K-State's Center for Sustainable Energy selects 14 for graduate student assistantships

MANHATTAN— Fourteen Kansas State University graduate students representing six departments and three colleges have been awarded assistantships to conduct research in sustainable energy for the 2009-10 academic year.

K-State's Center for Sustainable Energy requests proposals annually from eligible K-State faculty in support of the assistantships for projects related to enhancing research on renewable energy topics. The assistantships are intended to expand the current research base at K-State and encourage new research clusters addressing issues related to renewable energy.

Proposals included bioenergy research topics in plant genetics, biomass production, conversion processes and utilization, as well as wind, solar and economic issues related to renewable energy.

K-State's Center for Sustainable Energy was established in 2007 with a grant from the university's Targeted Excellence program. Through research and educational efforts, the center seeks to provide sustainable, renewable energy while maintaining the environment and providing an adequate food supply. Center co-directors are Ron Madl, director of the K-State's Bioprocessing and Industrial Value-Added Program, and Mary Rezac, professor of chemical engineering.

K-State offers significant educational and scientific resources related to the complete cycle of biofuels production and other renewable energy sources. Basic and applied research, education and outreach activities are components of the center. More than 30 faculty from across campus, including the colleges of Agriculture, Arts and Sciences, and Engineering, are involved in center activities.