09/24/2012 12:00:00 AMRajiv Mishra, professor of materials science and engineering, is studying next generation materials that will help coal-fired energy plants to operate at higher temperatures, making coal combustion more efficient and, in turn, resulting in lower emissions. Department of Biological Sciencesstory 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.