UConn Student Wins NASA Grant for Clean Energy Research

When Evan Piotrowski walked through the Millstone Nuclear Power Station as a young student and saw the massive reactor that powered his Connecticut home, something clicked. That single tour turned curiosity into a career path focused on solving the world's most pressing energy challenges.

Now a rising senior at UConn, Piotrowski has been awarded the NASA CT Space Grant Scholarship for his groundbreaking work in sustainable energy. The scholarship recognizes both his academic excellence and his commitment to developing technologies that could transform how we produce clean energy and drinking water.

As a chemical engineering major with minors in materials science and mathematics, Piotrowski is researching how to combine atmospheric water harvesting with geothermal power systems. The goal is simple but powerful: create sustainable water production for communities with limited access to clean drinking water while using only carbon-free energy sources.

His research has already earned him UConn's Environmental & Social Sustainability Grant. Working in professor Burcu Beykal's lab, he developed a Python-based tool that makes complex energy simulations easier for other researchers and students to use.

"Evan is an exceptionally bright and motivated student," says Beykal. "His accomplishments reflect not only his strong technical skills, but also his curiosity and drive to take on meaningful engineering challenges."

Piotrowski's vision extends beyond Earth. He wants to work at the intersection of nuclear energy and space technology, developing advanced reactor systems that could one day power missions to the Moon and Mars.

His real-world experience backs up his ambition. He has completed internships at Millstone Nuclear Power Station and currently works at MPR Associates, an engineering consulting firm serving the nuclear power sector. There, he contributes to projects involving small modular reactors, technology that connects directly with NASA's plans for lunar surface power.

The Ripple Effect

Piotrowski's research tackles two global crises at once. His atmospheric water harvesting systems could provide clean drinking water to communities facing severe shortages. Meanwhile, his work on carbon-free geothermal energy helps address climate change by reducing dependence on fossil fuels.

The NASA scholarship will let him dedicate more time to research during his senior year, expanding projects in advanced power systems. His professor expects the work to have applications both on Earth and in space exploration.

Outside the lab, Piotrowski co-founded and serves as vice president of UConn's Human-Powered Submarine Club. He leads 15 students across four engineering teams as they design and build a submarine for the 2027 International Submarine Race.

From that first inspiring tour of a power plant to winning a NASA scholarship, Piotrowski shows how early exposure to science and technology can spark a lifetime of innovation aimed at solving humanity's biggest challenges.