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