Department of Energy Selects UA Engineering Graduate for Fellowship

TUSCALOOSA, Ala. – A recent graduate from The University of Alabama College of Engineering was one of 27 students nationwide selected for a highly competitive graduate fellowship in computational science from the U.S. Department of Energy.

Thomas Ludwig, who graduated with a bachelor of science degree in chemical engineering this May, was chosen for the Department of Energy Computational Science Graduate Fellowship. Originally from Brunswick, Ohio, Ludwig was also a student in UA’s Computer-Based Honors Program.

While studying at the University, he worked under Dr. C. Heath Turner, professor of chemical and biological engineering, focusing on using molecular simulations to guide the synthesis of high-performance thermoelectric materials.

Ludwig plans to earn a doctorate in chemical engineering from Stanford University. He is particularly interested in developing computational methods for designing materials and processes with applications in sustainable and clean energy.

The Computational Science Graduate Fellowship was established in 1991 to train and produce the country’s next generation of leaders in computational science. More than 400 students have been named fellows in the time since, each a representative for computing’s capacity to advance science across a variety of disciplines.

As part of the program, fellows receive a yearly stipend, full payment of university tuition and fees during the appointment period as well as an annual academic allowance. Renewable for up to four years, the fellowship is guided by a comprehensive program of study that requires focused coursework in the areas of science, engineering, computer science and applied mathematics. It also includes a three-month practicum at one of 21 Department of Energy laboratories or sites across the country.

In 2014, Ludwig was selected by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration for the Ernest F. Hollings Undergraduate Scholarship, and in 2015 he was chosen as a Goldwater Scholar by the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Program. He also received numerous campus honors for his research and activities while at UA. His parents are Kris and Robert Ludwig.