By Brenna Large
With over 45 years of experience, it’s not a surprise that Robert L. Galyen became one of the most sought-after battery experts in the world. It wasn’t always so easy for him, though. Galyen had to work summer jobs and seek out funding to help pay his way through college. But it was the mentorship and community that left such a positive impact on his time at Ball State. Galyen credits his professors for their assistance, saying, “I was fortunate that Dr. Wiseman and Dr. Storhoff, who were two of the professors in the Department of Chemistry, were able to scrounge up some money from industry grants to help pay my way through college.”
Galyen graduated from the Ball State College of Sciences and Humanities in 1977 and 1981, respectively, with his Bachelor of Science (BS) in Chemistry and Biology, and then his Master of Arts (MA) in Chemistry. “Ball State did a really good job of teaching me how to acquire knowledge,” something Galyen has turned into his lifelong mission. “The most important thing that a student can get from their university life is learning how to acquire knowledge.”
After graduating, he quickly turned his degrees into a fruitful career. He is now a seasoned veteran within the battery community and the scientific community at large. He was the Chief Technology Officer for CATL, the world’s largest battery manufacturer, and spent time working for a variety of other leading companies in the industry, including General Motors. While working for General Motors, he earned the “Best of the Best” Award for his important research on the EV1 project, which marked the introduction of the first mass-produced and purpose-built batteries for electric vehicles. His achievements certainly do not stop there, winning multiple lifetime achievement awards and the Ball State University “Circle of Excellence Award.” Galyen has had a hand in designing batteries that can be found almost anywhere: in electric vehicles, locomotives, powering electric grids, and even helping launch aircraft at our airports. His 48 years of experience make him one of the most sought-after battery experts in the world. He joked, “Some people would say, well, you’re just a battery geek. Yes, I am.”
With such a long and prosperous career in the battery industry, he turned his attention towards giving back to society. He has served as a Chairman Emeritus of the SAE International Battery Standard Steering Committee for 12 years, which helps write the current standards around battery technology. Serving as a member of the Executive Advisory Committee for the Dean of the College of Sciences and Humanities, he has continued to remain an involved alumnus as well. He believes this position is important because it allows industry professionals to provide insight into the education and training that will allow students to thrive beyond the classroom.
Part of Galyen’s dedication to the Ball State community has included financial support for his department. His donations to the Department of Chemistry have created research positions for students, allowing students the opportunity to get involved with important research and work with companies in the chemistry field. Isabelle Behrman was one lucky student who had the opportunity to benefit from this research opportunity, getting to work for the company Tygrus. Behrman’s hard work in this research position paid off. Dr. Robert Sammelson, the Department Chair for the Department of Chemistry, said, “In part because of this research opportunity, Isabelle was named as the Ball State University Top 2 Finalist in the Top 100 Student Awards Program for 2022 and was awarded a prestigious Barry Goldwater Scholarship.” Behrman is now a Ph.D. student in the Materials Science and Engineering program at Northwestern University. Helping fund this position was important for Galyen because, “That’s how we build a robust culture within our community, by returning the favor of knowledge to the people that are coming up at a younger age behind us and teaching them the knowledge that you have so that they can accelerate.”
Galyen reflected that giving back has been one of the most fulfilling parts of his life. He explained, “The most important thing is to return the favor to society.” Family has also remained important for him; his favorite Ball State memory remains the time he met his wife. He has been married to his wife, Susan, for 47 years, and his family life includes his 3 children and 8 grandchildren.
Though his career has been filled with many accolades, Galyen does not plan to stop his work in the community anytime soon. “My son, who’s a Ball State graduate, says, ‘Dad, you’ve made more batteries than any human on the planet. Why are you still working so much?” But for Galyen, work is not “work” — he’s not only doing what he loves but giving back to the community at the same time.