Missouri S&T’s growing national reputation as a leader in next-generation energy research is a testament to two of the university’s greatest advocates, Wayne Laufer, CE’67, and his wife, Gayle.Their gifts establishing the Wayne and Gayle Laufer Chair in Energy Research and the Laufer Energy Symposium have been pivotal in positioning S&T at the forefront of the national dialogue on energy policy, infrastructure and planning.
Now, a new gift establishing the Wayne and Gayle Laufer Graduate Fellowship in Energy Research has recruited a doctoral student to work this fall with Laufer Chair Joseph Smith at S&T’s Energy Research and Development Center. The fellowship is designed to accelerate energy research while mentoring future scientists and engineers.
“S&T is deeply grateful to the Laufers for their extraordinary investment in energy research,” says Chancellor Cheryl B. Schrader. “Through the work of our Laufer Chair and Laufer Graduate Fellow, our university will play a critical role in shaping the energy solutions essential to our future, both as a nation and as a global community.”
A lifelong oilman who began his career with Shell Oil and later founded two independent oil and gas exploration companies, Laufer is a member of the Academy of Civil Engineers. He received a professional degree from S&T in civil engineering in 2009.