Vilas Pol, Professor of Chemical Engineering, has received the Fulbright Specialist Award to Sweden. He will collaborate with the Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, contributing to innovative approaches in chemistry education and advancement in Li-ion batteries, and addressing global challenges through international cooperation.

As one of over 400 U.S. citizens chosen to participate in the Fulbright Specialist Program, Professor Pol will complete a two-to-six-week project that will emphasize innovation in chemistry education, providing Pol with the opportunity to contribute to global efforts to find solutions to shared international issues.

Professor Pol leads the Vilas Pol Energy Research (ViPER) group at Purdue, where he conducts groundbreaking research on Li-ion, Na-ion, multivalent Zn ions, and solid-state batteries, focusing on their performance in extreme temperatures and thermal safety. His distinguished career has earned him numerous accolades, including honors from Purdue University, ACS, MRS, ACerS, TMS, and Carbon societies. A Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, Pol also has two Guinness World Records: one for the fastest arrangement of the periodic table and another for discovering the electrolyte that enables lithium- ion batteries to charge at the lowest temperature, which is featured in 2025 Guinness World Records book.

With 280 peer-reviewed publications, 23 U.S. patents, and over 200 invited and keynote talks—including 
TEDx appearances across more than 15 countries—Professor Pol’s contributions to the field are 
transformative. The Fulbright Specialist Award places him among an esteemed group of global scholars, 
innovators, and educators dedicated to fostering international collaboration. 

About the Fulbright Specialist Program 

Established in 2001, the Fulbright Specialist Program is an international educational exchange program 
sponsored by the United States government, aiming to disseminate knowledge and create partnerships 
that have wide reaching impacts both in the United States and overseas. This program includes various 
educational and training activities, focusing on confronting global concerns across multiple disciplines. 
Operating in over 160 countries, the Specialist program designates its participants based on academic 
and professional achievement, leadership in their field, and their potential to promote long-term 
partnerships between institutions in the United States and abroad.

Learn more about the Fulbright Specialist Program

Learn more about the Vilas Pol Research Group (ViPER)