Join via Zoom Meeting
https://us06web.zoom.us/j/83684703447?pwd=nGUDSE566SpWK6d0gBy6xl9jaEn627.1
Meeting ID: 836 8470 3447
Passcode: 246829
Talk Title: Bridging Battery R&D and Manufacturing: The University of South Carolina Case Study
As the industry pushes toward commercialization, universities are increasingly called upon to support pilot-scale manufacturing—bridging the gap between discovery and production. Well-designed, university-operated pilot lines can enable IP-neutral innovation, helping companies scale new materials, validate performance, and accelerate market readiness.
This talk will present USC’s approach to expanding from research to pilot manufacturing, including lessons from a >20,000 sq. ft. facility upgrade, equipment and partner selection, and operational strategy. Attendees will gain insight into how universities can collaborate effectively with industry to transition battery innovations from concept to commercial viability.
Speaker: Dr. William Mustain is a Professor in the Department of Chemical Engineering and the Director of the Carolina Institute for Battery Innovation. He works in several areas related to electrochemical energy generation and storage, including: high capacity materials for Li-ion batteries, novel electrode structures for Li-S batteries, materials and cell design for primary alkaline batteries, battery recycling, corrosion and passivation of materials, catalysts and supports for proton exchange membrane and anion exchange membrane fuel cells and electrolyzers, electrochemical reactor design and electrochemical synthesis of fuels. He has published over 160 peer reviewed articles (h-index 56) and has over 100 invited lectures. He has served as the chair of the Energy Technology Division of the Electrochemical Society and AIChE Area 1E: Electrochemical Fundamentals. He has been the recipient of several awards including the U.S. Department of Energy Early Career Award, Electrochemical Society Energy Technology Research Award, Connecticut Quality Improvement Platinum Award, Supramaniam Srinivasan Young Investigator Award (Awarded by the Energy Technology Division of the Electrochemical Society), UConn Chemical Engineering Faculty of the Year Award, USC Chemical Engineering Publication Award, USC CEC Research Achievement Award, Illinois Institute of Technology Young Alumnus Award, and Fulbright Scholar Fellowship.
Message From the Section Chair
Dear ASQ Silicon Valley Quality Professionals,
Welcome to 2025—a year of groundbreaking advancements in quantum computing, yet also a stark reminder of climate change’s impact. Experiencing freezing temperatures in Florida during my recent visit to the University of Florida and witnessing ongoing wildfires in California underscores the urgency of sustainable solutions.
ASQ Silicon Valley remains committed to supporting emerging technologies and cleantech for a sustainable future. I want to recognize each of you for your contributions to our section’s success. 2024 was marked by two major initiatives—the Inaugural Cleantech Conference and the Fireside Leadership Summit. For 2025, I’m pleased to announce our leadership updates: Congratulations to Aruna Ghildiyal, our new Program Chair, and welcome to Alan Wang and Dr. Pegah Mottaghizadeh as new core committee members. Vern Saini will continue as Operations Chair.
Looking ahead, we will elevate our annual Cleantech Conference and Fireside Summit while continuing our flagship Technical Speaker Series (Tech Talk), which attracts 60+ attendees per session. With over 2,000 ASQ members and 5,000+ quality professionals in the Bay Area, we provide a vibrant platform for networking and professional growth in emerging technologies. Let’s push boundaries, share knowledge, and foster leadership development to drive innovation and quality excellence in 2025.
Thank you, and I look forward to another impactful year together.
Sincerely,
Dr. Sunil Roy, ASQ-SV Chair
Senior Director, Head of Quality Eng
QuantumScape Battery