Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment

A busy conference hall filled with people viewing and discussing research posters. The atmosphere is lively, with attendees engaged in conversation.

Congratulations to Laura Hwa ’26 and Christopher Li ’26 on their Princeton Research Day awards – Laura on the cost impacts of data center development in the PJM region and Christopher on advancing battery performance through improved cathode design.

researchday.princeton.edu

A man in a suit speaks at a podium with "Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment" logo.

A big thanks to speaker Joe DeCarolis of Carnegie Mellon University for his talk on the rapid growth in electricity demand from data centers and cryptocurrency mining that is beginning to affect the U.S. electricity grid.

Collage featuring a woman in a hijab outdoors, a panel discussion with three seated men and a woman, a smiling woman indoors, a man with glasses outside, and a woman speaking at a podium with Princeton University logo.

Our February newsletter features:

✅ Experts at our Annual Meeting are focused on achieving true circularity.

✅ We welcome an alumnus as a visiting fellow in energy and architecture.

✅ Claire White receives 2026 Robert L’Hermite Medal.

And more: mailchi.mp/princeton.ed...

Four women sit at a conference table in a panel discussion. One speaks into a microphone while others listen attentively.

A panel of five speakers, seated at a table, discusses clean energy careers. The backdrop features a large screen displaying speaker info and the event title, "Navigating Clean Energy Careers Under Uncertainty."

A woman in business attire, wearing a name tag, sits at a table engaged in discussion during a meeting. Others in the background create a collaborative atmosphere.

A woman in a pink blazer, wearing pearl jewelry, gestures while speaking in a meeting. The setting is professional, with blurred attendees in the foreground.

Thrilled to have many students attend our Alumni Day event – "Navigating Clean Energy Careers Under Uncertainty". This event brought together leading experts who are building successful careers across diverse roles and organizations within the clean energy sector, often outside conventional roles.

Projected Impacts of Data Centers and Cryptocurrency Mining on U.S. Electricity Costs and Emissions - Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment Andlinger Center Highlight Seminar Series with speaker Joseph DeCarolis of the Carnegie Mellon University

Joseph DeCarolis, an internationally recognized leader with deep expertise in energy systems, climate change, computing, and public policy, will be our Highlight Seminar Speaker this Thurs, Feb 26. 👉🏼 acee.princeton.edu/events/highl...

Conference spotlights the obvious benefits and hidden challenges of a circular economy The 2025 Annual Meeting of the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, “Strategies for Circularity: Prospects and Challenges,” brought together top experts from academia, industry, and…

Our 2025 Annual Meeting underscored the promise of a circular economy and the cultural, economic, and infrastructure barriers ahead, stressing the need for systemic change. A true circularity will also require strong policy support and deep community engagement.

bit.ly/4kMeRwa

Projected impacts of data centers and cryptocurrency mining on U.S. electricity costs and emissions - Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment Andlinger Center Highlight Seminar Series with speaker Joseph DeCarolis of the Carnegie Mellon University

Rising power demand from data centers & crypto mining is straining the U.S. grid and could drive up emissions and electricity prices in fast‑growing regions. Still, seasonal peaks from heat pumps and data centers may offset each other. Join us Feb 26 for a talk on projected impacts:

Kelsey Hatzell named 2026 Frontiers of Science Fellow Hatzell's research helps to improve performance and manufacturability of solid-state batteries, aiming to support the transition to clean energy.

Congratulations to Professor Kelsey Hatzell! She has been named a 2026 Frontiers of Science Fellow by the National Academy of Sciences, recognizing exceptional research and contributions to science. She will speak at the annual symposia in California this March.

acee.princeton.edu/acee-news/ke...

Claire White wins 2026 Robert L’Hermite Medal The prize recognizes White's outstanding scientific contributions to sustainable construction and its decarbonization.

Congratulations to Prof. Claire White! She has won the 2026 Robert L’Hermite Medal. The prize recognizes her outstanding scientific contributions to sustainable construction and its decarbonization. 🧪 #RenewableEnergy #Princeton
acee.princeton.edu/acee-news/cl...

Collage of three images: A man in safety goggles works in a lab; a woman in a hard hat holds a tablet at a solar plant; a smiling woman raises her hand. Text reads "Navigating Clean Energy Careers Under Uncertainty".

Our January newsletter highlights:
* high-efficiency LED upconversion
* scaling up building efficiency
* ongoing funding opportunities
* upcoming events

mailchi.mp/princeton.ed...

Ariane Adcroft: Fresh thinking in building efficiency could have a big impact An Andlinger Center summer intern, Adcroft has explored multiple projects and gained awareness of how crucial building efficiency will be in reducing energy needs.

“Using building automation software in your building, you can reduce your energy usage by about 50%.”

As an intern with @andlingercenter.bsky.social, Ariane Adcroft '26 helped construct a climate chamber to study different heating and cooling technologies.

Optics research uses dim light to produce bright LEDs Researchers at Princeton and North Carolina State University have developed a technique that substantially improves the ability to convert low-energy light into a high-energy version.

Research led by Barry Rand demonstrated how to make the conversion of low-energy input into high-energy light far more efficient. This approach has immediate applications in lighting and display technologies. 🧪

acee.princeton.edu/acee-news/op...

A man in a suit and glasses speaks at a podium, wearing a medal, with a backdrop of green plants on a blue background — confident and engaged.

Thrilled to share that our visiting fellow, Ange Nzihou, has been named an Officer in France’s National Order of Merit, honoring his outstanding contributions to science and the energy transition!

www.imt-mines-albi.fr/fr/actualite...

2026 Gerhard R. Andlinger Visiting Fellows – Call for Applications - Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment Gerhard R. Andlinger Visiting Fellows – Call for Applications The Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment at Princeton University invites applications for the Gerhard R. Andlinger Visiting Fel...

Reminder: The deadline to apply for the 2026 Gerhard R. Andlinger Visiting Fellows Program is January 9, 2026! Don’t miss your chance to collaborate on cutting-edge energy and environment research!

Apply now: acee.princeton.edu/research/202...

Abstract scientific illustration featuring colorful ions and elements like Mg, Li, and Ni over a blurred periodic table with dynamic pink and blue waves.

We spoke with Prof. Ryan Kingsbury about his Joule perspective proposing a ‘periodic table of ions’ to rethink ion separations. 🧪

Read the Q&A: acee.princeton.edu/acee-news/ac...

A smiling man leans against a sunlit wall. To the right, a man and woman stand together indoors, and below them is a graphic of atoms and chemical symbols.

Our December 2025 Newsletter is live!

✓ Barry Rand elected to NAI

✓ Ryan Kingsbury perspective in Joule

✓ Our new distinguished postdoc fellows – and more

Check it out here: mailchi.mp/princeton.ed...

A man stands with his arms crossed in a brightly-lit room with many windows.

Congrats to Barry Rand! He was named a Fellow of the National Academy of Inventors (NAI) for breakthroughs in organic solar cells, perovskites, and thin-film electronics, paving the way for flexible solar and next-gen light sources.

acee.princeton.edu/acee-news/ba...

Call for Proposals: Fund for Energy Research with Corporate Partners - Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment The goal of this fund is to advance research at the nexus of energy and complementary pursuits while fostering corporate collaboration and partnerships.

The Andlinger Center invites submissions for the Fund for Energy Research with Corporate Partners. Advance innovative energy solutions through academic-industry collaboration.

📅 Email of intent is due February 9, 2026

acee.princeton.edu/research/fun...

A man and a woman pose in a hallway

Jinshi Chen and Debbie Zhuang are the newest Distinguished Postdoctoral Fellows. Chen will study how wind and waves don't always line up in offshore wind energy and global climate models. Zhuang will explore the unique properties of supercooled water.

bit.ly/3KIVtSV

Event poster for a seminar titled 'Multispeed Mitigation to Manage Midcentury Overheating Above 1.5°C' on December 4, featuring Rick Duke. The poster includes Rick Duke’s headshot, event details, and associated logos. Background contains a vivid globe image suggesting climate focus. Seminar takes place from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. in Maeder Hall Auditorium.

With the U.S. opposing climate action and China setting a weak 2035 emissions target, overshooting the 1.5°C threshold seems inevitable. Join us on 12/4 as Rick Duke explores a multispeed mitigation strategy at our Highlight Seminar.

bit.ly/3M7E8DH

A purple gloved hand holds out a circular MXene membrane.

New research from Princeton demonstrates how membranes made from next-gen materials called MXenes show promise when separating ions and other compounds from complex solutions. 🧪⚛️

This and more news in our November newsletter.
mailchi.mp/princeton.ed...

Three photos showing a researcher focused on a device with bottles and hoses, another researcher lifts up a flat circular membrane to the light, and a pile of books with a water droplet on the cover.

November newsletter highlights:
• Hydrogen from wastewater
• MXenes show promise
• New 2025 Annual Report is out – and more
mailchi.mp/princeton.ed...

A man behind a stage podium gestures with his hands.

Fantastic talk (with a fantastic crowd) today at the Andlinger Center! Our speaker Andres Clarens gave a rousing talk on navigating university research on industrial decarbonization in these uncertain policy times.

Read more about his talk here: bit.ly/4pcuez1

Princeton Engineering - Faculty commended for outstanding teaching Dean Andrew Houck and Vice Dean Gabriele Villarini are proud to recognize the following faculty for their outstanding teaching during the spring 2025

Congratulations to Andlinger Center faculty and researchers @jessejenkins.bsky.social, Chris Greig, and Eric Larson for being commended for outstanding teaching at Princeton Engineering.

engineering.princeton.edu/news/2025/11...

A seminar poster for "The Hard Stuff: University Research on Industrial Decarbonization in an Uncertain Policy Era" featuring Andrés Clarens, held November 13 at Princeton University.

Join us this Thursday, Nov 13 for "The Hard Stuff: University Research on Industrial Decarbonization in an Uncertain Policy Era" – a talk by Andrés Clarens of the UVA Environmental Institute.

acee.princeton.edu/events/highl...

New materials make high-performance membranes the filters of the future Princeton researchers demonstrate the potential of MXenes, a class of water-loving, single-layer materials with high electrical conductivity, for separating ions and compounds from complex solutions.

Researchers at Princeton are developing MXene membranes: ultra-thin, electrically conductive, water-loving materials to separate ions more efficiently.

This means more efficient desalination, battery recycling, waste cleanup, and more sustainable water systems.

acee.princeton.edu/acee-news/ne...

J.R. Johnson, vice president, research and development at Avnos comments, “How do you decarbonize transportation? There’s a variety of solutions we have to address. Fuels are still getting us from A to B. Direct Air Capture is a solution to offset these other investments.”

Connor Roeser (MAE '28) creates controlled setups to study how surfactants stick to different fluids and how they move. An image from his research is featured on the Andlinger Center's annual report. Here he is at our annual meeting's poster session.

Our first panel is entitled "New Frontiers in Circularity". Panelist Professor Yiguang Ju reaffirms our mission "We truly believe that the world is constrained by carbon emissions and climate change and we have to do something to provide a solution."

“You can really not decouple plastics from a carbon solution.” - Andre Argenton