Rajiv Mishra, professor of materials science and engineering, is studying next generation materials to help coal-fired energy plants operate at higher temperatures, making coal combustion more efficient and, in turn, resulting in lower emissions.

Mishra has earned a two-year, $300,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Energy to develop the materials for clean coal technologies. He will work with a team of researchers from the University of Idaho to study these high-performance materials for use in high-temperature applications at the plants.