UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — The Institute of Energy and the Environment recognized six Penn State faculty members for their research excellence. The researchers were nominated by the Penn State community for their collaborative, interdisciplinary research efforts and mentorship. The researchers who received awards were Margaret Busse, Lisa Emili, Brian Fronk, Lauren McPhillips, Nathaniel Warner and Hong Wu.
Bruce Logan, director of the Institute of Energy and the Environment, said these awards honor not just individual success, but also the collaborative spirit, innovation and pursuit of excellence that characterize Penn State.
“We take great pride in celebrating the remarkable contributions of these distinguished researchers,” Logan said. “Their commitment to interdisciplinary work highlights the profound influence of collaborative research in tackling global energy and environmental issues, while strengthening Penn State’s role in fostering vital partnerships.”
Brian Fronk, associate professor of mechanical engineering, and Margaret Busse, assistant professor of mechanical engineering, received the Research Guidance Award, which recognizes a faculty member's efforts in demonstrably helping a pre-tenured or non-tenured faculty member. Fronk’s collaborative efforts helped to advance interdisciplinary research and foster faculty development through the mentorship of Busse. Since Busse joined Penn State in 2023, the team’s complementary expertise in thermal energy systems and water systems has resulted in significant contributions to the IEE research themes, including Integrated Energy Systems, Equitable Communities and the Built Environment and Water Sustainability. Together, they have secured major research grants, including a $2.5 million Department of Energy grant for industrial decarbonization and a 100,000 Strong in the Americas Alliance for Climate Action Grant. They also developed a new Penn State Global embedded course on sustainable energy in collaboration with the University of Aruba.
Hong Wu, associate professor of landscape architecture, and Lauren McPhillips, assistant professor of civil and environmental engineering with a co-appointment in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering, received the Translational Research Award, which is given to a team of two or more Penn State faculty researchers whose collaborative, interdisciplinary research efforts have benefited society. They accepted the award on behalf of the entire Stormwater Living Lab team, which has brought together over a dozen faculty across multiple campuses, extension educators, and countless dedicated students. While addressing critical environmental, social and economic challenges, the team has secured over $1.5 million in funding for 21 projects, produced 33 peer-reviewed articles, and delivered more than 100 presentations and talks on green stormwater infrastructure (GSI). Their work spans research, education and outreach, with notable projects influencing GSI design on campus and climate solutions for underserved communities, while engaging diverse stakeholders to maximize real-world impact. By engaging stakeholders through reports, webinars and educational initiatives, their group has effectively translated research into actionable strategies that benefit communities, enhance public infrastructure and promote societal well-being.
Nathaniel Warner, associate professor of civil and environmental engineering, and Lisa Emili, associate professor of physical geography and environmental studies at Penn State Altoona, were awarded the Advancement of Knowledge Award, which is given to a team whose efforts on a topic within one of the five IEE research themes have led to an outstanding peer-reviewed article that represents a significant scientific advancement. Warner and Emili accepted the award on behalf of the research team that found that microplastics have been steadily increasing in freshwater environments for decades and are directly tied to rising global plastic production. The findings, published in Science of the Total Environment, provided insights into the historical trends and movement of microplastics in freshwater environments, revealing a steady increase tied to global plastic production since the 1950s. This work represents a significant advancement in understanding microplastic pollution and challenges existing assumptions about its correlation with population density and land use. The research team included Jutamas Bussarakum, lead author and doctoral student studying civil and environmental engineering; Jill Arriola, assistant research professor of meteorology and atmospheric science; William Burgos, professor of civil and environmental engineering; Samual Cohen, who graduated with their master’s degree in geography in 2024; Patrick Drohan, professor of ecosystem science and management; Raymond Najjar, professor of oceanography, Katharina Pankratz, who graduated with their doctorate in civil and environmental engineering in 2024; Jon Sweetman, assistant research professor of ecosystem science and management; and Kimberly Van Meter, assistant professor of geography.
The awards process was guided by IEE’s Award Committee, which is led by Chris Gorski. The committee members for this year’s awards were Ying Gu, Siela Maximova, Jessica Myrick and Hannah Wiseman.