About us
HI-POWER Overview
Hydrogen Innovation – Preparing and Obtaining a Workforce in Energy Research (HI-POWER) is a collaborative, multi-institutional educational and research initiative aimed at training the next generation of engineers and scientists to support the rapidly growing clean hydrogen economy. The program is hosted by the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering and partners with North Carolina A&T State University and Ames National Laboratory. Funded in part by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), HI-POWER offers research opportunities that address critical challenges in hydrogen storage, transport, and material compatibility.
The program emphasizes the development of hydrogen-tolerant materials that can endure mechanical and tribological stress in hydrogen-rich environments—key to enabling scalable hydrogen technologies. Students conduct experimental and computational research under the guidance of mentors from national laboratories, universities, and industry, focusing on areas such as hydrogen-metal interactions, wear and strength in hydrogen conditions, and advanced modeling techniques.
Two distinct summer opportunities are provided:
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HIPOWER-SULI, hosted at Ames National Laboratory in Ames, Iowa, through the DOE Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internship (SULI) program.
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HIPOWER-REU, based at the FAMU-FSU College of Engineering in Tallahassee, Florida, with research support from Ames National Laboratory.
The HI-POWER program recruits highly motivated undergraduate students from disciplines including mechanical engineering, materials science, chemical engineering, chemistry, and physics. No prior research experience in hydrogen is required. A core objective of the program is to increase participation from underrepresented groups in STEM by offering structured mentorship, hands-on research, and professional development within an inclusive and supportive environment.
The program promotes academic and career advancement by integrating technical workshops, networking with national labs, and culminating research presentations. HI-POWER is committed to equipping a diverse cohort of students with the skills and experiences necessary to lead in the emerging hydrogen energy sector.