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Comment: Celebrating 80 years of the Petroleum Research Fund—a legacy of fundamental hydrocarbon research

by Marina A. Petrukhina, chair, ACS Committee on the Petroleum Research Fund, and Joerg C. Schlatterer, director, ACS Office of Research Grants
October 23, 2024 | A version of this story appeared in Volume 102, Issue 34

 

Marina A. Petrukhina.
Credit: Courtesy of Marina A. Petrukhina

The Petroleum Research Fund (PRF) trust agreement celebrates its 80th anniversary this year, commemorating 7 decades of steadfast financial support for researchers. Established in 1944, the PRF has been instrumental in advancing the scientific understanding of hydrocarbons by funding fundamental research and fostering the next generation of professionals.

Joerg C. Schlatterer.
Credit: Courtesy of Joerg C. Schlatterer

The genesis and mission of the American Chemical Society PRF

The PRF’s origins date back to a US government–facilitated payment from seven major oil companies, which formed the PRF Trust. These companies provided the funds to establish an endowment dedicated to supporting fundamental research and education in the field of hydrocarbons. The American Chemical Society was chosen as the income recipient in 1944. In 2000, the “Agreement of Transfer of Trust creating the American Chemical Society Petroleum Research Fund” was signed, allowing ACS to manage the investments while adhering to the mandate: “The recipient shall use all funds . . . exclusively for advanced scientific education and fundamental research in the ‘petroleum field,’ which may include any field of pure science which in the judgment of [ACS] may afford a basis for subsequent research directly connected with the petroleum field.”

The ACS PRF has remained true to this mission, providing essential funding to researchers, mainly at US universities and institutions. This commitment has made the ACS PRF a unique and invaluable resource within the scientific community.

Four PRF grant types

Institution type: Doctoral degree-granting

PRF grant type: New Directions (ND) research grants
Amount:$125,000
Duration: 2 years

PRF grant type: Doctoral New Investigator (DNI) grants (within first 3 years of first appointment)
Amount:$110,000
Duration: 2 years

Institution type: Primarily undergraduate

PRF grant type: Undergraduate Research (UR) grants
Amount:$70,000
Duration: 3 years

PRF grant type: Undergraduate New Investigator (UNI) grants (within first 5 years of first appointment)
Amount:$55,000
Duration: 2 years

Research support and impact

The ACS PRF supports a wide range of research areas that all contribute to the fundamental understanding of hydrocarbons as they relate to the petroleum field. These areas include chemical and petroleum engineering, chemical physics/physical chemistry, geochemistry and biogeochemical cycling, geology and geophysics, inorganic chemistry, materials science, physical organic chemistry, polymer science, surface science, and synthetic organic chemistry.

The PRF enables researchers to generate novel, preliminary data that can help secure substantial grants from agencies like the National Science Foundation and the Department of Energy. Notably, proposed projects must differ from applicants’ previous work and do not require preliminary data for submission. By providing early-career researchers with funding, the PRF has fostered a new generation of scientists who will continue to explore the fundamental principles of hydrocarbon chemistry and beyond.

The impact of the ACS PRF on hydrocarbon research is profound. Since its inception, PRF has funded over 18,000 projects with more than $750 million, facilitating groundbreaking discoveries and significantly expanding our understanding of hydrocarbons. The knowledge generated by ACS PRF–funded research has not only advanced science but also laid the groundwork for innovations in energy production, catalysis, environmental protection, and materials science.

Four types of PRF grants support new investigators and established faculty at doctoral and undergraduate institutions.

Enhancing research capacity at undergraduate institutions

In 2022, the ACS Board of Directors approved a 5-year pilot program that provides $25,000 per person in supplemental funds to recent PRF grantees at primarily undergraduate institutions. The aim is to bolster research capacity at undergraduate institutions, helping students develop critical research competencies that prepare them for their educational and career success. The first cohort of nine departments—selected from spring 2024 PRF grantees—will support students from Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Texas, West Virginia, and Virginia.

The impact of the ACS PRF on hydrocarbon research is profound.

Community-driven grant selection

The PRF grant selection process relies on community members who provide expert reviews for each proposal. Their high-quality reviews help the ACS PRF committee make informed funding recommendations and aid applicants in improving their grant-writing skills. Participating in the review process also offers community members valuable insights into what makes a proposal competitive. We encourage more researchers to join the ACS PRF reviewer database.

Looking to the future

In an era increasingly focused on sustainable energy and environmental stewardship, a deep understanding of hydrocarbons and fostering inclusive research environments and collaboration are more critical than ever. By continuing to fund basic research and education, the ACS PRF will play a vital role in addressing future challenges while honoring its legacy of scientific excellence.

Views expressed are those of the author and not necessarily those of C&EN or ACS.

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