It took only 2 years to be able get to this big moment.
Washington University in St. Louis has just been awarded a massive $26 million grant from the National Science Foundation (NSF) to lead the Carbon Utilization Redesign for Biomanufacturing-Empowered Decarbonization (CURB) Engineering Research Center.
As the external evaluator for this prestigious new center, we’ve been working hand-in-hand with the CURB team (see the amazing research development stars Summer Young, Nicole Moore, and Jessica Venable over the past two years to help make this ambitious initiative a reality.
We’re beyond thrilled to be part of this powerhouse collaboration of top universities- Texas A&M University, University of Delaware, Prairie View A&M University and industry leaders who are going to transform manufacturing to achieve zero or even negative carbon emissions!
The CURB ERC is one of only a handful of these coveted NSF-funded centers awarded nationwide in 2024.
Since the program began in 1985, the NSF has funded 75 of these innovation powerhouses, leading to over 240 spinoff companies, 900 patents, and 14,400 degrees awarded to ERC students. These centers bring America’s top engineering minds together to tackle our toughest challenges and deliver major economic and societal benefits.
The CURB ERC is on a mission to establish a vibrant global research and innovation ecosystem that will revolutionize U.S. manufacturing by capturing and reusing carbon dioxide emissions.
The team will advance groundbreaking science, build pilot facilities, and develop new educational programs to make this vision a reality. This is a massive investment in research and innovation that demonstrates Washington University’s strategic vision and ability to tackle pressing challenges head-on.
You can read more about this very exciting initiative in the Washington University source article: https://lnkd.in/eF5icY8u
As the external evaluator, our team will play a crucial role in tracking the center’s progress, impact, and effectiveness in achieving its ambitious decarbonization goals.
We can’t wait to support this game-changing initiative and be part of the solution to the climate crisis through cutting-edge manufacturing innovation. 🌍
Huge congrats to the CURB ERC team on this incredible accomplishment! Let’s go transform the future! 🎉
#biotechnology #nsf
Cc Center director, Joshua Yuan and the extraordinary teams at Texas A&M, UDelaware, and Praire View A&M.
PC- I received the news while driving to New Jersey today for a site visit. Had to wait until I returned to my room. Pic 2- it’s not too common to be sharing the stage with the very distinguished RDOs who also somehow happen to be of the same height as me
😁🙌🏼 What a privilege to know and work with them these 2 years!
This is our 2nd ERC evaluation. CASFER: Center for Advancing Sustainable and Distributed Fertilizer Production being the first.
