Lincoln Park professor nets $450K grant for biofuel research

A Lincoln Park educator has been awarded a $450,000 grant to help fund continued research into the development of biofuel alternatives in certain regions of the United States.

Montclair State University announced Tuesday that Pankaj Lal, an assistant professor of earth and environmental studies, recently was awarded a five-year, $450,000 Faculty Early Career Development grant from the National Science Foundation to explore sustainable bioenergy solutions in the Midwest and southern United States.

Lal’s project will focus on place-based policy solutions that develop forest- and agriculture-based bioenergy as a fossil fuel alternative. His solutions will be based on analysis of factors such as location suitability, socioeconomic uncertainty and environmental impact.

"I want to clarify we are looking at a second-level of biofuels and finding ways of turning waste into energy," said Lal, who is looking to buy a house in Lincoln Park after renting a place for his family to live the past three years..

To that end, rather than cut existing healthy trees to produce a fuel source, efforts would focus on waste already present in the forest, such as fallen or decaying organic matter. Similarly, in farming regions where corn is produced, for example, Lal said rather than divert the crop from more useful purposes such as human and animal food, governments and energy producers could focus on non-food matter such as leaves, stalks, cobs and other residue from corn.

Various types of tall grasses also may be a good source of potential biofuel, depending on the region, Lal said.

Socio-economic factors unique to certain regions also will be part of the study.

By studying the factors that impact the development and sustainable production of forest-and crop-based bioenergy markets in the United States, Lal’s project will contribute to the nation’s energy independence, according to university officials.

“Dr. Lal indeed represents the best of the university in his outstanding research and dedication and prowess as a teacher,” said Robert Prezant, dean of the university's College of Science and Mathematics. “This award in turn reflects the success of our college in helping to ensure our students have excellent teachers and research scholars who are also strong mentors.”

“The results of this project will interest policymakers, researchers, farmers and feedstock cultivators, industries and concerned citizens,” Lal sais. “Its methodologies are adaptable and will contribute towards developing longer-term strategies that will benefit the agricultural sector and support rural economies and communities in this country and beyond.”

An educational component of the product will also help strengthen the pipeline of students in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math, or STEM, disciplines through research and student mentorship opportunities. Lal said Montclair State students will be involved in the project and they are working closely with two community schools in Orange supported by the university.

“It will be carried out in large part through undergraduate- and graduate-level research projects, which will give student researchers the skills they need to thrive in trans-disciplinary STEM careers,” Lal said.

Student research results will be integrated into K-12 public outreach and environmental education programs.

“Sharing my students’ success will be the greatest reward. I am extremely lucky to work with a dynamic group of students and am very proud that their work contributed to getting this award,” said Lal, who has been at Montclair State for five years. “Developing sustainable energy and resources is one of the grand challenges facing modern society, and I feel satisfied that our work can contribute a bit towards an improved understanding of this area.”

This is not Lal’s first award for work on bioenergy sustainability. He has received nearly $6.8 million in grants and contracts for research as a principal or co-principal investigator from sources such as the U.S. Department of Energy, U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Taking an integrative, interdisciplinary approach, Lal has explored the interconnections between human society and the environment in ongoing research initiatives. Working in the United States, Africa and South Asia, his team efforts have focused on the human dimensions of ecosystem management, natural resource conservation and policy, and climate change.

“I’m looking forward to a great opportunity to work with and train the next generation of researchers in the area of sustainability and cleaner sources of energy,” Lal said. “The real-world value of this research makes this a worthwhile effort.”

Staff Writer William Westhoven: 973-917-9242; wwesthoven@GannettNJ.com.