Eric D. Wachsman

Dr. Eric D. Wachsman, an expert on solid oxide batteries and fuel cells, is the director of the Maryland Energy Innovation Institute (MEI2) and the William L. Crentz Centennial Chair in Energy Research with appointments in both the Departments of Materials Science & Engineering and Chemical & Biomolecular Engineering at the University of Maryland.

In 2021, he was named a Distinguished University Professor for his research accomplishments in fundamental ionic transport, electrocatalysis, advanced electrochemical energy conversion and batteries, and service and technological leadership to the state of Maryland and UMD. He has more than 270 publications and 38 patents/patent applications. To date, three companies have been founded based on these technologies. In June 2021, Wachsman was elected President of the Electrochemical Society, and in 2022 he was elected to the National Academy of Inventors.

He received his Ph.D. in materials science and engineering from Stanford University, and his B.S. in chemical engineering from the University of California at Berkeley. Before joining the University of Maryland, he spearheaded the creation of the Florida Institute on Sustainable Energy at the University of Florida, and served as a senior scientist at SRI International.

He has contributed to the next generation of electrochemists, having graduated 35 Ph.D. and 30 M.S. students, supervised 38 postdocs and research scientists, and mentored several junior faculty. Of these, three have gone on to receive ECS awards.