Project Grant 2554303

The National Science Foundation (NSF) Division of Chemistry awarded $650,000 to the University of Wisconsin-Madison under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences program (CFDA 47.049) for a three-year project grant (July 15, 2026–June 30, 2029). Under the direction of Professor Robert J. McMahon, the project delivers fundamental research investigating the behavior and reactivity of organic compounds under extreme conditions of temperature, pressure, and radiation. The research generates new knowledge about carbon-rich reactive intermediates and their chemical properties, producing experimental data on structure, reactivity, and spectroscopic characteristics that advance understanding of organic chemistry in harsh reaction environments.

The deliverables support two significant applied research domains with national relevance: combustion chemistry, which informs energy efficiency and soot reduction in fuel combustion systems critical to the nation's energy supply, and astrochemistry, which contributes to understanding organic matter distribution in interstellar space and potential precursors to extraterrestrial life. The project also delivers educational outcomes through the training of graduate and undergraduate students in mechanistic organic chemistry and complex problem-solving within an interdisciplinary research team, providing workforce development in a discipline with direct applications to both industrial and academic careers.