Shannon Yee, an assistant professor in the Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, has received an Air Force Office of Scientific Research's Young Investigator Award (YIP) to further explore "Tunable Multifunctional Organic Thermal and Thermoelectric Materials."

Yee began as an assistant professor in the Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering in the fall of 2013. He completed his Ph.D. at the University of California – Berkeley. In 2010, he was named the first fellow to the U.S.. Dept. of Energy's Advanced Research Project Agency – Energy (ARPA-E) assisting to form the agency in its inaugural year.

Yee’s research focuses on translating new fundamental scientific discoveries into applied energy conversion technologies.  By understanding how heat and energy flow through materials, energy conversion mechanisms and processes can be integrated into functional devices. 

The YIP is open to scientists and engineers at research institutions across the United States who received Ph.D. or equivalent degrees in the last five years and who show exceptional ability and promise for conducting basic research.

The objective of this program is to foster creative basic research in science and engineering, enhance early career development of outstanding young investigators, and increase opportunities for the young investigators to recognize the Air Force mission and the related challenges in science and engineering.

This year AFOSR received over 200 proposals in response to the AFOSR broad agency announcement solicitation in major areas of interest to the Air Force. These areas include: Dynamical Systems and Control, Quantum and Non-Equilibrium Processes, Information, Decision and Complex Networks, Complex Materials and Devices, and Energy, Power and Propulsion. AFOSR officials select proposals based on the evaluation criteria listed in the broad agency announcement. Those selected will receive the grants over a 3-year period.