MSU graduate student receives prestigious Electrochemical Society fellowship

Ridwan Ayinla, a doctoral student studying in the College of Forest Resources, has been awarded $5,000 from ES to enhance his research on green batteries and supercapacitors fueled by biomass, focusing on extracting and storing energy from agricultural byproducts.

“Traditional batteries typically rely on lithium, a limited resource, as their active ingredient. Our research team is exploring the development of active materials sourced from waste generated by forest products to offer sustainable alternatives for batteries and supercapacitors,” Ayinla explained. “I am excited to bring a student assistant on board in the lab this summer to gain leadership experience. This award is not only a great honor but also a testament to the quality of my research, as it involved competition with students from prestigious Ivy League institutions, affirming the world-class research conducted at the MSU Forest and Wildlife Research Center.”

Expressing gratitude, Ayinla said, “I truly appreciate the unwavering support of my advisor, Dr. El Barbary Hassan, and department head, Dr. Rubin Shmulsky. Their belief in me, willingness to listen, and support in guiding my research have been invaluable.”

Hailing from Afon, Kwara State, Nigeria, Ayinla earned his bachelor’s degree from Ladoke Akintola University of Technology in Nigeria and secured the Petroleum Technology Development Scholarship for his master’s degree studies at the University Teknologi PETRONAS in Malaysia. Following completion of his master’s degree, he was encouraged to apply to MSU’s chemistry graduate program before pursuing a doctoral degree in sustainable bioproducts.

Established in 1928, the Electrochemical Society offers select fellowships to outstanding graduate students engaged in research aligned with the society’s interests. To explore more about the summer fellowship program, please visit electrochem.org/summer-fellowships.

To learn more about MSU’s College of Forest Resources Department of Sustainable Bioproducts, visit www.bioproducts.msstate.edu. For additional information on the MSU Forest and Wildlife Research Center, log on to www.fwrc.msstate.edu.