President Donald J. Trump announced that Jordan Musser, Ph.D., and Shiwoo Lee, Ph.D., researchers at NETL in Morgantown will receive the highest honor the U.S. government can bestow to an outstanding scientist in the early stages of their research career — the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE) — in a White House ceremony later this year.
Musser, a West Virginia University graduate, and Lee, who works for Leidos as a contractor at NETL, were selected in recognition of their contributions to the advancement of science, technology, engineering and mathematics education and for outstanding community service as demonstrated by scientific leadership, public education and community outreach. The other NETL scientist who will receive the PECASE recognition is Doug Kauffman, Ph.D., of NETL in Pittsburgh.
“PECASE embodies the high priority placed by the government on maintaining a leadership position in science by producing outstanding scientists and engineers and nurturing their continued development,” NETL Director Brian Anderson, Ph.D., said. “The PECASE awards recognize some of the finest scientists and engineers who show exceptional potential for leadership. We are very proud to have Jordan as an outstanding member of our NETL team.”
Lee is a materials scientist/engineer at NETL in Morgantown, West Virginia, and serves as the lead researcher for process developments associated with electrochemical energy conversion systems. His work centers on materials electrochemistry, innovative manufacturing processes and advancements of the efficiency of fuel cells. He began working at NETL as a senior research fellow in 2010. Before coming to NETL, Lee was a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Pennsylvania, an adjunct professor at the University of Science and Technology of Korea, and a senior researcher at the Korea Institute of Energy Research. He earned doctorate and master’s degrees in materials science and engineering from Korea Advanced institute of Science and Technology (KAIST). He received a bachelor’s degree in ceramic sciences and engineering from Korea’s Yonsei University.
Musser is a physical research scientist at NETL in Morgantown, West Virginia. He oversees in-house development of NETL’s Multiphase Flow with Interphase eXchanges (MFIX) — a general-purpose computer code developed for describing the hydrodynamics, heat transfer and chemical reactions in fluid-solids systems — and has expertise in multiphase flow modeling, high-performance computing, advanced mathematics, computer code development and project management. Musser began his work with NETL as an ORISE fellow in 2009. He earned a Ph.D. and a master’s degree in mathematics, and master’s and bachelor’s degrees in mechanical engineering, all from West Virginia University.
In 1996, the National Science Foundation’s National Science and Technology Council (NSTC) created PECASE to recognize and honor outstanding scientists and engineers at the outset of their independent research careers. According to NSTC, the awards “foster innovative and far-reaching developments in science and technology, increase awareness of careers in science and engineering, give recognition to the scientific missions of participating agencies, enhance connections between fundamental research and national goals, and highlight the importance of science and technology for the nation’s future.”
PECASE awards are conferred annually at the White House following recommendations from participating agencies. Each Presidential award winner receives a citation, a plaque and funding from their agency for up to five years to advance his or her research. Individuals can receive only one PECASE award in their careers.
