Sossina Haile, Chemist

"There's nothing better than being able to combine an intellectually exciting topic with the knowledge that it will be beneficial. To me, that's just glory." Chemist Dr. Sossina Haile, who developed the first solid-acid fuel cell (which convert chemical energy into electricity, & are already used commercially in portable power banks & low-emission vehicles). She was born on July 28, 1966 in Ethiopia but fled with her family to the USA after soldiers almost killed her historian father. Her research focuses on the relationship between structure, chemistry and properties in electrochemically functional solids, particularly oxides and how they can be applied to sustainable energy technology. She received the American Competitiveness Initiative Fellowship (NSF), 2008, for “timely and transformative research in the energy field & dedication to inclusive mentoring, education & outreach…”