RICHLAND — Bin Yang, an assistant professor with the Department of Biological Systems Engineering and the Center for Bioproducts & Bioenergy at Washington State University Tri-Cities, is one of only 39 young scientists selected from 407 applicants from across the nation to receive this year’s prestigious Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) Young Faculty Award.

The school announced the award today in a news release. The award will provide him $300,000 for his research into the co-production of ethanol and jet fuel from biomass sources.

Yang has spent most of his career in the development of renewable energy technologies with an emphasis on production of ethanol, drop-in replacement biofuel and other commodity products from cellulosic biomass.

His current work focuses on the conversion of the lignin fraction left from the most of current and potential biorefineries into high-grade jet fuel.

"Co-production of ethanol and jet fuel from biomass sources would significantly improve the total carbon use in biomass and make biomass conversion more economically viable”, Yang said.

Howard Grimes, Vice President of Research and Dean of Graduate School expressed his satisfaction on receiving the news of Yang’s award.

"WSU has an impressive array of research and technologies that span from feedstock development to conversion technologies for next generation aviation biofuels,” Grimes said. "The recognition of Dr. Yang by DARPA is one more validation of the leadership role that WSU occupies in this important arena.”

Through the Young Faculty Award, DARPA identifies outstanding junior faculty members and exposes them to U.S. Department of Defense (DoD) research needs and DARPA’s program development process.

The award combines funding, mentoring and networking with industry and DoD early in a recipient’s career to help them in framing future research in the context of defense needs.