Stafford Sheehan

[1] He originally intended to major in computer science with a minor in Arabic at Boston College but changed his concentration after taking a chemistry class his freshman year.

[2][5] He was subsequently a National Science Foundation graduate research fellow at Yale University where he worked on the development of gold-coated nanoparticles for solar cells and catalysts for artificial photosynthesis.

[6] His thesis titled "Photon Management and Water Oxidation Catalysts for Artificial Photosynthesis" was awarded Yale's Richard Wolfgang Prize which is given each year to the best doctoral theses by graduating chemistry students.

Early in his research into artificial photosynthesis, he had discovered an Iridium-based catalyst which can also be used as an anti-corrosion coating for oil pipelines or to prevent lead from getting into wastewater during the metal refinery process.

[12] On July 27, 2022, a US Air Force drone fighter jet at the Hsu STEM Range in Laurel Hill, Florida, took the first unmanned flight powered by fuel produced entirely from carbon dioxide using Sheehan's technology.