Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability
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Edgar Virgüez
Research Engineer, Energy Science & Engineering
BioEdgar Virgüez is Director of Research at the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment and Managing Director of the Interdisciplinary Energy Systems Research Group at the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability. He brings more than 20 years of experience spanning energy and environmental research, engineering, international development, and scientific leadership. His work bridges rigorous scholarship and institutional strategy, building collaborations that connect science with real-world decision-making.
Dr. Virgüez develops data-driven models to inform energy system planning, evaluate environmental and economic impacts, and guide infrastructure investment and technology deployment toward reliable, low-carbon energy systems. He has authored and co-authored more than 50 scholarly publications and research outputs cited over 1,200 times, including work in Energy & Environmental Science, Nature Cities, PNAS, and Science. He serves on the Editorial Board of Environmental Research: Energy, where he was one of seven inaugural Executive Editorial Board members, and received IOP Publishing’s 2026 Editorial Excellence Award for outstanding intellectual leadership and sustained excellence in peer review and editorial stewardship.
Before taking on his current role at the Stanford Woods Institute, Dr. Virgüez served as Managing Director of the $23 million EARNEST Consortium at Stanford, overseeing a U.S. Department of Energy-funded collaboration spanning 21 universities, national laboratories, and research organizations focused on the future of the U.S. electricity system. He has also led successful interdisciplinary proposals and partnerships supported by universities, foundations, government, and industry.
Prior to joining Stanford, he was a Research Fellow at Carnegie Science and Deputy Group Leader in Ken Caldeira’s research group, helping lead a portfolio at the intersection of energy, climate, and decarbonization. His professional experience also encompasses projects for universities, governments, and international development organizations, including the World Bank and Inter-American Development Bank.
Dr. Virgüez serves as an Expert Advisor to The Earthshot Prize, assessing climate solutions for innovation, impact, and scalability. He has also provided expert review and advice to Schmidt Sciences and the International Energy Agency on research proposals and technical reports focused on energy systems and decarbonization.
His contributions to scholarship, leadership, and education have been recognized through 22 competitive honors, including the American Geophysical Union’s 2025 Science for Solutions Award, Duke University’s 2021 Graduate School Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, and the Association of American Colleges and Universities’ 2020 K. Patricia Cross Future Leader Award. As an educator, he has taught 17 courses, reaching nearly 600 students, while mentoring students and early-career researchers.
Dr. Virgüez previously served on Duke University’s Board of Trustees, the university’s highest governing body, and currently serves on the Nicholas School of the Environment Board of Visitors and Dean’s Cabinet, as well as Duke’s Climate Commitment Campaign Board.
He earned a Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences and Policy and an M.A. in Environment from Duke University, as well as an M.Sc. in Environmental Engineering and dual B.Sc. degrees in Chemical and Environmental Engineering from Universidad de los Andes. His education has been supported by more than $795,000 in competitive scholarships and fellowships.
Across scholarship, education, and institutional leadership, his work is guided by a common purpose: advancing rigorous science, building enduring collaborations, and strengthening institutions to translate knowledge into impact at scale. -
Oleg Volkov
Sr Res Scientist-Physical, Energy Science & Engineering
BioDr. Volkov has over sixteen years of experience in constrained optimization applied research.
After receiving his M.Sc. degree in Mechanical Engineering (Ecole Polytechnique de Montreal) and
a Ph.D. degree in Applied Mathematics (University of Montreal), he then worked on industrial
contracts related to the optimal control of phase transition systems and optimal design of porous
media. Subsequently, Dr. Volkov served a one-year fixed term at the rank of an Assistant Professor
in Physics at St. Francis Xavier University in Nova Scotia. His current research interests include
the implementation and refinement of gradient-based optimization methods in application to hydrocarbon
field development.
