Sossina M. Haile
Personal Information
Born: 1966
Country of Birth: Ethiopia
Nationality: USA
Ethnicity: Black
Education
MIT BS Materials Science & Engineering 1986, PhD Materials Science & Engineering 1992; UC Berkeley MS Materials Science & Engineering 1988; University of Stuttgart, final Year at MIT PhD
Professional Life
Field of Study: Materials Science
Institution/Corporation: Northwestern University; Caltech
Degrees & Memberships: Fellow Materials Research Society (2018)
Awards & Achievements
Awards: 2012, International Ceramics Prize, World Academy of Ceramics; 2010, Chemical Pioneer Award, AIC; 2008, American Competitiveness Initiative Fellowship, NSF; 2008, named 1 of 12 People to Watch, Newsweek Magazine; 2002, 27th Congressional District Woman of the Year; 2001, J.B.Wagner Award, Electrochemical Society; 2000, Coble Award, American Ceramics Society; 1997, Robert Lansing Hardy Award, TMS; 1994-99, National Young Investigator, NSF; 1992-93, Humboldt Fellowship; 1991-92, Fulbright Fellowship; 1986-92, AT&T Cooperative Research Fellowship; 2020, David Turnbill Lectureship, MRS
Achievements: Research centers on ionic conduction in solids, particularly in fuel cells; research has is or has been supported by NSF, Army Research Office, Dept of Energy, DARPA, Office of Naval Research, California Energy Commission, Powell Foundation, Kirsch Foundation, General Motors, EPRI (formerly Hughes Research Labs) & Honeywell (formerly AlliedSsignal & now General Electric); holds 14 patents (only 12 found)
Developed the 1st solid acid fuel cells
Was born in Ethiopia; family fled to the US when she was 10 after soldiers arrested & nearly killed her father who was a member of the transitional parliament
Worked at Caltech for 18 years before moving to Northwestern University
Has been recognized for developing new ways of using solar energy to make fuels like hydrogen & methane
Holds 12 patents