Originally posted by the Enterprise for Research, Innovation, and Knowledge news.

At a special reception held on Thursday, April 20, Thomas Darrah, PhD, professor in the College of Arts and Science's School of Earth Sciences, was named The Ohio State University 2023 Innovator of the Year. The award recognizes established Ohio State researchers who are actively working to promote the commercialization of university intellectual property through invention disclosures filed, patents applied for and/or received, technologies licensed, or spin-off companies formed.

Darrah and his team are focused on three primary areas of research: determining the geological processes that control the migration of fluids (e.g., water, natural gas, oil, carbon dioxide, helium) in the Earth's crust and mantle; developing geochemical techniques that constrain and improve unconventional energy exploration and extraction; and applying traditional isotope geochemistry to evaluate the potential impacts of energy extraction on the environment and human health. Darrah has received funding from the National Science Foundation, the National Institute of Health, the Petroleum Research Fund, and the National Children's Study. At Ohio State, he is establishing the Water, Energy, and Life Laboratory (WELL) in the School of Earth Sciences. This facility includes a state-of-the-art noble gas isotope ratio mass spectrometer, gas chromatographs, and cryogenic laser ablation ICP-MS instrumentation.

Congratulations, Professor Darrah!