ECS Toyota Young Investigator Fellowship

For projects in green energy technology

ECS, in partnership with the Toyota Research Institute of North America (TRINA)—a Toyota Motor North America (Toyota) R&D division that explores future technology—requests proposals from young professors and scholars pursuing innovative electrochemical research in green energy technology.

Population growth, increased production of vehicles, and the global development of industry and technology in the 20th century have resulted in massive consumption of fossil fuels. Today, the automotive industry faces three challenges regarding environmental and energy issues: (1) finding a viable alternative energy source as a replacement for oil, (2) reducing CO₂ emissions, and (3) preventing air pollution. Although the demand for oil alternatives—such as natural gas, electricity, and hydrogen—may grow, each alternative energy source has its disadvantages. Currently, oil remains the main source of automotive fuel; however, further research and development of alternative energies may bring change.

Read the rules. Learn more about past fellowship winners:

• Society Announces 2024-2025 ECS Toyota Young Investigator Fellowship Recipients
• Society Announces 2023-2024 ECS Toyota Young Investigator Fellowship Recipients
• Society Announces 2022-2023 ECS Toyota Young Investigator Fellowship Recipients
• The Electrochemical Society Announces 2021-2022 ECS Toyota Young Investigator Fellowship Recipients
• The Electrochemical Society and Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc. Announce 2020-2021 Fellowship Winners for Projects in Green Energy Technology
• ECS Toyota 2019-2020 Fellowship Winners Announced
• Toyota Fellowships Come Full Circle
• Toyota Fellowships Paying Off
• Q&A with ECS Toyota Young Investigator Fellow
• Podcast: Elizabeth Biddinger on Green Energy Technology

Fellowship objectives and content

The purpose of the ECS Toyota Young Investigator Fellowship is to encourage young professionals and scholars to pursue research into batteries, fuel cells and hydrogen, and future sustainable technologies. Previous awardees are welcome to re-apply.

Areas of particular interest in the Battery field include:

• Lightweight and High Energy Density (Wh/kg) solid state batteries;
• Enabling metal anodes for liquid and solid-state batteries;
• Synthesis, characterization, and electrochemistry of novel organic, inorganic, and composite solid electrolytes;
• Synthesis, characterization, and electrochemistry of novel liquid electrolytes;
• Synthesis, characterization and electrochemistry of high-nickel and post-NMC cathodes for lithium batteries;
• Synthesis, characterization and electrochemistry of new binder chemistries lithium batteries;
• New concepts for energy storage systems;
• Characterization of electrode/electrolyte interfaces with low resistance;
• Innovations in Sodium and Sodium-ion batteries.

Areas of particular interest in the Fuel Cell and Hydrogen fields include:

• Durable proton exchange membranes (PEMs) without perfluorinated materials (non-PFSA) for heavy-duty fuel cell truck applications;
• Novel materials and technologies, such as radical scavenger, non-PFAS reinforcement or advanced analysis techniques, that lead to improved chemical and mechanical durability or better understanding of hydrocarbon materials;
• Anode materials for PEM water electrolyzers enabling ultralow iridium loading with long-term durability;
• Advanced membranes and ionomers to enhance durability and performance of AEM water electrolyzers;
• Novel catalyst and support materials to substantially improve both performance and durability PEMFCs;
• New theory and fundamental research that may lead to the discovery of next generation hydrogen storage materials and technologies.

Areas of particular interest in the field of Future Sustainable Technologies include:

• Methods and materials to enable Direct Recycling and Upcycling of Li-ion Battery cathodes;
• Efficient and effective binder removal and purification from Li-ion Battery electrodes;
• Recovery, purification, and reuse of Li-ion battery electrolytes;
• New materials and electrochemical processes to enable CO₂ capture, conversion, and utilization;
• Novel methods to probe the interface of CO_2;
• Breakthrough research into new binder chemistries to enable circularity;
• Technologies enabling rapid state-of-health assessments for cells, modules and packs;
• Technologies enabling rejuvenation of end-of-life batteries.

The fellowship is awarded to a minimum of one candidate annually. Winners receive a restricted grant of no less than US $50,000 to conduct the research outlined in their proposal within one year, and a one-year complimentary ECS membership.

Recipients are also required to present their research at the fall ECS biannual meeting following the completion of their fellowship award year. They are also highly encouraged to publish an open-access article in a relevant ECS journal within 24 months of the end of the research period.

Application Guidelines

Recipient Eligibility

To qualify, a candidate must be under 45 years of age and working in Canada, Mexico,  Europe, or the United States. The candidate must submit an original research proposal for review by the ECS Toyota Young Investigator Fellowship Subcommittee. The proposed research theme must not overlap with other research grants or other funded research projects.

The recipient must be a member in good standing of The Electrochemical Society (ECS). 

Proposal Requirements

The format of the proposal is open, but it must present the research target, technical approach, budget, and schedule in no more than three pages. Proposals should be submitted no later than January 31.

Each application must identify a primary topical interest area:

• Battery
• Battery Circularity
• Carbon Capture Utilization & Storage
• Fuel Cell
• H2
• Other

Selection Process

Proposals are reviewed by the ECS Toyota Young Investigator Fellowship Subcommittee, a joint body of ECS and TRINA representatives. The subcommittee evaluates all proposals based on their alignment with Toyota’s current technical needs; the unique, innovative or unconventional nature of the technical approaches; and the feasibility of the technology to positively impact the field of green energy. The ECS Education Committee then reviews the subcommittee’s recommendation, and if approved, forwards the recommendation for review and approval at the next meeting of the ECS Board of Directors.

Award Acceptance

The selected award recipient(s) sign a grant contract with ECS and are required to submit a six-month progress report and final written report after one year of funding. The recipient(s) are invited semiannually to TRINA to present their research progress.

Depending on the research progress and results obtained at the completion of the award period, Toyota may elect to enter into a research agreement with the recipient to continue the work. Recipients are required to publish an open access article in a relevant ECS Journal and present at one biannual meeting within 24-months of the end of the research period.

Recipients

2024-2025
Zheng Chen
Zhongyang Wang
Juner Zhu

2023-2024
Yaocai Bai
Yuzhang Li

2022-2023
Betar M. Gallant
Yayuan Liu
Jacob S. Spendelow
William Tarpeh

2021-2022
Chibueze Amanchukwu
Christopher G. Arges
Marm Dixit
Marta Hatzell
Siddharth Komini Babu

2020-2021
Shoji Hall
Piran Ravichandran Kidambi
Haegyeom Kim

2019-2020
Nemanja Danilovic
Neil Dasgupta
Kelsey Hatzell
Jennifer L. Schaefer
Zhenhua Zeng

2018-2019
Kimberly See
Iryna Zenyuk

2017-2018
Ahmet Kusoglu
Julie Renner
Shuhui Sun

2016-2017
Elizabeth Biddinger
Joaquin Rodriguez Lopez
Joshua Snyder

2015-2016
Patrick Cappillino
Yogesh (Yogi) Surendranath
David Go