Georgia Southern University engineering team wins at U.S. Department of Energy national innovation competition
A team of Georgia Southern University students and faculty from the Allen E. Paulson College of Engineering and Computing won first place in the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE) EnergyTech University Prize National Pitch Competition. The team took home a total of $70,000 and outpaced competitors from top-tier institutions across the country, including MIT, Harvard and Stanford.
“This team has shown the way Georgia Southern research is all about fostering engagement, accelerating innovation and amplifying impact,” said Avinandan (Avi) Mukherjee, Ph.D., provost and executive vice president for Academic Affairs. “To see our students and faculty not only compete with, but outperform, some of the most prestigious institutions in the country speaks volumes about the caliber of talent and determination here. This victory reflects our commitment to creating hands-on, high-impact learning environments that prepare students to solve real-world problems — and to lead.”
The team, named “Seal the Deal,” was led by Sevki Cesmeci, Ph.D., associate professor of mechanical engineering and director of the University’s Thermo-Fluidic Systems Laboratory. Alongside graduate students Mohammad Fuad Hassan and Victor Buitimea, the team traveled to Golden, Colorado, where their innovative energy pitch earned top honors, including a $50,000 grand prize and a $20,000 bonus award from the DOE Office of Nuclear Energy.
“Seal the Deal,” however, is about more than a competition. For Cesmeci, Hassan and Buitimea, it’s about bold ideas taking flight from the lab to the marketplace — and soaring far beyond expectations.
Their project, “A Novel Shaft Seal for sCO₂ Nuclear Power Plants,” stemmed from Cesmeci’s original research into next-generation power systems. Designed to improve efficiency and reliability in nuclear energy applications, the shaft seal represents a breakthrough in small-scale, high-pressure system design. Judges praised the submission for its technical merit, market readiness and the real-world impact it could have on affordable and sustainable energy.
“This historic achievement is a testament to the world-class, cutting-edge research happening right here at Georgia Southern,” Cesmeci said. “We are proud to represent an institution that’s not only advancing energy innovation — but winning while doing it.”
The multi-phase competition spanned more than six months and featured more than 180 teams nationwide. Finalists were selected to present at the national pitch event hosted by the DOE’s Office of Technology Commercialization.
Cesmeci’s research portfolio reflects Georgia Southern’s mission for excellence in research and innovation. With more than $1.7 million in external funding as the sole principal investigator from agencies including the DOE, U.S. Air Force and Breakthrough T1D, his work spans high-risk, high-reward projects in both energy and health care sectors.
“I am deeply grateful to the DOE and all of our partners for investing in the next generation of problem-solvers,” Cesmeci said.
He praised his students, Hassan and Buitimea, for being outstanding team players.
“Our supportive team environment has been the key to our success,” Cesmeci said. “I’m confident that this top achievement will open many doors in their future careers.”
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