Suffolk Reporter

Steve Farrell, a research associate at the Inner-Shell Spectroscopy (ISS) beamline at the National Synchrotron Light Source II (NSLS-II), has been selected as one of 2024’s Distinguished Goldhaber Fellows. These prestigious three-year fellowships are awarded to exceptional candidates who have demonstrated their expertise and talent as well as their drive to pursue independent research. At the end of their appointment, fellows are encouraged to apply for scientific staff positions at Brookhaven National Laboratory. Farrell plans to use this time to pursue projects focused on clean, affordable energy that leverage his experience in chemistry and materials science.

“I came in the door with a lot of ideas, and the mentors and collaborators I worked with here at Brookhaven helped me streamline and craft them into a good, cohesive project built around so many of my hopes and dreams,” Farrell said. “I work on a lot of cool projects here, but I was able to better tune my vision to what could be helpful in the long run: humanity-centered projects in the scope of DOE’s mission—like affordable energy security—and clean energy.”

Farrell specializes in catalysis, which involves altering a chemical reaction’s speed using a substance that isn’t consumed in the process. He focuses on net-zero-carbon approaches such as reusing greenhouse gases like carbon dioxide or methane for important chemical processes that require catalysis in areas like manufacturing and energy production.

“I’m focused on the materials aspect of catalysis and getting a better understanding of how catalysts work,” said Farrell. “For centuries, people have used catalysis to produce chemicals and often had no idea how the process worked... We want to understand how these catalysts work at the atomic level... Now, we’re seeing that we can achieve a lot of these reactions at much lower temperatures.”

Farrell’s Goldhaber Distinguished Fellowship research proposal involves developing vital carbon-neutral pathways to clean energy via converting natural gas into value-added chemicals. This will leverage Brookhaven Lab’s Chemistry Division resources and synchrotron X-ray techniques at NSLS-II. New high-pressure catalysis tools available at ISS beamline enable real-time observation of high-pressure reactions.

Performing impactful research has made Farrell an adept scientific communicator. Explaining his work's significance is essential for broader community engagement.

“I have friends and family who are really excited about the latest in clean energy science... A big step in learning to communicate specialized research... is to have them repeat what you’ve said back to you,” he noted.

A native New Yorker familiar with Brookhaven Lab from childhood visits, Farrell pursued his education avidly—earning degrees from Drexel University and later completing his Ph.D. in materials chemistry from New York University this year.

“The team at ISS, led by Eli Stavitski, has been great... The Chemistry Division at Brookhaven Lab has also been instrumental...” Farrell remarked about his collaborative experiences.

Brookhaven National Laboratory is supported by the Office of Science of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). The Office is a significant supporter of basic research in physical sciences within the United States.