Each year the American Chemical Society’s Petroleum Research Fund holds a highly selective competition to award seed funding to top researchers with a proven track-record of producing innovative fundamental research.

Established in 1954, its goal has been to “promote the careers of young faculty by supporting research of high scientific caliber, and to enhance the career opportunities of their undergraduate/ graduate students, and postdoctoral associates through the research experience”

Maldovan, who holds joint appointments in Georgia Tech’s School of Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering and School of Physics, focuses his research on nanoscale science and technology, heat and mass transfer, energy and biomaterials, and photonic and phononic materials.