The Sustainable Energy Research Center (SERC) was established in January 2006 at Mississippi State University (MSU) through funding from the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE).

SERC was formed to create an infrastructure for coordinated interdisciplinary collaboration at MSU in the development of environmentally and economically sustainable energy sources specific to the Southeastern United States.

SERC is made up of six thrust areas of research. These thrusts include over 80 professors around the university and encompass many different colleges. For more information about our areas of research, click here.

2009 MSU Biofuels Conference Looks to 'Next Generation'

August Conference taking place in state capital

By Patrick Young

Plans are now underway for the 2009 MSU BioFuels Conference on August 6-7 at the Jackson Marriott Downtown in Jackson, MS. Featuring two days of presentations from local, state and national alternative fuel experts and government leaders, this year's conference will focus on efforts to reduce the impact of high petroleum prices on the economy and the country's dependence on foreign oil. Currently, renewable feedstocks have the potential to displace significant quantities of petroleum-derived transportation fuels. [read more]

Brown Juggles Multiple Projects in Biofuel Research

SERC researcher examining fungi and yeast in latest work

By Patrick Young

Many Sustainable Energy Research Center (SERC)researchers find themselves having to balance a rigorous experimentation schedule while also teaching numerous classes. SERC researcher Ashli Brown is no stranger to having to burn the midnight oil to fulfill her passion of educating and the sciences.
Brown's energy and willingness to take on multiple projects has made her an up-and-coming leader in biofuels research. [read more]

Energy Workshop Features Numerous SERC Researchers

Chamra calls workshop 'important' for future collaborations

By Patrick Young

Over 150 people attended the 2nd Annual Energy Workshop on April 15 at Mississippi State University (MSU). The workshop was organized by the MSU Energy Institute and the MSU Energy Working Group. Attendees came from all over the state of Mississippi to examine and discuss research being conducted by MSU graduate students and faculty. [read more]

Sugar from Trees to Power the Next Generation

China-Native using what we find in most backyards to create sugar

By Phil Steele

Edited by Karen Brasher

A doctoral student in the Department of Forest Products at Mississippi State University (MSU) is on a mission to produce sugars from trees -not for high-energy drinks consumed by many college students, but for production of ethanol and hydrocarbons.
Using a new pyrolysis process that she co-developed with researchers in the department, Qi Li, a native of China, is discovering the best method to produce high yields of sugars from bio-oil. [read more]