SULI intern researches biofuel refinement methods

Erik Head's interest in STEM fields originates from his immediate family. His parents, both retired nuclear engineers, instilled in him a passion for science.

"My dad always seems like he can build or fix anything," Head says. "He inspires me by always seeking a better way to do things and being able to fix seemingly anything that needs repair."

Head combined his love of chemistry and engineering when choosing his college major. He is currently pursuing a bachelor's degree in chemical engineering at Texas A&M University.

Head's father encouraged him to seek an internship at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), leading him to the Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships (SULI) program.

The SULI program allows students and recent graduates to conduct research under the guidance of laboratory staff scientists on projects supporting the U.S. Department of Energy mission.

I really enjoyed my experience in this program. I learned so much about being a researcher in my field. I wholeheartedly recommend this program to other students."

"I had been searching for a way to gain more practical experience in the field of chemical engineering, and this program provided the perfect opportunity," Head says. He accepted a summer research opportunity with the Soft Materials and Membranes Group in ORNL’s Chemical Sciences Division.

During his appointment, Head performed research under the mentorship of postdoctoral researcher Blake Trusty, Ph.D., and staff scientist Syed Islam, Ph.D. Head's research focused on refining crude biofuel. Biofuels are liquid fuels produced from renewable biological sources, such as plants, algae, and municipal wastes, offering a potential alternative to traditional fossil fuels. Specifically, Head explored the use of silica gel particles to adsorb nitrogen-containing compounds in biofuel solutions.

His research aimed to assess the efficacy of silica gel particles for this denitrification process and to determine if it was less energy-intensive than other refinement processes.

"The goal of this research is to fulfill society's energy demands using a more environmentally friendly and energy-effective method of biofuel purification than hydrotreatment, which is the current standard," Head explains. His research concluded that the process can indeed be used to remove nitrogen compounds from biofuel and that further research should be conducted on this method.

A typical day during Head's appointment started with arriving at the lab and turning on the gas chromatograph so it would be ready for samples. Once his mentor arrived, the team would feed simulated biofuel samples through an adsorption column and take chromatograph samples every hour.  Head also read through the literature in his current field and attended program meetings and professional development activities as part of the SULI experience.

Looking back at his internship, Head has found much to take with him into his future career as a scientist.

"Until I began this internship, I never really grasped the scope of current research or the level of cooperation that exists among the laboratories," Head says. "Being able to assess the body of knowledge around a subject to seek a creative and new solution to an issue is an invaluable tool in any industry, and it will be a key skill going forward no matter what job I end up pursuing."

Along with lab experience, Head also learned the importance of relating to other peers during his appointment.

"The experience of presenting to my peers also helped develop my presentation skills, which are especially critical in STEM fields where we have to present very complex information," Head says.

Head had the opportunity to present his research in the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) Ignite Off! competition, where he was awarded second place.

"Having to explain such a complicated topic in five minutes was an invaluable experience that helped me to learn how to consolidate information and decide the most important elements of a presentation to pursue," Head says.

You can find his talk here.

Head highly recommends the SULI program to others. "It is a phenomenal experience where you get to learn so much about the research process from professionals in your field alongside other interns from a myriad of different backgrounds," he explains. "This program provides countless opportunities to learn about different fields of research as well as professional development skills, which is invaluable for career opportunities."

Currently, Head is considering graduate school in chemical engineering at Texas A&M to gain more specialized education before entering the workforce. He hopes to have his research published in a journal eventually and looks back at his research opportunity fondly.

“I really enjoyed my experience in this program,” he says. “I learned so much about being a researcher in my field. I wholeheartedly recommend this program to other students.”

The SULI program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science’s Office of Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists (WDTS) and is administered by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE). ORISE is managed for DOE by ORAU.