Devinder Mahajan receives SUNY Technology Accelerator Fund Award

Indian American professor recognized for groundbreaking research in developing an innovative system for storing and releasing hydrogen on demand

By Arun Kumar

Devinder Mahajan, an Indian American professor in the Department of Materials Science and Chemical Engineering and director of the Institute of Gas Innovation and Technology (I-GIT) at Stony Brook University, has been named to the Class of 2024 SUNY Technology Accelerator Fund (TAF).

The prestigious award recognizes Mahajan’s groundbreaking research in developing a single system for storing and releasing blended hydrogen and methane under near-ambient temperature and pressure conditions, according to a university press release. This innovative system addresses the significant challenges associated with efficiently storing and releasing hydrogen on demand, a critical step toward a sustainable energy future.

READ: Sen Subramanian named dean of SDSU College of Natural Sciences (January 9th, 2025) 

Mahajan received his BSc (Honors) and MSc (Honors), Chemistry, degrees from Panjab University, India and MSc and PhD, Applied Chemistry, from University of British Columbia, Canada. He also served as a Research Associate at Brookhaven National Laboratory, New York USA.

Mahajan has received several honors and awards including Marie Curie Senior Researcher, 2013-17, Joint NSF-European Commission Project; Jefferson Science Fellow, 2011-12; Fulbright Specialist Scholar, Asian Institute of Technology, Thailand, 2010; and Outstanding Mentor Award. Energy Secretary, Office of Science, United States Department of Energy, 2009 and 2007.

The TAF award provides vital support to faculty inventors and scientists across the SUNY system. This year, SUNY invested $425,000 through TAF to fund seven promising projects with the potential to revolutionize healthcare, environmental protection, and New York’s high-tech electronics industry.

Administered by the SUNY Research Foundation, TAF bridges the gap between research and the marketplace. By funding crucial research and development milestones — such as feasibility studies, prototyping and testing — TAF helps demonstrate the commercial viability of innovative technologies. This ultimately increases their attractiveness to potential investors.

Launched in 2011, the TAF program has consistently driven innovation within the SUNY system. To date, SUNY has invested more than $3.5 million in TAF, successfully advancing the commercial readiness of 72 cutting-edge innovations. This has catalyzed over $16 million in follow-on investment from various sources, including government agencies, industry partners, and early-stage investors.