Organizers

Patrick M. Merritt
Principal Scientist
Engine, Emissions, and Vehicle Research Division
Southwest Research Institute

Patrick Merritt works in the emissions chemistry section of the Emissions R&D Department at Southwest Research Institute. His interests include the effects of alternate fuels, advanced combustion processes and exhaust treatment systems on heavy- and light-duty unregulated emissions. He has worked in a broad variety of research topics in his 27 years with Southwest Research Institute.

Scott Sluder
Senior Research Engineer
Fuels, Engines, and Emissions Research Center
Oak Ridge National Laboratory

He received a B.S. in 1994 and an M.S. degree in 1995 in Mechanical engineering from the University of Tennessee. He joined Oak Ridge National Laboratory as a staff member in 1998 and has been active in several research areas including emissions control technologies, fuel property effects on combustion and emissions controls, and EGR cooler fouling. Scott is actively involved in SAE International, having organized and chaired numerous technical sessions. Scott served as a member of the Executive Committee of SAE’s Powertrain, Fuels, and Lubricants Activity for several years. In 2008 he was recognized as a recipient of SAE International’s Forrest R. McFarland award and is the 2013-2014 Chairman of SAE’s Land & Sea Operating Group.

Jim Szybist
Research Engineer
Fuels, Engines, and Emissions Research Center
Oak Ridge National Laboratory

He received a B.S. in Chemical Engineering in 2000 and a Ph.D. in Fuel Science in 2005 from Penn State University. He joined Oak Ridge National Laboratory as a staff member in 2007 and has been active in researching fuel effects on engine efficiency and emissions for both gasoline and diesel engine platforms. Jim is an active member of SAE as both a session organizer and as an author.

Brian West
Deputy Director
Fuels, Engines, and Emissions Research Center
Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Brian joined ORNL in 1988 after receiving BS and MS degrees in Mechanical Engineering from Clemson University and Virginia Tech, respectively. Research at ORNL has involved vehicles, fuels, engines, and emissions control technologies; most recently Brian helped lead DOE’s Intermediate Ethanol Blends Program. He is active in SAE and has received the Lloyd Withrow Distinguished Speaker Award, and was recently elected SAE Fellow.