NEWS

Tobias Misicko, a third-year Ph.D. candidate in the Reaction Engineering and Catalysis Science Laboratory led by Dr. Yang Xiao at Louisiana Tech University’s College of Engineering and Science, has been awarded the highly competitive U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science Graduate Student Research fellowship.

This prestigious national fellowship supports top doctoral students by giving them the chance to work alongside leading scientists from the U.S. Department of Energy and conduct research at world-class DOE National Laboratories. As part of this fellowship, Misicko will complete part of his dissertation research at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, one of the nation’s top research facilities. He’ll be working under the guidance of Dr. Xiao-Ying Yu on developing advanced materials — specifically, ultra-thin layers of platinum — to help produce clean hydrogen fuel from methane without creating carbon emissions.

During his time at ORNL, Misicko will also receive specialized training in a cutting-edge technique called operando Time-of-Flight Secondary Ion Mass Spectrometry. This tool allows scientists to closely examine how catalysts work on a microscopic level. His goal is to better understand how these materials function and how to improve them, helping make clean hydrogen energy more efficient and practical for large-scale use.

“Toby was a student in my Heat and Mass Transfer course four years ago and conducted research in my former lab,” said Dr. Yang Xiao, assistant professor of chemical engineering and doctoral advisor to Misicko. “Over the past three years, he has played an integral role in helping establish my new lab here at Louisiana Tech. His selection of this fellowship is a tremendous honor and a testament to his dedication, creativity, and scientific rigor. Toby’s upcoming work at Oak Ridge National Laboratory will deepen our understanding of catalysis for the energy transition and contribute meaningfully to the nation’s broader energy goals. I’m incredibly proud of his accomplishments and look forward to the contributions his research will make to the field of catalysis and reaction engineering.”

“Receiving this fellowship is both a personal and professional milestone,” said Misicko. “It validates the hard work I’ve put into my education and research, and it shows that I stand out among my peers with strong potential. The opportunity to conduct research at ORNL’s cutting-edge facilities will help me sharpen my skills and push my work even further. I’ve been fortunate to work with Dr. Xiao since my undergraduate days in 2019; his mentorship in reaction engineering and catalysis science has been instrumental in shaping me into a well-rounded, competitive researcher. After this fellowship, I plan to keep contributing to the field in an academic, industrial, or national lab setting.”

The SCGSR program, run by the U.S. Department of Energy, helps train the next generation of science leaders by giving graduate students the chance to work on important research that supports the country’s energy needs and scientific progress.