Sunderland Wins CAREER Award

Fire protection engineering Assistant Professor Peter Sunderland has won a $400,000 NSF Early Faculty Career (CAREER) Award. The grant will fund his work to study soot oxidation in the hopes of reducing environmental soot pollution, which has been shown to cause respiratory illnesses and cancer, in addition to contributing to climate change.

"Despite their importance, soot processes in flames and fires still are not well understood," Sunderland said. "I hope this research will yield important new insights into processes of soot destruction in flames. This could improve models of soot processes in engines and fires, ultimately leading to a cleaner and safer environment."

Both undergrad and graduate students will assist Sunderland with the research. Sunderland will team with the Women in Engineering Program and the Center for Minorities in Science and Engineering to foster interest in science and engineering among female and minority secondary school students.

Published March 9, 2010