Energy & Fuels is now accepting nominations of candidates for the 2026 Energy and Fuels Rising Stars. Submit your nomination by September 1, 2025.
Since 2021, Energy & Fuels has annually recognized early- and mid-career researchers (EMCRs) through our Energy and Fuels Rising Stars initiative. Each year, a Special Issue is published to highlight those EMCRs who have made significant contributions to their respective fields of energy and fuel research.
We invite nominations of EMCRs who within 12 years or less of receiving their Ph.D. degrees (i.e., awarded on or after January 1, 2014) and are currently in their independent research positions, who are doing exceptional work within energy and fuel research. We encourage nominations of researchers from industry, government, and university laboratories.
Selected candidates will be invited to submit a manuscript (review, minireview, original article, or communication) in the nominated research area to Energy & Fuels due by May 15, 2026.
If accepted, the manuscript will be published in the 2026 Energy and Fuels Rising Stars Special Issue, and the author will receive a certificate and recognition through ACS Publications.
Eligibility Criteria
- Ph.D. awarded on or after January 1, 2014.
- Currently in an independent research role (i.e., postdoctoral positions do not qualify).
- Research contributions must have been made during the nominee’s independent career.
- Previous Energy and Fuels Rising Stars (2021–2025) are not eligible.
Topical Areas
Up to 40 candidates will be selected across the 12 key topical areas covered by Energy & Fuels:
- Traditional Fossil Fuels
- Unconventional Energy Resources
- Bioenergy, Biofuels, and Biorefinery
- Environmental and Carbon Dioxide Issues
- Efficiency and Sustainability
- Catalysis and Kinetics
- Combustion
- Solar Energy, Solar Fuels, and Conversion of Light
- Fuel Cells
- Batteries and Energy Storage
- Non-Carbon-Based Fuels
- Process Engineering
Nomination Requirements
Self-nomination is acceptable. The selection committee will include Energy & Fuels Editors and Editorial Advisory Board members.
Investigators who wish to be considered, or would like to nominate a colleague for consideration*, must complete the nomination process in the link below. Incomplete nominations will not be considered.
Nominations must include:
- Full Name
- Position
- Institution
- Country
- Email address
- Year of Ph.D. completion
- Preferred topical section of Energy & Fuels
- A brief statement (max. 300 words) summarizing research contributions during the nominee’s independent career.
- Citable information and DOI numbers of up to 3 contributions to research during the nominee’s independent career (publications, patents, reports, etc.)
- Professional website URL.
- Google Scholar and/or Scopus profile.
*If nominating someone else, you must obtain their consent to share personal information in accordance with data protection regulations. This is necessary for the American Chemical Society, ACS Publications, and any partners associated with the award to comply with laws and rules around the processing of personal data.
