Program 2025 – UT Energy Week

March 31 – April 4

2025

Program

Monday, March 31

Monday, March 31

A packed day of presentations, poster sessions, networking events, and more.

Texas Nuclear Symposium

8:00am-Noon: A morning of presentations and panel discussions on nuclear energy, nuclear security, and medical applications of nuclear technology. Learn about ongoing research at UT and opportunities for the future in Texas, the U.S. and the world.

Lunch

Noon-1:00pm: Enjoy light bites and networking.

Energy Research Poster Competition

Co-Hosted by the Longhorn Energy Club, Switch Energy Club, and American Nuclear Society

Join the Competition

1:00-6:00pm: Hosted by the Longhorn Energy Club, Switch Energy Club, and the American Nuclear Society, this student-run competition features research in energy technology, policy, and economics, showcasing the work of researchers, undergraduates, and graduate students from any university. The poster sessions run throughout the afternoon on Monday and are open to the public, with research teams available to discuss their work. All attendees are invited to vote for their favorite research posters in the Audience Choice awards category. Posters will remain on display all day Tuesday, ahead of the award ceremony that evening.

Want to enter the competition? The application period is now open, with $8,000 available in prize money across all award categories.

Tuesday, April 1

Entrepreneurship Day

Entrepreneurship Day features research presentations throughout the morning, followed by dynamic sessions with leaders in the energy entrepreneurship space throughout the afternoon. In the evening, Startup Night brings together energy startups, investors, student startup founders, and ecosystem supporters for a special networking event that includes startup pitches, poster competition awards, and more.

Registration & Breakfast

8:00am-8:30am: Refreshments and networking. Posters for the Energy Research Poster Competition will be on display today—be sure to submit your vote for the Audience Choice Awards ahead of tonight’s award ceremony.

Research Showcase

8:30-11:00am: UT researchers from the Energy Institute’s Strategic Energy Seed Grant Program discuss their ongoing projects.

Research Showcase: Part 1

Clean Hydrogen | Carbon Capture & Storage

Clean Hydrogen

Distributed and electrified green ammonia production using plasma-catalysis

Charles B. Mullins, McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering, Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences
Thomas Underwood, Aerospace Engineering and Engineering Mechanics, Cockrell School of Engineering
Michael Webber, Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering

Enhancing the durability of electrocatalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction through strong metal-support interactions

Delia Milliron, McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering
Joaquin Resasco, McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering

Innovating green hydrogen production: synthesizing high entropy alloys via bubble printing for enhanced electrocatalytic performance

Yuebing Zheng, Texas Materials Institute and Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering
Simon M. Humphrey, Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences

Carbon Capture & Storage

De-risking carbon capture with amine solvents using high resolution mass spectrometer methods

Fred Closmann, McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering
Pawel Misztal, Maseeh Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering
Ian Riddington, Department of Chemistry, College of Natural Sciences

Increase carbon sequestration and storage by accumulation of plant root biomass and microbiomes

Z. Jeffrey Chen, Department of Molecular Biosciences, College of Natural Sciences
Thomas E. Juenger, Department of Integrative Biology, College of Natural Sciences

Lab-to-field scale time-lapse seismic monitoring for carbon storage

Shuvajit Bhattacharya, Bureau of Economic Geology, Jackson School of Geosciences
Hailun Ni, Bureau of Economic Geology, Jackson School of Geosciences
Nicola Tisato, Department of Earth and Planetary Sciences, Jackson School of Geosciences

Research Showcase: Part 2

Industrial Decarbonization | Produced Water Treatment & Reuse | Battery Production & Critical Minerals

Industrial Decarbonization

Mitigating voltage sag disturbances for electrified industrial process loads

Surya Santoso, Chandra Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering

Brian Johnson, Chandra Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering

From solar panels to sustainable concrete: development of solar waste glass pozzolan (SWAGPozz),

Raissa Ferron, Maseeh Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering
Christopher Rausch, Maseeh Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering
Christopher Rausch, Maseeh Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering

Produced Water Treatment & Reuse

Evaluation of a novel integrated ceramic membrane/hollow fiber membrane contactor process for produced water reuse

Lynn Katz, Maseeh Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering
Frank Seibert, Center for Energy and Environmental Resources, Cockrell School of Engineering

Technical and techno-economic analysis of produced water treatment for green and blue hydrogen production in Texas

Vaibhav Bahadur, McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering
Michael Lewis, Center for Electromechanics, Cockrell School of Engineering
Michael Webber, Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering

Battery Production & Critical Minerals

Discovery of modified phosphate solid electrolytes for all-solid-state sodium batteries

David Mitlin, Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering
Donald Siegel, Walker Department of Mechanical Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering

Scalable tissue-inspired lithium extraction electrochemical membranes

Manish Kumar, Maseeh Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering
Venkat Ganesan, McKetta Department of Chemical Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering
Harekrushna Behera, Maseeh Department of Civil, Architectural and Environmental Engineering, Cockrell School of Engineering

Midday Break

Lunch & Entrepreneurship Mentoring

Open Lunch (11:00am-12:30pm)

All Energy Week attendees are welcome to join us for a light lunch before we kick off our Entrepreneurship Day afternoon program. Free to attend.

Entrepreneurship Mentorship Luncheon

Today’s midday break also features an Entrepreneurship Mentorship Lunch, a limited-seating event open to UT students and TEX-E Fellows from any participating TEX-E university. Students will dine with a small group of peers and a mentor of their choice who is a professional in the energy entrepreneurship space (e.g., a startup founder, investor, or other key player in energy entrepreneurship). Free to attend.

Separate registration is required for student entrepreneurship mentoring, allowing time to match students with mentors. Registration opens Feb. 17. In the meantime, you can indicate your interest in attending when you register for Energy Week, and you will receive follow-up details.

UT Energy Symposium

Producing Low Carbon Power from Natural Gas & Carbon Capture

12:30-1:30pm: This talk explores the journey of Entropy Inc., an entrepreneurial and private-equity-backed company that is working to commercialize low-carbon baseload power from natural gas fired generation and carbon capture technology. Entropy Inc. CEO Sanjay Bishnoi will discuss carbon intensity, the economics of power generation with carbon capture and sequestration (CCS), and the challenges of commercializing and scaling up power generation with CCS.

The UT Energy Symposium (UTES) is a weekly guest lecture series now in its 28th semester. Free and open to the public while also serving as a course available to students for course credit, UTES serves as a “convener” for the campus community and beyond, providing a multidisciplinary platform for energy professionals, UT faculty and students, and the public to interact and learn about pressing energy challenges.

Entrepreneurship Spotlights, Chats, & Panels

1:30-5:30pm: An afternoon of mini panel discussions, short chats, and founder talks from key players in energy entrepreneurship.

Startup Night

5:30-7:30pm: Connect with startup founders, investors, and entrepreneurship ecosystem supporters.

20+ featured companies and organizations
Student Startup Roundup
Student startup pitches presented by the Energy Ventures Practicum
Energy Research Poster Competition awards ceremony presented by Longhorn Energy Club, Switch Energy Club, and the American Nuclear Society
Light bites and curated beverages

Wednesday, April 2

Registration & Breakfast

8:00-8:30am: Refreshments and networking.

A Conversation with UT President Jay Hartzell and ConocoPhillips CEO Ryan Lance

Today’s program kicks off with a special event featuring Jay Hartzell, President of The University of Texas at Austin, in conversation with Ryan Lance, CEO of ConocoPhillips

Carbon Capture & Storage: Applications, Economics, Drivers, & Challenges

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) presents a decarbonization solution for existing industrial uses and for the buildout of baseload, low-carbon power for AI data centers. This panel explores the evolution of CCS technology, policy, demand trends, and challenges to widespread commercialization.

The Economics & Policies of Decarbonizing Transportation

Companies and countries throughout the world have made commitments to reduce greenhouse gases in the transportation sector. In particular, decarbonization of the shipping, airline, and trucking industries is among the most impactful ways to improve the environment. This effort is costly, and realizing the economic benefits of the transition requires thoughtfully crafted policies, effective incentives, and coordination among public and private stakeholders. This panel will bring together experts from each of the three main transportation industries to talk about the challenges and opportunities of the transition, and what the future holds at the state and national level.

Midday Break

Lunch, Energy Career Mixer, & Campus Energy Tour

11:45am-1:15pm: Join us for a light lunch and connect with energy companies and organizations at the Energy Career Mixer.

Campus Energy Tour

Weather-permitting.

Powered by the Carl J. Eckhardt Combined Heating & Power Complex, the UT Austin campus is one of the nation’s largest microgrids, giving students a unique edge in learning about energy solutions. Join Jim Walker, Director of the Office of Sustainability, for a quick Lunch & Learn session at Energy Week headquarters (San Jacinto Hall), before taking a guided walk (about 10 mins) to the power plant, where UT’s Ryan Thompson, Director of Utilities Operations, and Clay Looney, Assistant Director of Utilities Operations, will lead walking tours of the plant. The group will return together to San Jacinto Hall after the tour. This hands-on experience allows students and energy professionals to see firsthand how UT’s power plant generates 100% of the campus’ electricity, heating, and cooling.

Note: The power plant tour can accommodate up to 30 people; availability is first come, first served.

Tour schedule
11:45am: Lunch & Learn (San Jacinto Hall)
12:20pm: Depart San Jacinto Hall
12:30pm: Tour Carl J. Eckhardt Combined Heating & Power Complex

1:10pm: Arrive back at San Jacinto Hall

Between Two Cacti

With Carolyn Comer, President of Shell Energy North America

Now in its third season, Between Two Cacti is a conversation series hosted by Brian Korgel, Director of the Energy Institute. Today, Korgel will be joined by Carolyn Comer, President of Shell Energy North America.

Accelerating Energy Storage Innovation with AI & Advanced Materials Research

The energy transition is driving a disruptive shift, heavily dependent on critical minerals and advanced materials across energy systems. As lithium-ion battery (LiB) technologies mature, innovation in alternative chemistries is essential to meet diverse application needs and to advance cost, performance, and sustainability. AI and material informatics offer immense potential to accelerate materials discovery and scale-up for battery and electrochemical systems, yet these technologies are still emerging in terms of research maturity and impact. This panel will examine the current landscape and best practices in integrating material informatics platforms, high-throughput experimentation, advanced machine learning (ML), and large language models (LLMs) that leverage experimental and simulation data. Real-world case studies will highlight how AI and material informatics are applied to expedite material development for energy applications. Attendees will gain insights from academia, industry, and policy, exploring how data-driven approaches and predictive models are addressing challenges and driving innovations essential to the energy transition

Procuring 24/7 Carbon-Free Energy

Companies are looking to procure 24/7 carbon-free energy to decarbonize their operations. However, to date, structuring deals to procure 24/7 carbon-free electricity has proven logistically challenging and, in some cases, extremely expensive. Join experts to explore how companies are approaching the decarbonization of the electricity they’re consuming and what breakthroughs might be needed to enable this decarbonization.

Commercializing Industrial Decarbonization Solutions

The challenge of decarbonizing heavy industry has forced the development of creative solutions, but many of these solutions are struggling to take hold in the market. In this panel, experts will discuss solutions for sectors that cannot be easily electrified. What solutions are available to companies looking to decarbonize operations, and how are these solutions manifesting within the market? What are the most salient challenges in the sector?

Evening Reception

Featuring the Student Club Mashup

5:30-7:30pm: Join us for light bites and a curated selection of beverages. This evening’s networking reception includes the Student Club Mashup. Hosted by the Student Energy Engagement Council (SEEC), the Mashup brings together UT’s student organizations in energy, sustainability, entrepreneurship, and innovation.

Thursday, April 3

Registration, Breakfast, & Case Challenge Unveiling

8:00-8:30am: Join us for light refreshments and cheer on the teams participating in today’s Interdisciplinary Energy Case Competition, co-hosted by the Office of Career & Life Design, the Green Workforce Collaborative, and the City of Austin Office of Innovation. The competition invites UT Austin graduate students from all disciplines to collaborate, innovate, and develop real-world solutions to pressing energy challenges. Participating students will gather at breakfast this morning for the unveiling of their case challenge before convening with their teams for a day of problem-solving.

Are you a student interested in participating in the competition? The application period opens in February. Stay tuned for details.

Driving Economic Development & Opportunity Through the Energy Transition

The energy transition is reshaping industries and regional economies, creating transformative opportunities for economic development. This panel discussion explores the roles played by regional economic development organizations (EDOs) and the private sector, which are at the forefront of this shift, leveraging emerging technologies, fostering public-private partnerships, and implementing innovative policies to drive growth and resilience. They are also deploying strategies to create new career pathways in clean energy, attract investment into emerging energy ecosystems, and align economic goals with global sustainability trends—all while prioritizing more equitable development.

The Role of Produced Water in Energy Expansion

This panel explores the critical topic of produced water, a byproduct of oil and gas extraction. Experts will discuss its significance, the growing urgency to repurpose this byproduct, and the potential market opportunities it presents. The conversation will address key challenges, including regulatory barriers, and highlight innovative research and policy directions shaping the future of this resource. Join us for a dynamic discussion on the transition of produced water from environmental challenge to valuable commodity.

Between Two Cacti

With Marilu Hastings, Executive Vice President of the Cynthia & George Mitchell Foundation

Now in its third season, Between Two Cacti is a conversation series hosted by Brian Korgel, Director of the Energy Institute. Today, Korgel will be joined by Marilu Hastings, Executive Vice President of the Cynthia & George Mitchell Foundation.

Midday Break

Lunch & Energy/Environment Mentorship

Open Lunch: 11:30am-1:15pm

Light lunch and networking for all Energy Week attendees. Free.

Energy & Environment Mentorship Luncheon

Energy & Environment Mentorship Lunch

Limited-seating event open to UT students and TEX-E Fellows from any participating TEX-E university. Students will dine with a small group of peers and a mentor of their choice who is a professional in fields related to energy and the environment. Free to attend.

Early registration is required, allowing time to match students with mentors. Registration opens Feb. 17. In the meantime, you can indicate your interest in attending when you register for Energy Week, in order to receive follow-up details.

The Challenges & Opportunities of Nuclear Energy

New nuclear must overcome the same hurdles all new energy technologies face: overcoming high initial costs. This panel will discuss how the industry can overcome first-of-a-kind deployment, supply chain, workforce development, regulatory, and financing challenges.

Powering Precedents: A 20-Year Retrospective on Landmark Developments in Energy Law

Over the past two decades, the energy sector has been shaped by transformative legal decisions and practices that have redefined how industries, governments, and communities address energy production, distribution, and consumption. In honor of Texas Journal of Oil, Gas, & Energy Law’s 20th anniversary, this panel of TJOGEL founders and leading alumni delves into the most significant trends, developments, and case law that have defined energy over the last twenty years, analyzing their far-reaching impacts on the industry and its stakeholders. The panel will also explore how these legal developments and technological innovations have affected investment strategies, operational practices, and the broader energy transition. Attendees will gain a comprehensive understanding of the jurisprudence that underpins today’s energy landscape and insight into emerging trends and challenges that could define the next era of energy law.

Presented by TJOGEL and the Kay Bailey Hutchison Energy Center.

Power & Influence: The Current Geopolitics of Energy & Security

Energy is at the heart of global geopolitics, shaping national security priorities, international alliances, and economic power. This panel will examine the complex intersection of energy, geopolitics, and security, exploring how energy production, distribution, and dependence influence both domestic stability and international relations. Experts will discuss the strategic implications of energy policies, emerging global trends, and the role of energy in shaping conflicts, diplomacy, and national resilience. Join us for a thought-provoking conversation on how energy continues to drive geopolitical decisions and impact the global security landscape.

Presented by the Clements Center for National Security and the Kay Bailey Hutchison Energy Center.

Evening Reception

Featuring the Interdisciplinary Energy Case Competition Awards

5:00-7:00pm: Networking, light bites, and a curated selection of beverages. Tonight’s reception includes the award ceremony for the Interdisciplinary Energy Case Competition.

Friday, April 4

KBH Student Energy Summit

Energy Everywhere: Building Infrastructure to Power Progress

A dynamic day of speakers and panels to tackle the challenges of building the energy infrastructure our world needs—from pipelines and solar farms to power plants and data centers.

9:00am-1:00pm: Experts will share insights and real-world examples to help you understand how energy projects create jobs, support clean energy goals, and make a positive impact on local communities—knowledge that you can use to shape the future of energy. Discover how we can work together to create a future where energy infrastructure supports growth, innovation, and sustainability. Don’t miss this opportunity to connect with industry professionals and learn how you can be part of the solution to power progress for all!