William Mustain has been elected a 2026 Fellow of The Electrochemical Society (ECS), one of the organization's highest honors recognizing sustained contributions to electrochemistry, solid-state science and professional leadership.
“As a young scientist, I remember feeling that it was almost unbelievable that anyone was actually interested in what I was working on,” says Mustain, chemical engineering professor and director of the Carolina Institute for Battery Innovation. “Now, having those same people recognize our work - saying that it has had enough impact to become a society Fellow - in this way is almost equally unbelievable and an absolute honor. It is a recognition that I never expected and will never forget.”
Mustain was elected to the 2026 class of ECS Fellows, one of eleven researchers selected this year. He joins Distinguished Scientist Ralph White as the second faculty member in the Molinaroli College of Engineering and Computing to receive the distinction. The new Fellows will be inducted during the 250th ECS Meeting in Calgary this October.
Established in 1989, the ECS Fellows program recognizes members who have made significant contributions to electrochemistry and solid-state science while demonstrating sustained leadership and service to the society. Election as Fellow is among the organization's highest honors.
For Christopher Williams, professor and chair of the Department of Chemical Engineering, the recognition reflects Mustain's impact across research, education and leadership.
“Being named an ECS Fellow is a testament to Professor Mustain’s outstanding accomplishments in research, teaching and service within the field of electrochemistry and electrochemical engineering,” he says. “This excellence and dedication are clearly on display with his recent successful efforts to build the Carolina Institute for Battery Innovation, which is bringing together researchers, educators and industrial partners across the State of South Carolina to push forward the frontier in this area.”
Since joining the University of South Carolina in 2017, Mustain has established an internationally recognized research program focused on electrochemical energy conversion and storage, including primary and secondary batteries, hydrogen fuel cells, electrolyzers and electrochemical synthesis. As director of the Carolina Institute for Battery Innovation, he has helped expand the university's battery research enterprise while fostering collaborations among academia, industry and government.
Mustain was nominated for the honor by Plamen Atanassov, chancellor’s professor of chemical and biomedical engineering and materials science and engineering at the University of California, Irvine, who has watched his career develop over the years.
“He has been not only an inquisitive scientist and inventive engineer, but also an excellent proponent of the academic profession and passionate teacher,” Atanassov says. “Seeing him grow in the Electrochemical Society and taking on leadership roles, I knew that these are the type of people we need to promote. Being an ECS Fellow for Bill is organic, normal and expected as a due recognition for his achievement and clear expectation of the things to come.”
Mustain earned both his bachelor’s degree and Ph.D. in chemical engineering from the Illinois Institute of Technology. Today, his work continues to advance battery technologies and clean energy solutions while helping position USC as a growing leader in electrochemical research.