A transformative $1 million gift from Richard and Marilyn Lynch has made possible the creation of the Richard and Marilyn Lynch Multidisciplinary Advanced Stimulation Laboratory in the University of Wyoming’s Department of Energy and Petroleum Engineering.

The gift, made through a donor-advised fund to the UW Foundation, will advance cutting-edge research and education aimed at improving primary recovery in unconventional energy reservoirs.

“We believe the future of energy depends on innovation grounded in strong science and education,” says UW alumnus Richard Lynch. “By supporting this laboratory at the University of Wyoming, we hope to empower students and faculty to develop practical solutions that strengthen the energy industry while preparing the next generation of leaders.”

Housed in the Science Initiative Building, the new laboratory will serve as a multidisciplinary research hub integrating geomechanics, fluid dynamics, advanced reservoir characterization and artificial intelligence. Through a partnership between UW’s School of Energy Resources and the College of Engineering and Physical Sciences, the lab will address critical industry challenges associated with unconventional reservoirs, which are characterized by low-quality rock and high capital investment requirements.

Optimizing primary recovery from these reservoirs is essential to improving long-term economic value. Higher production rates can boost return on investment, shorten time to pay out and help sustain responsible drilling activity. The new lab is designed to directly support these goals while establishing UW as a center of excellence in subsurface energy research.

Lynch, who earned a bachelor’s degree in petroleum engineering from UW in 1980, retired after serving as senior vice president of technology and services at Hess Corp. in Houston, Texas. During his tenure at Hess -- recently acquired by Chevron -- Lynch was accountable for the global functions of technology and innovation, information technology, supply chain, wells, major projects and facilities engineering across the company’s portfolio. He has served as the vice chairman of the Industry Advisory Board for UW’s Department of Energy and Petroleum Engineering since 2016.

Lynch began his career right out of college at ARCO and spent 34 years with BP and ARCO before joining Hess in 2014. At BP, he was vice president of the Global Wells Organization, where he was responsible for the safe, compliant and reliable delivery of all upstream activities associated with drilling, completions, interventions and wellbore integrity. Under Lynch’s leadership, the organization established new drilling and completion standards, policies and competencies following the Gulf of Mexico Deepwater Horizon incident.

UW President Ed Seidel emphasizes the broader impact of the Lynches’ generosity.

“This extraordinary gift reflects the Lynches’ confidence in the University of Wyoming’s mission and expertise,” Seidel says. “The Multidisciplinary Advanced Stimulation Laboratory will strengthen our role as a leader in energy research, expand opportunities for students and deliver real-world solutions to challenges facing the energy sector.”

The gift establishes the Richard and Marilyn Lynch Multidisciplinary Advanced Stimulation Lab Excellence Fund, which will provide long-term support for the laboratory. At the discretion of the head of the Department of Energy and Petroleum Engineering, the fund may be used for undergraduate and graduate student opportunities; enhancements to hardware and software; advanced equipment and licenses; recruitment initiatives; curriculum integration; and expanded academic offerings. A portion of the funding also will support the use of artificial intelligence to strengthen research efforts.

“This gift allows us to strategically support our students while strengthening the experimental and technological backbone of the laboratory,” says Soheil Saraji, an associate professor and head of the Department of Energy and Petroleum Engineering. “It gives us the agility to stay at the forefront of subsurface energy research while training engineers who are ready to lead.”

Saraji also serves as the Le Norman Endowed Leadership Chair and the Richard and Marilyn Lynch Non-endowed Chair in Subsurface Energy and Digital Innovation.

John Stark, president and CEO of the UW Foundation, notes the significance of the gift structure: “Gifts made through donor-advised funds are a powerful way for donors to create lasting impact. Richard and Marilyn Lynch’s generosity will have a ripple effect -- supporting students, faculty and industry-focused research for years to come.”

With the establishment of the Richard and Marilyn Lynch Multidisciplinary Advanced Stimulation Laboratory, UW continues to build on its strengths in energy education and research, ensuring that innovation, collaboration and excellence remain central to its mission.