Scott J Curran

Bio

Dr. Scott Curran leads the Fuel Science and Engine Technologies Research Group at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). His research areas include advanced compression ignition experimental research including the development of advanced combustion concepts and investigating the fuel effects on advanced combustion modes. He is involved with low-lifecycle carbon fuels research for transportation with a focus on utilizing low-lifecycle carbon fuels for the off-road, rail and marine sectors and works on biomass resource analysis projects with a focus on biofuel end-use utilization for transportation. He is also involved in vehicle systems research projects, well-to-wheels analysis for mobile and stationary power sources, additive manufacturing for vehicle systems and neutron diagnostics for integrated energy systems.  He is an active collaborator with DOE Clean Cities for alternative fuels and advanced vehicle technology outreach and education and serves on the board of directors for the East Tennessee Clean Fuels Coalition. He is a fellow of SAE International and previously served as the chair the Engine Combustion Committee and the McFarland Award Committee and is a fellow of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and currently serves on the executive committee for the ASME Internal Combustion Engine Division and was previously the chair the Undergraduate Research Competition.  He received his BS and MS in mechanical engineering from the University of Tennessee – Knoxville (UT) where he was a DOE GATE Fellow and was part of the Challenge-X hybrid vehicle design competition. He completed his PhD degree in Energy Science and Engineering in 2014 within the UT/ORNL Bredesen Center becoming one of the first of two graduates from the program. 

Awards

2024 ASME Fellow 

2023 SAE Fellow

2022 IEEE Senior Member 

2022 UT-Battelle Awards Night - Community Engagement

2022 ORNL BTSD Award - Team Science 

2021 UT-Battelle Awards Night - Operational Performance 

2019 Global Grand Challenges Summit Invitee

2019 National Academies Frontiers of Engineering Program (GAFOE symposium)

2017 ORNL Exceptional Effort Award: UDI SAB Support

2016 ORNL Significant Achievement Award: AMIE Demo Project

2015 SAE International Stefan Pischinger Award for Young Industry Leadership

2014 SAE International McFarland Award

2014 ORNL Significant Achievement Award: SuperTruck

2013 DOE Vehicle Technologies Office Research & Development Award

2013 ASME Old Guard Early Career Award + Lifetime membership

2013 ORNL Community Sustainability Award

2013 SAE Engineering Meetings Board Outstanding Oral Presentation

2012 ASME Best Presentation Award (2012 ICED Conference)

2011 ORNL Significant Achievement Award – DOE JOULE Milestone 45% efficiency

2008 Star Volunteer Award – ET Clean Fuels Coalition

2007-2008 US Department of Energy Graduate Automotive Technology Education (GATE) Fellow

Education

Ph.D. in Energy Science and Engineering, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville, 2014

M.S. in Mechanical Engineering, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville, 2009

B.S. in Mechanical Engineering, The University of Tennessee-Knoxville, 2007 

Publications