A Clemson University associate professor who has received a presidential award said that advanced materials will be crucial to cultivating new energy sources as artificial intelligence and other technologies drive up the demand for power.
Cheng Sun, who develops advanced structural materials for extreme conditions, learned in January he was selected for the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers. It is the U.S. government’s highest honor for outstanding scientists and engineers early in their careers.

“What I really want to tell people is that we are in an energy crisis, and materials are very important to addressing the crisis,” Sun said. “We need more fundamental materials research to drive the development of new energy systems. We also need more students who want to study materials science.”
Sun’s research focuses on pushing the limits of structural materials, designing new types to withstand irradiation, high temperature, and corrosion in extremely harsh environments. Innovative materials could, for example, go into fission and fusion reactors and enhance their performance, he said.
An all-of-the-above portfolio of energy sources could ultimately help lower energy prices, create jobs, boost the economy and enhance the nation’s energy independence.
Sun joined Clemson in August 2023 and holds joint appointments in the departments of mechanical engineering and materials science and engineering. He previously worked as a senior scientist at Idaho National Laboratory, where he served as the lead in the structural materials group.
Sun said he first became interested in materials science as an undergraduate student. He received his Ph.D. in materials science and engineering from Texas A&M University.
Sun said that part of what attracted him to Clemson was its alumni network, the good things he had heard about the University from faculty members and Clemson student interns who worked at Idaho National Laboratory.
“Clemson has a big, broad connection with society, and that’s something I enjoy,” he said. “This is one of the key things I liked about the University.”
Sun’s presidential award underscores Clemson’s leadership in advanced materials research, according to a joint statement from Laine Mears, director of Clemson’s School of Mechanical and Automotive Engineering, and Kyle Brinkman, chair of the Department of Materials Science and Engineering.
“His innovative contributions are perfectly aligned with our vision to drive cutting-edge discoveries and industrial partnerships, reinforcing Clemson’s role as a hub for transformative technologies,” they said. “With top talent and the under-construction Advanced Materials Innovation Complex, Clemson is poised to solidify its leadership in this critical field.”
Sun was among nearly 400 engineers and scientists, including 55 nominated by the U.S. Department of Energy, to win this year’s Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers. It was the first time a batch of awards was announced since 2019.
Get in touch and we will connect you with the author or another expert.
Or email us at news@clemson.edu