

Share this article

Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content:

Sorry, a shareable link is not currently available for this article.

Provided by the Springer Nature SharedIt content-sharing initiative

PACS number

• Find a journal
• Publish with us
• Track your research

• QUT Library
• Library guides
• Library course and unit guides
• Research methods for urban development and the built environment

Research Question / Your Research Proposal (Videos)

• About this Guide
• Undergraduate Dissertations / Undergraduate Research Projects
• Researching the Built Environment
• Qualitative Research Methods
• Quantitative Research Methods
• Survey Methods
• Interviewing
• Focus Groups
• Research Question / Your Research Proposal (Books)
• Research Ethics / Professional Ethics
• Plan Your Search
• Search Strategies and Technique
• Databases - Bibliographic Databases
• Focus on the peer-reviewed literature
• Find resources through references and citations
• Web Sources - Find reliable information on the Web
• Review the Literature
• Evaluate information
• Critical reading and note-taking
• Writing - paraphrasing & synthesising
• Referencing

Videos on Developing your Research Question

• << Previous: Research Question / Research Proposal
• Next: Research Question / Your Research Proposal (Books) >>
• Last Updated: Jan 11, 2024 5:41 PM
• URL: https://libguides.library.qut.edu.au/built

Global links and information

• Current students
• Current staff
• TEQSA Provider ID: PRV12079 (Australian University)
• CRICOS No. 00213J
• ABN 83 791 724 622
• Accessibility
• Right to Information

Acknowledgement of Traditional Owners

QUT acknowledges the Traditional Owners of the lands where QUT now stands.

Have a language expert improve your writing

Run a free plagiarism check in 10 minutes, generate accurate citations for free.

• Knowledge Base
• Starting the research process
• How to Write a Research Proposal | Examples & Templates

How to Write a Research Proposal | Examples & Templates

Published on October 12, 2022 by Shona McCombes and Tegan George. Revised on November 21, 2023.

A research proposal describes what you will investigate, why it’s important, and how you will conduct your research.

The format of a research proposal varies between fields, but most proposals will contain at least these elements:

Introduction

Literature review.

• Research design

Reference list

While the sections may vary, the overall objective is always the same. A research proposal serves as a blueprint and guide for your research plan, helping you get organized and feel confident in the path forward you choose to take.

Table of contents

Research proposal purpose, research proposal examples, research design and methods, contribution to knowledge, research schedule, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about research proposals.

Academics often have to write research proposals to get funding for their projects. As a student, you might have to write a research proposal as part of a grad school application , or prior to starting your thesis or dissertation .

In addition to helping you figure out what your research can look like, a proposal can also serve to demonstrate why your project is worth pursuing to a funder, educational institution, or supervisor.

Research proposal length

The length of a research proposal can vary quite a bit. A bachelor’s or master’s thesis proposal can be just a few pages, while proposals for PhD dissertations or research funding are usually much longer and more detailed. Your supervisor can help you determine the best length for your work.

One trick to get started is to think of your proposal’s structure as a shorter version of your thesis or dissertation , only without the results , conclusion and discussion sections.

Download our research proposal template

Receive feedback on language, structure, and formatting

Professional editors proofread and edit your paper by focusing on:

• Academic style
• Vague sentences
• Style consistency

See an example

Writing a research proposal can be quite challenging, but a good starting point could be to look at some examples. We’ve included a few for you below.

• Example research proposal #1: “A Conceptual Framework for Scheduling Constraint Management”
• Example research proposal #2: “Medical Students as Mediators of Change in Tobacco Use”

Like your dissertation or thesis, the proposal will usually have a title page that includes:

• The proposed title of your project
• Your supervisor’s name
• Your institution and department

The first part of your proposal is the initial pitch for your project. Make sure it succinctly explains what you want to do and why.

Your introduction should:

• Introduce your topic
• Give necessary background and context
• Outline your  problem statement  and research questions

To guide your introduction , include information about:

• Who could have an interest in the topic (e.g., scientists, policymakers)
• How much is already known about the topic
• What is missing from this current knowledge
• What new insights your research will contribute
• Why you believe this research is worth doing

Prevent plagiarism. Run a free check.

As you get started, it’s important to demonstrate that you’re familiar with the most important research on your topic. A strong literature review  shows your reader that your project has a solid foundation in existing knowledge or theory. It also shows that you’re not simply repeating what other people have already done or said, but rather using existing research as a jumping-off point for your own.

In this section, share exactly how your project will contribute to ongoing conversations in the field by:

• Comparing and contrasting the main theories, methods, and debates
• Examining the strengths and weaknesses of different approaches
• Explaining how will you build on, challenge, or synthesize prior scholarship

Following the literature review, restate your main  objectives . This brings the focus back to your own project. Next, your research design or methodology section will describe your overall approach, and the practical steps you will take to answer your research questions.

To finish your proposal on a strong note, explore the potential implications of your research for your field. Emphasize again what you aim to contribute and why it matters.

For example, your results might have implications for:

• Improving best practices
• Informing policymaking decisions
• Strengthening a theory or model
• Challenging popular or scientific beliefs
• Creating a basis for future research

Last but not least, your research proposal must include correct citations for every source you have used, compiled in a reference list . To create citations quickly and easily, you can use our free APA citation generator .

Some institutions or funders require a detailed timeline of the project, asking you to forecast what you will do at each stage and how long it may take. While not always required, be sure to check the requirements of your project.

Here’s an example schedule to help you get started. You can also download a template at the button below.

Download our research schedule template

If you are applying for research funding, chances are you will have to include a detailed budget. This shows your estimates of how much each part of your project will cost.

Make sure to check what type of costs the funding body will agree to cover. For each item, include:

• Cost : exactly how much money do you need?
• Justification : why is this cost necessary to complete the research?
• Source : how did you calculate the amount?

To determine your budget, think about:

• Travel costs : do you need to go somewhere to collect your data? How will you get there, and how much time will you need? What will you do there (e.g., interviews, archival research)?
• Materials : do you need access to any tools or technologies?
• Help : do you need to hire any research assistants for the project? What will they do, and how much will you pay them?

If you want to know more about the research process , methodology , research bias , or statistics , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

Methodology

• Sampling methods
• Simple random sampling
• Stratified sampling
• Cluster sampling
• Likert scales
• Reproducibility

 Statistics

• Null hypothesis
• Statistical power
• Probability distribution
• Effect size
• Poisson distribution

Research bias

• Optimism bias
• Cognitive bias
• Implicit bias
• Hawthorne effect
• Anchoring bias
• Explicit bias

Once you’ve decided on your research objectives , you need to explain them in your paper, at the end of your problem statement .

Keep your research objectives clear and concise, and use appropriate verbs to accurately convey the work that you will carry out for each one.

I will compare …

A research aim is a broad statement indicating the general purpose of your research project. It should appear in your introduction at the end of your problem statement , before your research objectives.

Research objectives are more specific than your research aim. They indicate the specific ways you’ll address the overarching aim.

A PhD, which is short for philosophiae doctor (doctor of philosophy in Latin), is the highest university degree that can be obtained. In a PhD, students spend 3–5 years writing a dissertation , which aims to make a significant, original contribution to current knowledge.

A PhD is intended to prepare students for a career as a researcher, whether that be in academia, the public sector, or the private sector.

A master’s is a 1- or 2-year graduate degree that can prepare you for a variety of careers.

All master’s involve graduate-level coursework. Some are research-intensive and intend to prepare students for further study in a PhD; these usually require their students to write a master’s thesis . Others focus on professional training for a specific career.

Critical thinking refers to the ability to evaluate information and to be aware of biases or assumptions, including your own.

Like information literacy , it involves evaluating arguments, identifying and solving problems in an objective and systematic way, and clearly communicating your ideas.

The best way to remember the difference between a research plan and a research proposal is that they have fundamentally different audiences. A research plan helps you, the researcher, organize your thoughts. On the other hand, a dissertation proposal or research proposal aims to convince others (e.g., a supervisor, a funding body, or a dissertation committee) that your research topic is relevant and worthy of being conducted.

Cite this Scribbr article

If you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.

McCombes, S. & George, T. (2023, November 21). How to Write a Research Proposal | Examples & Templates. Scribbr. Retrieved March 18, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/research-process/research-proposal/

Is this article helpful?

Shona McCombes

Other students also liked, how to write a problem statement | guide & examples, writing strong research questions | criteria & examples, how to write a literature review | guide, examples, & templates, what is your plagiarism score.

Intelligent insights & conversations with global power industry professionals

The Energy Collective Group

This group brings together the best thinkers on energy and climate. Join us for smart, insightful posts and conversations about where the energy industry is and where it is going.

X-Energy Signs on to DOE ARDP for $80M in Initial Funding

Publisher of NeutronBytes, a blog about nuclear energy online since 2007.  Consultant and project manager for technology innovation processes and new product / program development for commercial...

• Member since 2018
• 1,691 items added with 1,403,033 views
• Comment (3)
• Mar 7, 2021 Mar 7, 2021 6:34 pm GMT

X-Energy Signs on for ARDP and $80M in Initial Funding

• China  Five-Year-Plan Includes Proposals For Up to 20 New Reactors

China Commits to the ACP100 Small Modular Reactor

Tvel / russian company starts fuel facility for china’s cfr-600 fast neutron reactor, dutch consortium plans work on molten salt reactors, swedish companies seek financial support for lead cooled smr development.

The advanced nuclear energy reactor developer  X-Energy  announced this week that it has signed the Department of Energy’s (DOE)  Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program  (ARDP) Cooperative Agreement, officially marking the beginning of the company’s participation in ARDP’s ~$2.5 billion program.

DOE is providing $80M in the first phase of the cost shared funding plan. DOE will invest approximately $1.23 billion in X-energy’s project over the seven-year period for this demonstration project.

X-Energy Xe-100 Profile: Chart: IAEA

This project will enable X-energy to build the world’s first commercial scale advanced nuclear reactor with Energy Northwest at a site in Washington state.

The Xe-100 is an 80 MWe (scalable to a 320 MWe four-pack) high temperature gas-cooled reactor (HTGR).  (Image right is a conceptual view of the design. Image: X-Energy)

It uses TRi-structural ISOtropic particle fuel (TRISO),  manufactured by X-energy , that can integrate into large, regional electricity systems as a base and load-following source of carbon-free power.

According to X-Energy the reactor as designed is expected to optimize grid use of low-emission, intermittent renewables and other clean energy resources.

The reactor is also ideal for project sites and other power applications, including as a source for industrial process heat.

As part of the Advanced Reactor Demonstration Program, X-energy and its supply chain partners will deliver a commercial four-unit nuclear power plant of its Xe-100 reactor design and a commercial scale TRISO fuel fabrication facility.

About the ARDP Program

ARDP is designed to help domestic private industry demonstrate advanced nuclear reactors in the United States. DOE expects to invest approximately $600 million over seven years with industry partners providing at least 20% in matching funds.

The Department of Energy ARDP program has three elements.

• Advanced reactor demonstrations, which are expected to result in a fully functional advanced nuclear reactor within 7 years of the award.
• Risk reduction for future demonstrations, which will support up to five additional teams resolving technical, operational, and regulatory challenges to prepare for future demonstration opportunities.
• Advanced reactor concepts 2020 (ARC 20), which will support innovative and diverse designs with potential to commercialize in the mid-2030s.

The National Reactor Innovation Center (NRIC) accelerates the demonstration and deployment of advanced nuclear energy. NRIC is is a national Department of Energy program led by Idaho National Laboratory, working with collaborators to demonstrate advanced reactors by the end of 2025.

Risk Reduction for Future Demonstration Projects

Last October DOE awarded TerraPower LLC (Bellevue, WA) and X-energy (Rockville, MD) $80 million each in initial funding to build two advanced nuclear reactors that can be operational within seven years.

See prior coverage on this blog  –  DOE Awards $80M each to TerraPower, X-Energy for ARDP

The awards are cost-shared partnerships with industry that will deliver two first-of-a-kind advanced reactors to be licensed for commercial operations. The Department will invest a total of $3.2 billion over seven years, subject to the availability of future appropriations. The firms participating in the project will be providing matching funds.

TerraPower Role in ARDP

TerraPower , which is the other firm receiving the DOE funding, will demonstrate the Natrium reactor, a sodium cooled fast reactor that leverages of decades of development and design undertaken by TerraPower and its partner, GE Hitachi.

GE Hitachi will be leveraging the design work it has done on the  PRISM reactor  which in turn has its legacy in the design of the  Integral Fast Reactor  at the Argonne West site in Idaho.

The high-operating temperature of the Natrium reactor, coupled with thermal energy storage, will allow the plant to provide flexible electricity output that complements variable renewable generation such as wind a solar. In addition, this project will establish a new metal fuel fabrication facility that is scaled to meet the needs of this demonstration program.

DOE said that both projects incorporate a range of design features that will not only enhance safety, but make them affordable to construct and operate, paving the way for the United States to deploy highly competitive advanced reactors domestically and globally.

China / Five-Year-Plan Includes Proposals For Up to 20 New Reactors

( Nucnet )  China is backing the further development of commercial nuclear power as a key tool in its drive to cut carbon emissions, according to the 2021-2025 five-year plan presented on Friday to China’s annual National People’s Congress.

Beijing said it aims to have 70 GW of installed nuclear capacity by 2025 from about 50 GW at the end of 2019. That would equate to about 20 new reactors, 2021-2025, although China already has 12 under construction.

China originally aimed to bring its nuclear installed capacity to 58 GW by 2020, but didn’t meet the target following a moratorium on new projects following the March 2011 Fukushima-Daiichi accident and delays at a number of Generation III plants that were under construction.

According to the  World Nuclear Association January 2021 assessment  of China’s nuclear energy program, these are the project ( Table ) which are getting underway in the near term.

According to several reports by World Nuclear New, two demonstration multi-purpose modular ACP100 ‘Linglong One’ units will be built at Changjiang. This will be China Guodian’s first mainland domestic nuclear power venture, with CNNC holding 51% of CNNC New Energy Corporation (CNNC-CNEC).

The ACP100 units are integral PWRs, 125 MWe, with passive cooling for decay heat removal. CNNC said that the units could provide electricity, heat and desalination. Construction time is expected to be 65 months.

The ACP100 was identified as a ‘key project’ in China’s 12th Five-Year Plan, and is developed from the larger ACP1000 PWR. The design, which has 57 fuel assemblies and integral steam generators, incorporates passive safety features and will be installed underground.  

ACP100 Technical Profile – Chart: IAEA

In 2016, China announced plans to build a demonstration floating nuclear power plant based on the ACP100S variant of the CNNC design. The use of the floating SMRs is targeted at providing power to artificial islands in the South China Sea for military bases there intended to project geopolitical influence in the region.

See prior coverage on this blog  —  China to deploy floating nuclear power plants to support geopolitical goals in S. E. Asia

The new mainland project involves a joint venture of three companies for the demonstration plant: CNNC as owner and operator, the Nuclear Power Institute of China as the reactor designer and China Nuclear Engineering Group being responsible for plan. Construction is expected to take 65 months, with the 125 MWe unit to start up by May 2025, subject to relevant governmental approvals.

China Slated to Become World Leader in Commercial Nuclear Power

China will have the world’s largest nuclear power fleet within a decade, an International Energy Agency official said during a session at the High-Level Workshop on Nuclear Power in Clean Energy Transitions according to  World Nuclear News  . The workshop was held jointly by the IEA and the International Atomic Energy Agency.

The IEA official, Brent Wanner, head of Power Sector Modelling & Analysis for the agency’s World Energy Outlook publication, said that as nuclear fleets in the United States, Canada, and Japan reach their original design lifetimes, the contribution of nuclear power could decline substantially in those countries while China’s reactor building program will boost it into first place.

   Map of Current and Planned Nuclear Power Plants in China. Ma: World Nuclear Assoc

China already has 50 nuclear reactors in commercial operation, the third highest number behind the US (94) and France (56). In 2019, nuclear energy accounted for 4.9% of the country’s electricity production share, according to the International Atomic Energy Agency.

( Nucnet ) Russian nuclear fuel manufacturer Tvel has started a production facility which will fabricate fuel for China’s  CFR-600  fast neutron reactor under construction under construction in Xiapu County, Fujian province, China, on  Changbiao Island , a coastal site 650 km south of Shanghai.. It is a generation IV demonstration project by the China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC). The project is also known as Xiapu fast reactor pilot project.

Tvel said in a statement that the facility is part of the Elemash Machine-Building Plant, a Tvel plant in Elektrostal, near Moscow.

The CFR-600 is a 600-MW sodium-cooled pool-type fast reactor and is expected to begin commercial operation by 2023. The plant will be able to operate on both mixed oxide (MOX) and uranium dioxide (UO2) fuel types. It is expected to have a design life of 60 years.

Tvel said the new production facility in Elektrostal is a result of a contract signed as a part of a 2018 nuclear cooperation deal between Russia and China, which included the joint construction and operation of the CFR-600 plant.

According to Tvel, the fuel contract covers initial loading of nuclear fuel into the CFR-600 and a number of subsequent refuels covering the first seven years of the unit’s operation. It isn’t clear what the duration is for each fuel cycle.

Tvel said the new fuel fabrication facility will be used to produce fuel not only for the Chinese CFR-600 and CEFR fast reactors, but also for the Russian BN-600 fast reactor at the Beloyarsk nuclear power station.

See prior coverage on this blog  —  Russia’s BN-800 Reactor Enters Commercial Operation

Profile of the CFR600

The CFR600 (China Fast Reactor-600) nuclear reactor pilot project represents the second step in fast reactor development in China following the success of the  China Experimental Fast Reactor  (CEFR), which was connected to the grid in July 2010.

Designed by China Institute of Atomic Energy, the CFR600 is a prototype sodium-cooled pool-type fast reactor capable of generating 1,500MW of thermal power and 600MW of electric power. The reactor design aims at achieving a thermal efficiency of 40%. The medium-sized fourth-generation advanced nuclear reactor will feature two coolant loops and is designed to operate at 380°C and 550°C of inlet and outlet core temperatures, respectively.

Scheduled for commissioning in 2023, the CFR-600 pilot project is  expected to pave the way  for the development and commercialization of much larger CFR-1000 reactors in China by 2030.

The CFR-600 nuclear reactor will also feature design flexibility to use two fuel types. The reactor will be first loaded with uranium oxide (UO2) and then converted to run on mixed oxide (MOX) fuel.

The  Nuclear Research and Consultancy Group  (NRG) in the Netherlands said this month that it had set up a consortium to work on development of  Molten Salt Reactors . The focus of the joint effort will be design and testing of important processes and materials needed to build them. A key emphasis is expected to be on the use of thorium as a fuel type.

 Conceptual image of a molten salt reactor:  Image: Wikipedia

Members of the consortium include TU Delft,  DIFFER , and reactor developer Thorizon. According to press releases,  TU Delft  has been involved in  research into the thorium MSR  for a number of years, and NRG in Petten has research facilities including the High Flux (research) Reactor.

The consortium members said they are making plans to have a first of a kind reactor built by 2035. This will be fueled with thorium with the objective of demonstrating the use of this fuel in MSRs.

NRG said said that it will carry out irradiations of materials intended to be used in MSRs. It will also work on testing and qualification of fuels for MSRs.

This is the second step of three in the development and commercialization of a new type of reactor in Sweden during the 2030s.

The application is based on the project “ Sunrise ” which the Foundation for Strategic Research supported with SEK50 million ($6M) to develop design, material technology and safety analysis for an advanced  lead-cooled research and demonstration reactor . Sunrise includes KTH, Luleå University and Uppsala University. An  detailed workplan , in English, is posted at the project website.

Conceptual image of a lead cooled reactor; Image:  Gen IV

If funding is available, the next step will be to build an electrically powered non-nuclear prototype for testing and verifying materials and technology in an environment of molten lead at high temperatures. The prototype, which will be operated for five years starting in 2024, is planned to be built on OKG’s area at Simpevarp outside Oskarshamn.

Johan Svenningsson, CEO Uniper Sweden, said in a press statement, “We see a clear role for nuclear power in the energy system of the future, and we therefore invest in developing the nuclear power of the future in collaboration with the company Blykalla, which has patents on design and materials for a small modular reactor with lead cooling and passive safety.”

Nuclear Energy’s Role in Sweden

The path for advanced nuclear reactor technology in Sweden may face some stiff headwinds. In recent years Sweden has shut down four older nuclear reactors which led to the restart of fossil fuel power plants. The country’s political leadership has been ambivalent about challenging the influence of green parties who want to do away with all nuclear energy use in the country.

According to the  World Nuclear Association , Sweden’s nuclear power reactors provide about 40% of its electricity.

The country’s 1997 energy policy allowed 10 reactors to operate longer than envisaged by the 1980 phase-out policy, but also resulted in the premature closure of a two-unit plant (1200 MWe).

Some 1600 MWe was subsequently added in uprates to the remaining ten reactors. In 2015 decisions were made to close four older reactors by 2020, removing 2.7 GWe. Nuclear power plants are heavily taxed by the government despite their role in abating further releases of greenhouse gases.

• nuclear-generation

Discussions

Sign in to participate.

What would be the unique proposition of lead cooled SMRs as opposed to the ones already in development? 

• Sign in or Register to post comments

Lead is normally proposed as a coolant for "fast reactors".  Like sodium cooled fast reactors (e.g. CFR-600 or Natrium/GE Prism), they can be used to efficiently consume plutonium removed from dismantled weapons or plutonium and other trans-uranics from spent nuclear fuel from other reactors.

Fast reactors (at least in larger sizes) can usual operate as breeders, or near break-even.  That means that they are so fuel efficient, that they can provide inexhaustible clean energy from Earth's enormous uranium reserves (even low-grade ores, which would not be cost effective for LWRs).

Lead-cooled reactors may* have an advantage over sodium-cooled types since the boiling point of lead is higher than that of sodium, which means that they should be able to operate at a higher temperature.  Specifically, they should be able to match the operating temperature of a coal-fired power plant; so coal-to-nuclear plant conversions could be feasible.  The higher temperature may also enable lead-cooled reactors to use passive cooling at higher power levels than sodium-cooled units.  (*lead-coolant also involves greater challenges managing corrosion, however).

That ACP100 Chinese SMR is also big news.  125 MW is too small for the gargantuan 2000 GW Chinese power grid; that reactor is designed for export.

If anyone can make SMRs cheap, it's the Chinese.

• Book: Nuclear is Hot; From Glowing Steel to Public Support
• IAEA Kicks Off Nuclear Summit March 21st in Brussels
• IAEA’s Grossi Calls on World Bank to Fund Nuclear Energy
• MBS is a Man in a Hurry Seeking Uranium Enrichment and Nuclear Reactors

Get Published - Build a Following

The Energy Central Power Industry Network® is based on one core idea - power industry professionals helping each other and advancing the industry by sharing and learning from each other.

If you have an experience or insight to share or have learned something from a conference or seminar, your peers and colleagues on Energy Central want to hear about it. It's also easy to share a link to an article you've liked or an industry resource that you think would be helpful.

Start a Post »                  Learn more about posting on Energy Central »

• Start a Post

Hydro Plant Compliance Electrical Engineer (III, Senior I, Senior II, Senior III) Chelan Public Utility District Wenatchee, Washington

Power Systems Analyst (Power Scheduling, Contracts and Regulatory Reporting) City of Glendale Water & Power Glendale, California

Lakeland Electric Compliance Engineer City of Lakeland Lakeland, Florida

Chief Financial Officer Commonwealth Utilities Corporation Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands

Chief Engineer, P.E. Commonwealth Utilities Corporation Saipan, Northern Mariana Islands

Director of Customer Experience Long Island Power Authority Uniondale, New York

Finance and Treasury Analyst Long Island Power Authority Uniondale, New York

Director of Budget Long Island Power Authority Uniondale, New York

Chief Operations Officer New Braunfels Utilities New Braunfels, Texas

NERC Compliance Manager City of Rochester Rochester, Minnesota

Electrical Project Engineer (Power Distribution) Sandhills Utility Services Fort Liberty, North Carolina

Power Systems Technical Coordinator Chelan Public Utility District Wenatchee, Washington

Substation Operations Manager City of Lakeland Lakeland, Florida

Electric Utility Engineering and Operations Manager – Electric & Gas Utility City of Tallahassee Tallahassee, Florida

Telecommunications Engineer I-III (DOQ) Snohomish County PUD Everett, Washington

Sponsors & Partners

• Contact QUT Contact QUT

Master of Philosophy

Recognising the diversity of skills and backgrounds, our Master of Philosophy (MPhil) is a personalised degree designed to meet your career and research goals. Study in one of our faculties or choose a non-specialised MPhil to build your research skills and advance to a PhD.

Tailor opportunities to your strengths, experience and career goals. A research degree skills audit helps you and your supervisors to identify the coursework and training that will support your research and employment goals.

During the course, you'll:

• engage with other students across all disciplines and be exposed to transdisciplinary concepts
• acquire knowledge in areas vital to progressing into the research workforce
• benefit from the support and mentorship of experienced researchers, who'll provide you with the ideal training foundation for a future PhD.

Entry requirements

To qualify for entry to the Master of Philosophy, you usually need to have:

• a proposed research project that the faculty has the resources to supervise and support
• a completed bachelor degree (AQF Level 7) or equivalent in a relevant discipline, with a minimum grade point average of 5 (on a 7 point scale) and relevant professional or research experience
• a completed bachelor honours degree (AQF Level 8) in a relevant discipline.
• Before considering a Master of Philosophy, you should read the HDR Course Regulations (PDF file, 335.3 KB) .

Find a supervisor and research topic

We recommend that you discuss your research interests with your proposed supervisor early in the application process. You can search for a supervisor using our experts database.

As part of your application, you must propose a research topic and develop a research proposal. You can search our student topics database for available research projects or propose your own research topic. You may ask a supervisor to help you identify or refine a research topic.

Find a supervisor

Find a research topic

Costs and scholarships

There are no fees for Master of Philosophy students who are Australian or New Zealand citizens, or permanent residents of Australia.

International students can find out more about fees and costs by checking course information.

You may be eligible for a scholarship in one of our scholarship rounds to help cover your costs while you're studying. Alternatively, you can browse all research scholarships .

Research areas

Explore our research disciplines to see the exciting directions our research is taking, or explore all QUT research .

Our high-quality research and research training are undertaken in collaboration with end users and deliver tangible economic, environmental and societal benefits to corporate, government and community partners.

Explore areas like:

• accounting, governance and social enterprise
• business innovation
• organisational behaviour
• employment and labour markets
• behavioural economics
• entrepreneurship
• econometrics
• consumers, stakeholders and markets.

Creative industries, education and social justice

We aim to achieve real and positive sustainable impacts by leading the world in rigorous discipline-based and interdisciplinary research that engages authentically with communities, professions and industry.

Explore areas from:

• Creative Industries
• Communication

Engineering

Our research tackles significant real-world problems and delivers innovations that respond to existing and emerging economic, societal, spatial, management and technological challenges. Our research outputs are wide ranging, covering areas such as:

• architecture, landscape architecture, and interior architecture
• construction management, project management, and quantity surveying
• urban and regional planning, development and governance
• civil, infrastructure, transport, structural, geotechnical and construction engineering
• environmental engineering, and integrated water resources management
• electrical, electronics and communications engineering
• robotics, autonomous systems, computer vision, and image and signal processing
• mechanical and materials engineering, computational modelling, and asset management
• biomedical engineering and technologies
• process engineering, sustainable industrial biotechnology, and bioprocessing.

Get hands-on experience with patients and students, and collaborate with government, community groups, hospitals and institutions from around the world. Your work has the potential to advance health care in areas including:

• behavioural neuroscience and mental health
• chronic conditions, including cancer
• healthy lifestyles, ageing and environments
• emergency care and health services
• infection and injury prevention
• genomics and personalised health
• vision and eye impairment and treatment
• childhood nutrition and adversity
• air quality, allergies and respiratory illnesses
• tissue engineering, regenerative medicine and wound care
• road safety and connected vehicle technologies.

As our commercial, social and digital worlds, and ecological footprint continue to shift and change, our laws and regulatory governance systems at the national and international level must progress with them. Our research is helping to shape the law and guide policy reform in areas like:

• environmental law
• commercial and property law
• international law and global governance
• intellectual property law
• technology, data and automation, innovation and the law.

Our world-class and internationally recognised scientists explore the frontiers of biological, physical, and digital worlds to drive innovation and develop solutions to complex, real-world challenges. Strong connections and long-standing partnerships enable us to meet industry and societal demands for scientific, data-driven and technological solutions that will transform the social, economic and environmental wellbeing of people across the globe. Join us to explore research in:

• biology and environmental science
• chemistry and physics
• computer science
• earth and atmospheric sciences
• information systems
• mathematical sciences .

Make the most of your degree

More than a supervisor.

Your support team will include external supervisors from industry as well as our academic staff. You'll develop positive and collaborative relationship, helping you progress toward your research goals.

Build graduate skills

We want you to succeed in your studies and in your career. Our Graduate Research Education and Development (GRE+D) program offers seminars, workshops and  practical experiences to get your ready for life after graduation.

Writing your research proposal

One of the most important steps in your application is your research proposal. It should include:

• your research topic
• an overview of previous research in the area
• the objectives of your research
• your proposed research methods and plan
• your supervisor
• any coursework requirements.

How to apply

Before you apply for a research degree, there are a few steps you need to complete. You'll need to make sure you meet the entry requirements, find a supervisor, get your supporting documents in order and complete your research proposal.

Apply for a research degree

If you have questions about the best options for you, the application process, your research topic, finding a supervisor or anything else, get in touch with us today.

An official website of the United States government

Here's how you know

Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS. A lock ( Lock Locked padlock ) or https:// means you've safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Dear Colleague Letter: Funding Opportunities for Science and Engineering Research with Impact on Women's Health

March 18, 2024

Dear Colleagues:

With this Dear Colleague Letter (DCL), in response to the White House Initiative on Women's Health Research , the U.S. National Science Foundation (NSF) encourages the submission of research and education proposals related to women's health. Despite making up more than half of the population, women are historically understudied and underrepresented in health research. The historical exclusion of women from scientific and biomedical research studies, combined with the undervaluation of research that advances knowledge on conditions that uniquely, differentially, or disproportionately affect women, has resulted in significant knowledge and health gaps. Addressing these research gaps will ultimately advance the health, prosperity, and welfare of all.

NSF continues to support fundamental science and engineering research with implications for women's health. This DCL reaffirms NSF's commitment to fund discovery, innovation, and research translation on topics of relevance to women's health, from the molecular to the ecosystem level, including input from the full range of science, engineering, and education that NSF supports. Pioneering the next generation of discoveries in women's health will require a sustained effort focusing on the socioeconomic impact of women's health, breaking down disciplinary boundaries in carrying out the necessary research to advance understanding of relevant questions, and building a diverse STEM workforce committed to advancing women's health and the health of a citizens.

The National Science Foundation encourages the submission of fundamental research and education proposals related to women's health topics, including, but not limited to, proposals in the following areas:

• Projects that develop a well-informed citizenry and a diverse and capable STEM workforce that will pioneer the next generation of discoveries in women's health.
• Science and engineering approaches and novel computational models that elucidate factors that interact with and impact women's health, such as studies that examine the genetic, epigenetic, biological, economic, societal, and environmental determinants of women's health and cognition.
• Holistic approaches to women's health and development, including aging, by moving beyond diagnostics and disease management to include novel methods for discovery and monitoring. This includes, but is not limited to, wearable devices, and other types of sensing and imaging technologies that improve early detection, as well as telehealth platforms that broaden accessibility and promote women's health.
• Foundational and transformative research that advances our understanding of engineering biomechanics and/or mechanobiology related to women's health.
• Advanced biomanufacturing of cells, tissues, or organs relevant to women's health.
• Engineering research that advances the understanding of injury mechanisms and rehabilitation technologies for health conditions and disabilities that affect women.
• Development of validated models (living or computational) of healthy and pathological cells, tissues, and organ systems relevant to women's health that improve the understanding of these systems.
• Projects on novel computational approaches (i.e. multi-level and multiscale data, sensing, prediction) that examine the effects of women's health on mental and physical development across the life span and that support health decision making.
• Projects that foster partnerships with government, industry, nonprofits, civil society, and communities of practice to leverage, energize, and rapidly bring to society use-inspired research and innovation that may include, but are not limited to, innovations that enable fundamental research of women's health topics, and breakthrough technologies designed for women.
• Transdisciplinary approaches to environmental change challenges and opportunities to improve understanding of climate, environment, and health pathways to protect and promote women's health, such as research that elucidates mechanisms and/or prevention of pollution transport/exposure implicated in adverse health outcomes.
• Studies that assess theories and models of health, aging, disease, and disease transmission at multiple scales (populational, generational, transgenerational, and geographical), from the molecular to the ecosystem level, including the interaction of environment on molecular scale phenomena.
• Research that seeks to advance knowledge about the processes that shaped biological diversity in living and ancient human species such as effects of life history transitions on women's health; intergenerational effects of violence, stress, and maternal health; and impacts of biocultural context on women's health, reproduction, and epigenetics.
• Research to advance theory on design and management of organizations such as how gendered aging symptoms may affect women's experience at work and in other environments.
• Research and research infrastructure to advance basic knowledge in bias, prejudice, and discrimination directed toward women as well as the intersection of gender and other identities; dynamics of close interpersonal relationships and women's health; and power in relationships.

NSF welcomes proposals that broaden geographic and demographic participation to engage the full spectrum of diverse talent in STEM. Proposals from minority-serving institutions , emerging research institutions , primarily undergraduate institutions, two-year colleges, and institutions in EPSCoR-eligible jurisdictions , along with collaborations between these institutions and those in non-EPSCoR jurisdictions, are encouraged.

PROPOSAL SUBMISSION AND RELEVANT NSF PROGRAMS AND CONTACTS

This DCL does not constitute a new competition or program. Proposals submitted in response to this DCL should be prepared and submitted in accordance with guidelines in the NSF Proposal & Award Policies & Procedures Guide (PAPPG) and instructions found in relevant NSF funding opportunities. Investigators who wish to submit proposals on any of these topics, or others related to women's health, are strongly encouraged to reach out to the cognizant NSF Program Officer(s) listed in the relevant funding opportunity to discuss the fit of their ideas to existing program. Specific programs and opportunities list these contacts. For assistance in determining program suitability for a proposal concept, researchers are encouraged to utilize the NSF "Program Suitability & Proposal Concept Tool (ProSPCT) at https://suitability.nsf.gov/s/ . Note that NSF has limitations on the scope of health-related projects that can be submitted to participating programs. More information on these limitations can be found in "Introduction, Part A: about the National Science Foundation" in the PAPPG. In addition to these limitations, investigators should also review new information regarding human subjects in NSF-funded research at https://new.nsf.gov/funding/research-involving-human-subjects .

Susan Marqusee, Assistant Director Directorate for Biological Sciences (BIO)

Dilma Da Silva, Acting Assistant Director Directorate for Computer and Information Science and Engineering (CISE)

Susan Margulies, Assistant Director Directorate for Engineering (ENG)

James Luther Moore, Assistant Director Directorate for STEM Education (EDU)

C. Denise Caldwell, Acting Assistant Director Directorate for Mathematical and Physical Sciences (MPS)

Kendra Sharp, Office Head Office of International Science and Engineering (OISE)

Alicia Knoedler, Office Head Office of Integrated Activities (OIA)

Sylvia M. Butterfield, Acting Assistant Director Directorate for Social, Behavioral and Economic Sciences (SBE)

Erwin Gianchandani, Assistant Director Directorate for Technology, Innovation and Partnerships (TIP)

Search form

You are here, a path toward low-carbon concrete.

A research team led by civil and environmental engineering associate professor John T. Fox , has secured a $2 million grant from the Department of Energy to tackle the environmental impact of traditional concrete production. Their innovative proposal aims to develop a low-carbon alternative binder using low-temperature calcined clays, potentially halving CO 2 emissions compared with existing methods of producing Portland cement. With collaboration from industry leader Buzzi Unicem USA, the project seeks to revolutionize the concrete industry, offering a promising pathway toward greater sustainabilty.

The team also includes CEE professors Clay Naito and Paolo Bocchini , as well as Carlos Romero , director and principal research scientist of Lehigh's Energy Research Center.

“This grant shows the opportunities of synergy between academia and industry and how it could lead into high level and impactful research," says Shamim Pakzad , professor and chair of the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. "I am particularly excited about the expansion of the research portfolio of CEE departments into this area of greener cement, which opens many opportunities for future research and implementation in industry.”

Read the full story on the Institute for Cyber Phyiscal Infrastructure and Energy (I-CPIE) website. 

John T. Fox, associate professor, civil and environmental engineering

Related News

Special journal issue honors glass researcher himanshu jain, lessons in sustainability: from uruguay to lehigh, terlaky named to alcoa foundation professorship, carr selected as 2024 siam science policy fellow.