Success Stories: Solar Innovation at the Molecular Scale: Chemical Engineer Earns NIW Approval for Clean Energy Breakthroughs
Client’s Testimonial:
“Efficient and quick conversations with the team and the lawyer, thank you!”
On June 10th, 2025, we received another EB-2 NIW (National Interest Waiver) approval for a Chemist III in the field of Chemical Engineering (Approval Notice).
General Field: Chemical Engineering
Position at the Time of Case Filing: Chemist III
Country of Origin: Iran
State of Residence at the Time of Filing: Texas
Approval Notice Date: June 10th, 2025
Processing Time: 11 months, 20 days
Case Summary:
Innovation in renewable energy doesn't happen by accident—it happens in the lab, under microscopes, through carefully crafted materials and equations. One chemist from Iran, currently serving as a Chemist III, is contributing to that transformation with research that’s helping redefine the future of solar technology. Recently, his pioneering work in chemical engineering was honored with EB-2 National Interest Waiver (NIW) approval.
His focus lies in developing novel materials and synthetic pathways for highly efficient perovskite solar cells. These materials, renowned for their exceptional light-absorbing capabilities, have long faced challenges related to stability and production yield. His breakthrough? A new fabrication process that improves phase purity to levels previously unattainable, allowing for stable and affordable solar cells with record-setting energy conversion efficiency.
To date, he has authored four peer-reviewed journal articles and two conference abstracts, garnering 108 citations from researchers worldwide. At least three of these papers are ranked among the most highly cited in chemistry for their years of publication—an uncommon feat in a competitive and fast-evolving field. His work appears in top-tier journals including Advanced Materials, ACS Nano, Science, and Cell Reports Physical Science.
He has also earned consistent recognition from key funding institutions, with support from the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), the Office of Naval Research, the Welch Foundation, and more. These competitive awards reflect not only the technical novelty of his research but its alignment with U.S. national priorities in clean energy, advanced manufacturing, and material science.
As one independent expert wrote in support of his petition:
“Ensuring that [client’s] work proceeds is not only important to the field but to the progress of green energy solutions in the United States as well.”
We demonstrated in the petition that his research has clear national importance, not just for the future of solar energy, but for enabling an equitable and efficient transition away from fossil fuels. The U.S. Department of Energy forecasts a dramatic increase in solar’s contribution to national power generation, and its materials innovations are pivotal in achieving those goals.At NAILG, we’re proud to have helped bring this petition to success, supporting a scientist whose work bridges theoretical chemistry with real-world environmental impact. With this approval, he will continue to push the boundaries of solar efficiency and stability—one molecule at a time.