The International Society for Microbial Electrochemistry and Technology (ISMET) awarded this year’s Innovation Award to Xi Chen, an associate research scholar in civil and environmental engineering. Chen, who is advised by Z. Jason Ren, professor of civil and environmental engineering and the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment, was recognized for her work on spontaneous hydrogen evolution – research that aims to utilize a less energy-intensive and cheaper method of producing hydrogen while cleaning wastewater.

Chen’s paper, co-authored by Ren and Princeton researchers, Yanhong Bian and Lu Lu, was also selected to be the front cover of the Energy & Environmental Science journal and was named a top 10 “hot article,” a collection of the most notable work published in the journal.

For more information about the award or ISMET, see the organization’s award announcement.