Bio
Dr. Kashif Nawaz is a distinguished leader in the field of energy conversion science and technology. He earned his BSc in Mechanical Engineering from Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Technology, Pakistan, in 2007, followed by an MSc and PhD in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (UIUC) in 2010 and 2013, respectively.
Upon completing his PhD, Dr. Nawaz joined the Heat Transfer Center of Excellence at Johnson Controls (JCI), where he served as a Senior Heat Transfer Engineer until 2016. Concurrently, he held an adjunct faculty position in the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering at the University of Oklahoma. In 2016, Dr. Nawaz transitioned to Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) as a senior scientist in the Building Equipment Research Group, while also holding a joint appointment at the Bredesen Center, University of Tennessee, Knoxville. He currently serves as the sub-program manager for the cross-sector technologies area within the Industrial Efficiency and Decarbonization Office (IEDO).
With over fifteen years of experience, Dr. Nawaz has made significant contributions to energy science and technology, particularly in building heating, cooling, and dehumidification systems. He is known for his innovative work on novel heat exchangers, enhanced phase change processes, and the use of additive manufacturing in creating advanced porous media and surface morphologies. His pioneering research has led to the development of high-temperature heat exchangers using ceramics and composites, as well as breakthrough concepts for direct air capture of carbon dioxide utilizing existing building infrastructure. Dr. Nawaz has also been instrumental in advancing high-temperature heat pumps for both buildings and industrial decarbonization.
Dr. Nawaz has an extensive publication record, having authored or co-authored over 250 peer-reviewed publications, including journal articles, conference papers, and technical reports. His innovative work is reflected in more than 20 invention disclosures and seven patents in heat exchanger design and energy conversion processes.
Recognized by his peers, Dr. Nawaz is a Fellow of both the American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME) and the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). His accolades include ASHRAE's Exceptional Service Award (2021) and Distinguished Service Award (2018), the JCI Excellence in Innovation Award (2016), and the UIUC Alumni Teaching Fellow Award (2011, 2012). Additionally, he is a four-time recipient of the prestigious R&D100 Awards (2021, 2022, twice in 2024).
Dr. Nawaz is also a respected reviewer for leading academic journals such as International Journal of Heat and Mass Transfer, International Journal of Refrigeration, Energy, Applied Energy, Applied Thermal Engineering, Carbon, Applied Physics Letters, and Langmuir.
Awards
- Fellow American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (2024)
- Fellow American Society of Mechanical Engineers (2024)
- R&D 100 Award “MBE-DAC: Multifunctional Building Equipment for Direct Air Capture” (2024)
- R&D 100 Award “High-Efficiency Micro Combined Heat and Power Device” (2024)
- ASHRAE Crosby Field Award (2023)
- Knox.biz 40 under 40 Award (2023)
- R&D 100 Award “Ultraclean Condensing Gas Furnace” (2022)
- ASHRAE Exceptional Service Award (2022)
- ORNL Innovation Award (2021)
- R&D 100 Award “BIG-NET: Bis-aminoguanidine Negative Emission Technology” (2021)
- ASHRAE Distinguished Service Award (2018)
- Johnson Controls Inc. Merit Award for Excellence in Research and Innovation (2015)
- ASHRAE Graduate Student Grant-in-Aid Award (2011)
- University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign Alumni Teaching Fellowship (2011 and 2012)
Education
- Ph.D., Mechanical Engineering, 2013, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, USA
- M.S., Mechanical Engineering, 2010, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign, USA
- BS, Mechanical Engineering, 2007, Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Science and Technology, Pakistan
Professional Affiliations
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE)
American Society of Mechanical Engineers (ASME)
Trademarks and Patents
U.S. Non-Provisional Patent App. 202205193, R. Sacci, G. Veith, K. Nawaz, K. Li "Conversion of liquid CO2"
U.S. Patent App. 63/534,893, G. Jang, C. Tsouris, R. Custelcean, K. Li, D. Stamberga, K. Nawaz “Methods of Energy Efficient Sorbent Regeneration Used for Direct Air Capture”
U.S. Patent App. 63/535,383, R. Custelcean, K. Li, K. Nawaz, “Direct Air Capture of CO2 using RAC (Rotating Air Contactor) with Potassium Hydroxide and Guanidine-based Ligands”
U.S. Patent App. 18/409,522, J. Klett, K. Nawaz, E. Lara-Curzio, “Process for Manufacturing Fiber-Reinforced Additively Manufactured Composites”
US Patent App. 63/541,723, R. Sacci, K. Nawaz, A. Ullman, J. Brechtl, “Multifunctional Materials for Combined Electrochemical and Thermal Storage (COMETS)”
US Patent App. 17/974,227, K. Nawaz, B. A. Fricke, X. Sun, S. Sluder, C. Tsouris, M. K. Kidder, C. J. Janke, K. Li, J. A. Thompson “Multi-functional equipment for direct decarbonization with improved indoor air quality”
US Patent App. 17/974,232, K. Nawaz, B. A. Fricke, X. Sun, “Intensified carbon capture using building infrastructure”
US Patent 11,633,789, E. Lara-Curzio, C. L. Cramer, A. M. Elliott, B. A. Fricke, P. K. Jain, R. R. Lowden, K. Nawaz, V. M. Rao, M. J. Sandlin, “Compliant heat exchangers, heat pipes and methods for making same”
US Patent 17/890,791, J. D. Rendall, K. Nawaz, W. E. Asher, A. F. Elatar, J. Sun, J. Brechtl, X. Liu, K. An, M. Zhang, “Density controlled phase-changing material (PCM) spheres for increased heating power and optimal delivery temperature in hot-water tanks”
US Patent 63/460,911, Gabriel M Veith, Robert L Sacci, Kashif Nawaz, Kai Li, conversion of liquid CO2, provisional patent application,