Written by: Olivia.Countryman@unt.edu
Michael Thomas, a second-year UNT Chemistry Ph.D. student studying under the guidance of Professor Francis D'Souza, has been named a 2017 awardee of the prestigious NSF Graduate Research Fellowship Program! Michael was selected as one of 2000 awardees from over 13,000 applicants representing
a wide range of scientific disciplines all across the U.S.
Michael's research in Professor D'Souza's group aims to create new technologies for
solar light energy harvesting that could eventually lead to portable energy harvesting
devices. Specifically, Michael is working with molecules that can control the transfer
of energy and electrons upon light illumination. Michael utilizes sophisticated ultrafast
laser spectroscopy techniques to test the potential of these molecules for high performance,
cost-effective, long-lasting photovoltaic devices.
Michael's accomplishments in the Chemistry Department have been inspired in part by
his experience in the U.S. Marine Corps. When deployed in Afghanistan, his unit worked
to provide water and protection to Afghans in rural communities by building wells
and providing defenses. However, they were unable to provide access to electricity
for these communities, and this inspired Michael to think about how new technologies
might be developed to meet energy needs in remote areas. Michael's experience was
also shaped by working in an ethnically diverse unit that also included many female
Marines. Building on this experience, Michael aims to promote diversity in the STEM
fields through mentoring and collaborating with researchers from diverse backgrounds
and across the world.
Congratulations, Michael!