Federal Grant Award Summary

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Chemical, Bioengineering, Environmental, and Transport Systems awarded the University of Southern California a CAREER (Faculty Early Career Development) grant totaling $593,325 on July 1, 2026, for a five-year project period extending through June 30, 2031. Under the Engineering program (CFDA 47.041), this award funds fundamental research aimed at developing mechanistic frameworks for ion-selective transport through engineered nanoporous membranes. The primary deliverables include well-defined experimental model systems using nanoporous graphene and metal-organic frameworks to advance understanding of how precise spatial arrangements of chemical functional groups under confinement modulate ion migration and selectivity. The research will establish design principles and rules for engineering superior ion-separation materials, with particular emphasis on extracting critical minerals such as lithium and cobalt from aqueous industrial streams including geothermal brines, oil drilling wastewater, mining leachates, and industrial effluents.

In addition to the core research products, the award includes significant educational and workforce development components characteristic of NSF CAREER awards. The project integrates research into undergraduate and graduate coursework, provides hands-on training for students, and includes targeted engagement with high school students and local communities in the Los Angeles area. These educational deliverables are designed to build engineering workforce capacity while advancing domestic supply chain resilience for critical minerals essential to the nation's economic competitiveness.