Sarma V. Pisupati

Sarma V. Pisupati is a Professor of Energy and Mineral Engineering and Chemical Engineering at Penn State University's College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. He holds the John T. Ryan, Jr. Faculty Fellowship and serves as Director of the Center for Critical Minerals (C2M) and co-director of the Coal Science and Technology Program at the EMS Energy Institute. With over forty years of experience in energy and environmental research and education, Dr. Pisupati established the first undergraduate Energy Engineering degree program in the US and led it through ABET accreditation.

Dr. Pisupati earned his B.Tech. and M.Tech. in Chemical Engineering from Osmania University and IIT Kharagpur, respectively, followed by a Ph.D. in Fuel Science from Penn State University. Prior to his academic career, he worked in industry for five years, bringing practical experience to his research and teaching.

• Ph.D. (Fuel Science), The Pennsylvania State University
• M.Tech. (Chemical Engineering), Indian Institute of Technology
• B.Tech. (Chemical Engineering), Osmania University

His research spans numerical modeling of combustion systems for emissions reduction, advanced power generation methods including oxy-fuel and chemical looping combustion, coal and biomass gasification processes, and the extraction of critical and rare earth elements from secondary sources like acid mine drainage and coal byproducts. His work addresses fundamental challenges in energy production while developing sustainable solutions for critical material supply chains.

Analysis of Dr. Pisupati's recent publications reveals a strong focus on critical mineral recovery from unconventional sources, particularly acid mine drainage and coal byproducts. His work combines fundamental research on slag chemistry, ash behavior, and reaction mechanisms with practical applications for resource recovery and environmental remediation. This research trajectory reflects the growing importance of securing domestic supplies of critical materials essential for clean energy technologies.

Dr. Pisupati has received numerous prestigious awards recognizing his contributions to engineering education and research:

• George W. Atherton Award for Excellence in Undergraduate Education (Penn State's highest teaching award)
• Elected Fellow of the American Chemical Society
• Elected Fellow of the Indian Institute of Chemical Engineers
• RA Mashelkar Medal for Innovators and Science Leaders
• Multiple Best Paper Awards from professional societies
• e-Education Faculty Fellowship for online teaching innovations

As Principal Investigator or co-PI, Dr. Pisupati has secured approximately $10 million in research funding from diverse sources including the Department of Energy, industrial partners, and national laboratories. His current projects focus on critical mineral extraction from coal-based resources, acid mine drainage remediation, and advanced combustion technologies. He has mentored numerous students and postdoctoral researchers, contributing significantly to workforce development in energy and mineral engineering fields.

Dr. Pisupati leads the Center for Critical Minerals, which focuses on developing innovative extraction methods for critical minerals from unconventional domestic sources. His work addresses national security concerns related to supply chain vulnerabilities for materials essential to clean energy technologies, defense applications, and advanced manufacturing.