NSF CAREER Award

As concerns about air and water pollution continue to grow, scientists are working to improve materials that can capture harmful contaminants before they impact human health and the environment. A key class of these materials – amine-functionalized sorbents – are widely used to remove carbon dioxide, toxic gases, heavy metals and persistent “forever chemicals.” However, their performance declines over time due to exposure to heat and oxygen, and the chemical mechanisms behind this degradation are not well understood. This knowledge gap has limited the development of more durable and efficient pollution-control technologies.

To address this challenge, Masoud Jahandar Lashaki, Ph.D., an associate professor at FAU’s College of Engineering and Computer Science, has received a prestigious National Science Foundation CAREER award totaling $569,156 for a five-year project beginning July 1. The research will investigate the molecular-level processes that cause amine-based materials to break down, with the goal of enabling the design of longer-lasting, more reliable systems for air and water purification. In addition to advancing fundamental science, the project includes strong educational and outreach components to train future engineers and engage students, while its findings could enhance sustainability, energy systems and pollution mitigation across multiple industries.

“This CAREER award represents an exciting opportunity to advance fundamental understanding in a field with enormous societal impact,” said Lashaki. “By uncovering the mechanisms that limit the performance of these materials, we can design next-generation solutions that are more durable, efficient and accessible – ultimately helping to protect public health and the environment while supporting critical sectors like energy and manufacturing.”

Read the press release.