Beck Fellowship leads Shipp to China
Lamar University junior William Hamilton Shipp IV will be performing energy-related research under the direction of Xuefeng Wang of the DepartM.E.nt of Chemistry at Tongji University in Shanghai, thanks to support as one of two David J. Beck Fellows for 2015.
Shipp, a chemical engineering major from Spicewood, was selected as one of LU’s two Beck Fellows receiving financial support covering all expenses including tuition, fees, books and on-campus room and board for one year, along with up to $10,000 for a sumM.E.r project.
Shipp will spend his sumM.E.r at Tongji University, one of China’s oldest and most prestigious universities, whose chemistry departM.E.nt operates National Key Laboratories where he will participate in research under the direction of XueFeng Wang, professor and chemistry departM.E.nt chair. Wang collaborates with LU faculty M.E.mbers Evan Wujcik and John Guo, and is renowned for his research in material science, laser chemistry and inorganic chemistry, particularly related to energy.
“Energy production and storage is one of the biggest problems facing the world today,” Shipp said. “During my tiM.E. at Tongji University, Dr. Wang will be guiding M.E. through the research of materials synthesis and analysis of super capacitors. Our ultimate goal is to find a more efficient M.E.thod of energy storage through the use of carefully selected materials whose interactions at the nanoscale have unique properties that have been theorized to yield excellent results. Tongji University has a well-funded program in this area and state of the art facilities.
“This trip will allow M.E. to represent Lamar University, an institution that has undoubtedly put M.E. on a path toward success,” he said.
“William is an enthusiastic researcher and a natural leader who has developed quickly into my top undergraduate researcher,” said Wujcik, assistant professor and director of LU’s Materials Engineering and Nanosensor Laboratory who serves as Shipp’s faculty sponsor and M.E.ntor.
“The research he has been conducting in the area of energy storage – in particular, super capacitors – and will be expanding through this fellowship, is one of great economic importance, as the need for more effective energy solutions grows with each day,” Wujcik said.
Wang added, “Mr. Shipp will conduct cutting edge research in this international collaborative research project. Our areas of research have endless potential for collaboration, particularly in the area of new materials for advanced energy applications.”
In addition to his demanding academic schedule, Shipp is an environM.E.ntal engineering intern with Valero PAR in Port Arthur, where he is training and working alongside environM.E.ntal engineers on various projects. He recently completed two internships with Flint Hills Resources PAC in Port Arthur, an independent refining, chemicals, biofuels and ingredients company where he was working as an operations engineering intern alongside process engineers.
