MIT's Asegun Henry is designing energy systems to outlast fossil fuels

Asegun Henry, a mechanical engineering professor at MIT and head of the Atomistic Simulation & Energy (ASE) Research Group, is focused on designing energy systems that can decarbonize the planet without compromising reliability. His career has spanned roles at Georgia Tech, Oak Ridge National Lab, Northwestern, and the Department of Energy’s ARPA-E, where he contributed to groundbreaking research including a liquid metal pump operating above 1,473 kelvins—earning a Guinness World Record—and a thermophotovoltaic cell achieving over 40% efficiency, recognized as a top breakthrough by Physics World in 2022. Henry’s work bridges atomic-level heat transport simulations and large-scale engineering innovations aimed at advancing clean energy technologies. Henry’s interest in mechanical engineering evolved from an initial focus on civil engineering, inspired by his early research on building vibrations during earthquakes and a curiosity about the nature of temperature and heat transfer. His academic journey was profoundly shaped by mentorship from MIT’s Gang Chen and experiences across several