The team was awarded for a project entitled "MRI: Acquisition of an Advanced Integrated Environmental X-ray Photoelectron Spectroscopy/Optical Spectroscopy Instrument for Simultaneous Surface, Bulk and Gas/Liquid Phase" under the direction of Israel E. Wachs, Himanshu Jain, Jonas Baltrusaitis. The instrument will facilitate exploration of advanced functional materials possessing unique surfaces and interfaces that find widespread use, such as solar energy storage, biofuel production, water treatment, and medicine, all under operating conditions of gas and temperatures.