Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL) scientist Johanna Schwartz has been granted $60,000 to lead a project focusing on automating the design of next-generation membranes for fuel cells. The initiative, part of the Scialog program, aims to integrate high-throughput screening with computational and experimental efforts to enhance fuel cell membranes at unprecedented speeds. Schwartz, along with collaborators from Argonne National Laboratory and the University of Louisville, will work to swiftly identify non-polyfluoroalkyl substances (non-PFAS) candidates for fuel cell membranes. By steering away from PFAS, which have long-term environmental and health impacts, the team hopes to showcase the potential of automated methods in making an immediate societal difference. The Scialog initiative, standing for 'science + dialog,' fosters innovative and risky research that could lead to significant outcomes. It encourages early career scientists from diverse backgrounds to form teams and propose high-risk, high-reward projects. This collaboration exemplifies LLNL's commitment to pursuing groundbreaking ideas, with resulting innovations expected to enter commercialization through the Innovation and Partnerships Office (IPO).