Six Pitt Projects Win $225,000 to Support Sustainable Innovation

The University of Pittsburgh Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation (MCSI) announced its 2024-25 Research Seed Grants and John C. Mascaro Faculty Award recipients. These award programs help Pitt faculty engage in sustainability research that offers preliminary research results for external awards and the ability to update curriculum or create a class. 

“I want to offer my sincere congratulations to all of the MCSI Research Seed Grant and John C. Mascaro Faculty Awardees,” said Melissa Bilec, co-director of the Mascaro Center for Sustainable Innovation and William Kepler Whiteford Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering. “We are continually impressed with the creative and impactful sustainability research being done by Pitt faculty. At the Mascaro Center, our goal is to help faculty jump-start projects that will lead to high-quality work. Our Seed Grant program has earned over $35 million in federal follow-on funding – a testament to the effectiveness of supporting innovative sustainability research, the leadership of our faculty and our potential global impact on critical challenges.”

Research Seed Grants in Sustainability

• Inhee Lee, assistant professor of electrical and computer engineering, “Ultra-low-power, Reliable Semiconductor Chip & System Design for Ecological Climate Change Studies with Small Animals
• Paul Leu, professor of industrial engineering and BP Faculty Fellow, “Pioneering Sustainable and Transparent Glass Formulations for Climate Resilience”
• Professor and Interim Chair Daniel Mosse, Assistant Professor Stephen Lee and Teaching Assistant Professor Nadine von Frankenberg, Department of Computer Science, “Sustainable (Campus) Buildings through Sensing and Human-Building Interaction”

John C. Mascaro Faculty Awards

• Sarah Chesney, assistant professor of science/STEM education, Pitt Johnstown, “The Pitt-Johnstown STEM Endorsement for Current K-12 Teachers”
• Eric Paljug, clinical associate professor of business administration, “Developing and Launching a Course in Sustainability in the Supply Chain”
• Ryan Shi, assistant professor of computer science, “AI-based Volunteer Engagement for Crowdsourcing”

Leonard Peters Faculty Fellow

One new faculty member has been invited to join the current class of Leonard Peters Faculty Fellows who help envision, create and implement core MCSI programs.

• Joaquin Rodriguez, assistant professor of chemical and petroleum engineering