Eric Wachsman, an expert on solid oxide fuel cells, has been named the University of Maryland Energy Research Center's first director.

Wachsman spearheaded the creation of the Florida Institute on Sustainable Energy at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Fla. He received a Ph.D. in materials science and engineering from Stanford University, and a B.S. in chemical engineering from the University of California at Berkeley. Prior to coming to the University of Florida, Wachsman rose through the ranks from post-doctorate to senior scientist at SRI International.

Wachsman has focused his career on developing advanced, efficient, energy conversion devices and technologies. His research is on ionic transport in solids and the heterogeneous electrocatalysis at their surface. This research includes the development of solid oxide fuel cells, gas separation membranes, solid-state gas sensors, the electrocatalytic conversion of CH4, and the post-combustion reduction of NOx using advanced ion conducting materials.

Wachsman is a Fellow of The Electrochemical Society and the past chair of the High Temperature Materials Division of ECS. In addition, he is editor-in-chief of Ionics, formerly an associate editor of the Journal of the American Ceramic Society, councilor of the Florida Section of the American Ceramic Society, and a member of the American Chemical Society, the International Society for Solid State Ionics and the Materials Research Society. He has more than 140 publications and eight patents on ionic and electronic transport in ceramics, their catalytic properties, and device performance.

Wachsman is also a frequent invited panelist on fuel cell and hydrogen energy research, ranging from the U.S. Department of Energy "Fuel Cell Report to Congress" and "Basic Research Needs Related to High Temperature Electrochemical Devices for Hydrogen Production, Storage and Use," to the National Science Foundation "Workshop on Fundamental Research Needs in Ceramics," NATO "Mixed Ionic-Electronic Conducting (MIEC) Perovskites for Advanced Energy Systems,” and the National Academies “Global Dialogues on Emerging Science and Technologies."