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Scott J. Curran

Group Leader, Fuel Science and Engine Technologies Research

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.