Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability


Showing 1-59 of 59 Results

  • Brian Bartholomeusz

    Brian Bartholomeusz

    Exec Director of Innovation Transfer, TomKat Center for Sustainable Energy, TomKat Center for Sustainable Energy Operations

    Current Role at StanfordBrian is the TomKat Center’s executive director of innovation transfer. In this position, he helps assist in the commercialization of energy related technology inventions and innovations resulting from research at Stanford.

  • Naomi Boness

    Naomi Boness

    Managing Director Natural Gas Initiative, Precourt Institute for Energy

    Current Role at StanfordManaging Director, The Stanford Natural Gas Initiative
    Co-Managing Director, The Stanford Hydrogen Initiative

  • Jimmy Chen

    Jimmy Chen

    Managing Director StorageX Initiative, Precourt Institute for Energy

    BioJim Chen leads a number of energy programs at Stanford Energy,
    including Stanford’s new Hydrogen Initiative; Stanford’s energy storage initiative,
    StorageX; and Stanford’s integrated energy program, Stanford Energy Corporate
    Affiliates (SECA). Dr. Chen was also the founding Managing Director of Bits & Watts,
    Stanford’s initiative focusing on the grid of the 21st century, launched in 2016.

    Dr. Chen is enthusiastic about the global energy transformation and building a more
    sustainable society through innovation. At Stanford, Dr. Chen creates and expands
    impactful global communities of practice that enable industrial-academic-government
    collaboration in energy research and scale-up. Dr. Chen is also a leader in Stanford
    Energy’s global events including its regional roundtables and Global Energy
    Forum. Finally, Dr. Chen is deeply involved in Stanford’s innovation ecosystem,
    advising student groups, start-up companies, and accelerators. Dr. Chen’s research
    interests include hydrogen, energy storage, the circular economy, decarbonizing
    transportation, and integrated energy systems. Dr. Chen’s teaching roles include
    lecturing for Stanford’s Department of Materials Science and Engineering, and for
    Stanford Energy’s Hydrogen Economy Seminar.

    Dr. Chen is passionate about global energy entrepreneurship and innovation. He works
    with energy agencies around the world promoting global collaboration, accelerating
    innovation, and sparking entrepreneurship. He also serves on a number of advisory
    councils, including on EPRI and GTI’s Low Carbon Research Initiative’s (LCRI)
    technical advisory board.

    Dr. Chen came to Stanford University after 25 years in industry, bringing a broad
    background in energy and technology, with a specialization in technology and product
    development. He has held technical positions at Lawrence Berkeley Labs, GTE Labs,
    IBM, and AT&T Bell Labs, as well as technology executive positions at both starts-ups
    and Fortune 500 companies, including FormFactor and Eaton.

    Dr. Chen received a PhD from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and MS from
    the University of California, Berkeley — both in materials science and engineering —
    and holds a BS from the University of California, Berkeley in electrical engineering.

  • Justine Dachille

    Justine Dachille

    Understand Energy Program Manager, Precourt Institute for Energy

    Current Role at StanfordUnderstand Energy, Program Manager

  • David Danielson

    David Danielson

    Adjunct Professor

    BioDavid T. Danielson became a Precourt energy scholar at Stanford in 2016. With Stuart Macmillan and Joel Moxley, Dave co-teaches the yearlong course "Energy Transformation Collaborative." This project-based course provides a launchpad for the creation and development of transformational energy ventures. Interdisciplinary student teams research, analyze and refine detailed plans for high-impact opportunities in the context of the new energy venture development framework offered in this course.

    Since January 2017, Dave has been managing director of Breakthrough Energy Ventures, a $1 billion fund focused on fighting climate change by investing in clean energy innovation.

    From 2012 to 2016, Dave was assistant secretary of the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy. There, he directed the U.S. government’s innovation strategy in the areas of sustainable transportation, renewable power, energy efficiency and clean-energy manufacturing, investing about $2 billion annually into American clean-energy innovation. He is considered a global expert in the development of next generation clean-energy technologies and the creation of new R&D and organizational models for high-impact clean energy innovation.

    Prior to being appointed by President Obama as assistant secretary, Dave was the first hire at DOE’s Advanced Research Projects Agency– Energy (ARPA-E), a funding agency that focuses on the development of high-risk, high-reward clean-energy technologies. Prior to his government service, he was a clean-energy venture capitalist and, as a PhD student at MIT, was the founder and president of the MIT Energy Club.

  • Jeffrey Decker

    Jeffrey Decker

    Program Director, Precourt Institute for Energy

    BioJeff Decker is managing director of the Technology Transition for Defense Program and co-instructor of Hacking for Defense course at Stanford University. Hacking for Defense uses the Lean Startup technique to tackle complex problems critical to the government around national security, energy networks, cyber security, and AI, and develop new technologies with teams of engineers, scientists, MBA’s and policy experts. With the program, Jeff has taught more than 300 students, faculty, and government personnel user-centered design from over 2 dozen colleges and universities, helping them solve more than 75 unique national security challenges for the Defense Department and related industries. Several student teams have gone on to form companies winning Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) and Small Business Technology Transfer (STTR) programs, gaining venture capital funding, and one team even became a program of record. Jeff’s work and research focuses generally on defense innovation and dual-use technologies, with a focus on developing go-to-defense market strategies for technology startups and fostering defense-industry partnerships. With his Lean Startup experience and expertise with Hacking for Defense, plus his military service, Jeff is a sought-after expert when it comes to national security and solving Defense Department challenges.

    Jeff served in the U.S. Army as a 2nd Ranger Battalion light infantry squad leader in Iraq and Afghanistan. Following his service, he earned a MS in International Relations (Laws), and a doctorate in International Relations before conducting national security and international affairs research at the RAND Corporation.

  • Rwaida Gharib

    Rwaida Gharib

    Ph.D. Student in Environment and Resources, admitted Autumn 2023
    Stanford Student Employee, Graduate School of Business - Center for Entrepreneurial Studies
    Research Analyst, Precourt Institute for Energy

    BioRwaida is a PhD student in Environment and Resources at Stanford’s School of Sustainability. Her research focuses on the international policy frameworks shaping climate adaptation and mobility, with an emphasis on environmental justice for displaced communities, rural populations, and women and girls. She examines how global institutions respond to climate vulnerability—and how they can be transformed to better support frontline communities.

    Rwaida’s current work explores climate displacement and adaptation efforts across the Global South, with field research in Kenya and Central America. She is particularly focused on the lived experiences of refugees and migrants navigating environmental instability and structural inequities.

    She brings over 15 years of experience in international development and humanitarian policy, including advisory roles with the World Bank Group and UNDP, and service in the Obama Administration, where she helped design the White House Power Africa Initiative. Currently, she supports adaptation finance research at Stanford's Sustainable Finance Institute as well as the Graduate School of Business's Ecopreneurship Program.

  • Mark Golden

    Mark Golden

    Director of Communication, Precourt Institute for Energy

    BioWorking with the Precourt Institute's small communications team, my principal responsibility is to inform the public about energy research and education at Stanford through articles, press releases, social media, Stanford Energy newsletter, printed materials and presentations. I also aid reporters writing about energy. I began work at Stanford in 2011, when I joined the Precourt Institute's communications team as a writer.

    Before coming to Stanford, I taught in the San Francisco public schools for several years. Previously, I was a reporter for Dow Jones & Co. for 10 years, primarily covering the U.S. natural gas and power industries. I also worked in Kiev, Ukraine in 1996-97, editing a weekly news magazine on that country's economic and political development. I also worked for Columbia University, writing on public health research.

  • Diana Gragg

    Diana Gragg

    Managing Director Explore Energy, Precourt Institute for Energy

    Current Role at StanfordManaging Director, Explore Energy, Precourt Institute for Energy
    Core Lecturer, Civil and Environmental Engineering

  • Holmes Hummel, PhD

    Holmes Hummel, PhD

    Managing Director Energy Equity & Just Transitions, Precourt Institute for Energy

    Current Role at StanfordEnergy Equity & Just Transitions, Managing Director
    Precourt Institute for Energy

    Resident Fellow, Explore Energy House

    Coordinating Council Member, Environmental Justice Working Group

    Advisory Member, Partnership in Climate Justice in the Bay


    Collaborator in Collaborative Learning about Equity and Rapid Decarbonization (CLEAR Decarbonization), one of the first projects selected for an award from the Stanford Sustainability Accelerator

  • Arpita Kalra

    Arpita Kalra

    Marketing and Engagement Director, Precourt Institute for Energy

    BioArpita Kalra is the Director for Marketing and Engagement at Precourt Institute for Energy. In this role she oversees the engagement and outreach efforts for the Stanford Energy brand. Prior to Stanford, she worked in the advertising industry where she developed and executed marketing campaigns across print, electronic and social media. Arpita holds a masters in Marketing Communications from the Mudra Institute of Communications, Ahmedabad (MICA) in India and a bachelors in Statistics from Delhi University.

  • Karalee Elizabeth Kokeny

    Karalee Elizabeth Kokeny

    Financial Analyst, Precourt Institute for Energy

    Current Role at StanfordFinancial Analyst, Precourt Institute for Energy

  • Amory B Lovins

    Amory B Lovins

    Lecturer

    Current Role at StanfordAdjunct Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Sept 2019 – June 2024, then retitled Lecturer in CEE, with the same responsibilities, because the definition changed and Lovins lacks a PhD. Visiting Scholar, Precourt Institute for Energy.

  • Jennifer Milne

    Jennifer Milne

    Director, Advanced Research Projects, Precourt Institute for Energy

    BioJennifer is a scientist with more than a decade's experience in identifying research needs in energy and shaping the energy research landscape at Stanford. Jennifer leads the Advanced Research Projects at the Precourt Institute for Energy, working with the Director of Precourt and other stakeholders to foster energy research to reduce greenhouse gases and enable the energy transition. In 2023, she joined the technology team of the Sustainability Accelerator, as a key team member tasked with identifying solutions with potential for impact across broad sustainability challenges.

    Jennifer is a technical resource for energy related and carbon removal projects across the University and an advisor in the bioenergy area - this foundational experience she gained during her time as an energy analyst with the Global Climate and Energy Project. There, from 2007 onwards, she learned about energy supply, conversion, and exergy destruction. Jennifer led the bioenergy area of the portfolio and contributed more broadly to the development of a fundamental energy research portfolio across all energy areas. Prior to joining Global Climate and Energy Project she was a post-doctoral scholar at the Carnegie Institution for Science, Department of Plant Biology, at Stanford University. Jennifer is a biochemist and plant biologist, with extensive expertise in carbohydrate chemistry. Her thesis work included the discovery of a new role for polysaccharides in guard cell wall function. Jennifer earned a Ph.D. in Biology from the University of York, U.K. and a Bachelor of Science in Biochemistry (First Class Honors) from the University of Stirling, U.K.

  • Liang Min

    Liang Min

    Managing Director Bits & Watts Initiative, Precourt Institute for Energy

    Current Role at StanfordManaging Director for the Bits and Watts Initiative, Precourt Institute for Energy
    Managing Director for the Net-Zero Alliance, Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability

  • Kaylee Ann Nguyen

    Kaylee Ann Nguyen

    Adm Svcs Admstr 1, Precourt Institute for Energy

    Current Role at StanfordProgram Manager, StorageX Initiative
    Program Manager, Precourt Pioneering Projects

  • Nilay Papila

    Nilay Papila

    Senior Program Manager, Precourt Institute for Energy

    BioNilay Papila is an experienced senior program manager, currently working for the Technology Transfer for Defense program at Stanford University. With a strong background in research management, pre- and post-award services, university-industry cooperation, technology transfer, intellectual property, and technology commercialization, Nilay brings a wealth of expertise to her role.

    Prior to joining Stanford, Nilay served as the Founding Director of the Technology Transfer Office at Ozyegin University in Istanbul, where she played a pivotal role in fostering innovation and collaboration. She also held positions as the Manager of the Project Development Office at Sabanci University and Associate Director of the Interdisciplinary Program Development Office at the University of Florida. Notably, she served as a national expert on the European Union 7th Framework Program (Marie Curie Actions) and as an expert/evaluator at the Technology Transfer Support Program Group at the Science and Technology Council of Turkey.

    Nilay holds a Ph.D. in Aerospace Engineering from the University of Florida, which she earned in 2001, following her completion of B.S. and M.S. degrees in the Aerospace Engineering Department of the METU in Ankara in 1994 and 1997, respectively.

    Recognized for her accomplishments, Nilay is a Zonta International Amelia Earhart Fellow (2000), an NCURA (National Council of Research Administration) Global Fellow at Stanford University (2018), and a certified Registered Technology Transfer Professional (RTTP) (2018). These accomplishments highlight her dedication to advancing research and innovation within academic and industry settings.

  • Blas L. Pérez Henríquez

    Blas L. Pérez Henríquez

    Senior Research Scholar

    BioBlas L. Pérez Henríquez founded and serves as Director of the California-Global Energy, Water & Infrastructure Innovation Initiative at Stanford University, sponsored by the Bill Lane Center for the American West, focusing on regional low-carbon development opportunities. His research and teaching centers on policy analysis to advance clean innovation through novel technological, business, policy, and social solutions for a new clean economy and a net zero, carbon neutral future. He is a Senior Research Scholar and leads the Stanford | Mexico Clean Economy 2050 program.

    He is also directs the Local Governance Summer Institute @ Stanford (LGSI) and the Smart City: Policy, Strategy and Innovation Institute @ Stanford. He has served as a Distinguished Visiting Professor at the School of Engineering and Sciences of the Technological Institute of Superior Studies of Monterrey (ITESM) in Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico, Senior Visiting Research Fellow at the Grantham Research Institute on Climate and the Environment at the London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE) in London, United Kingdom, and as Guest Professor at the Centre of Economics Research and Teaching (CIDE) in Mexico City, Mexico.

    He is the author of “Environmental Commodities and Emissions Trading: Towards a Low Carbon Future,” Resources for the Future – RFF Press/Routledge, Washington, DC (2013) and co-editor of “Carbon Governance, Climate Change and Business Transformation,” Routledge Advances in Climate Change Research, Taylor & Francis Group, Oxford, UK (2015). He also co-edited the book "High-Speed Rail and Sustainability, Decision-making and the political economy of investment," Routlege Explorations in Environmental Studies, Taylor & Francis Group, Oxford, UK (2017). He has written on public-private environmental and energy collaboration in Silicon Valley, water-energy nexus, sustainable transportation and on the use of information technology to support environmental markets and smart policymaking.

    Pérez Henríquez is a member of the Distinguished Advisory Group of the Integrity Council for Voluntary Carbon Markets (IC-VCM), derived from the work of the Taskforce for Scaling Voluntary Carbon Markets (TSVCM) where he served as Member of the Board of Advisors. He was a member of the Mexico – United States Entrepreneurship & Innovation Council (MUSEIC), created through the High-Level Economic Dialogue between the presidents of the United States and Mexico. He served as the U.S. Co-chair of the MUSEIC Energy & Sustainability Subcommittee. Pérez Henríquez is also on the International Advisory Board of Public Administration & Policy: An Asia-Pacific Journal. From 2002 to 2015, he directed UC Berkeley’s Center for Environmental Public Policy which he had founded, and was a faculty member of the Goldman School of Public Policy. He has served as an ex-officio member of the Goldman School advisory board (2002 -2012), and as a Quarterly Chair of the Commonwealth Club of California, the nation's oldest and largest public affairs forum.

    Pérez Henríquez holds a Masters and a Ph.D. in Public Policy from UC Berkeley, a law degree from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), a diploma in Public Policy from the Autonomous Technological Institute of Mexico (ITAM), and a certificate in Compared Environmental US – EU Law & Policy from Indiana University, Leiden & Rotterdam Universities.

  • Sharon Hakeman Poore

    Sharon Hakeman Poore

    Understand Energy Project Manager, Precourt Institute for Energy

    Current Role at StanfordProject Manager, Understand Energy
    Precourt Institute for Energy

  • Lesley Ryan

    Lesley Ryan

    Web Developer, Precourt Institute for Energy

    BioLesley is the Web Developer for the Precourt Institute for Energy where she builds websites for the institute and its initiatives and centers. Before coming to Stanford, she was a Web Developer at the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences at Harvard University.

  • Nancy Sandoval

    Nancy Sandoval

    Executive Assistant, Precourt Institute for Energy

    BioNancy is the executive assistant to Yi Cui, Director of the Precourt Institute for Energy. She supports him in all facets of his day-to-day working and administrative roles.

    Nancy started at Stanford University in 2003 with the inception of GCEP and is known as “GCEP Employee #1.” Before joining Stanford, she worked for many years as an administrative assistant at the U.S. Geological Survey in Menlo Park. She has a daughter and a son who are both graduates of Stanford University.

  • Richard Sassoon

    Richard Sassoon

    Executive Director Strategic Energy Alliance, Precourt Institute for Energy

    BioRichard E. Sassoon is the Executive Director of the Strategic Energy Alliance under the Precourt Institute for Energy at Stanford. Prior to this role, he was the Managing Director of the Global Climate and Energy Project (GECP) at Stanford since November 2003. Dr. Sassoon has over 30 years of research and management experience in the fields of physical and analytical chemistry, as well as energy sciences.

    Prior to joining Stanford, Dr. Sassoon was Senior Scientist and Assistant Vice President at Science Applications International Corporation (SAIC), where he led systems integration efforts for nanotechnology applications. For many years, he was a contractor to the Department of Energy supporting the strategic planning and management of its environmental programs, and its hydrogen and renewable energy activities.

    Dr. Sassoon spent over a decade conducting research into photochemical solar energy conversion and storage systems, performing computer modeling of the catalytic processes involved in hydrogen production, and investigating technologies for cleanup of nuclear waste.

    Dr. Sassoon received his B.Sc. in Chemistry from Leeds University in the UK, and his Ph.D. in Physical Chemistry from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem in Israel. He conducted his post-doctoral activities at the University of Notre Dame. Dr. Sassoon has authored over 20 research papers in peer-reviewed journals, has received several awards including the Gabriel Stein award for outstanding research during his Ph.D. studies.

  • Bria Sabine Schraeder

    Bria Sabine Schraeder

    Product Manager, Precourt Institute for Energy

    BioBria Schraeder is a Product Manager for the Understand Energy program at the Precourt Institute for Energy. In this role, she supports the development and management of educational content across various platforms, including the Understand Energy class, workshop series, Learning Hub, staff seminar, and newsletter. She also works on strategic marketing and outreach efforts to expand the program's reach and impact.

    In her free time, Bria enjoys recipe testing, watercolor painting, and long walks and hikes.

  • Alicia Seiger

    Alicia Seiger

    Affiliate, Bank of America
    Visiting Scholar, Precourt Institute for Energy

    BioAlicia Seiger is a recognized expert at the intersections of climate, technology, policy, finance, and innovation. She is a Visiting Scholar at SDSS and an occasional lecturer. Alicia currently directs the climate program at the Chan Zuckerberg Initiative (CZI). Prior to CZI, Alicia led sustainability and energy finance initiatives at Stanford Law, Graduate School of Business, and the Doerr School for Sustainability. Alicia has served as an advisor to the Governors of California and New York, the New York State Comptroller, and numerous pension fund, endowment, and family office CIOs on the topics of climate risk, opportunity, and resiliency. For over two decades, Alicia has designed and executed climate and energy strategies for businesses, foundations, investors, and NGOs. She has led on the management teams of multiple startups, including at TerraPass, a pioneer of the US voluntary carbon offset market, and Flycast Communications, one of the world’s first web advertising networks. She co-founded Stanford Professionals in Energy (SPIE) and serves on the boards of Prime Coalition and The E-liability Institute and on the Editorial Board of the Oxford Open Climate Change Journal.

    Her first book, "Settling Climate Accounts: Navigating the Road to Net Zero" contextualizes the history of climate action, examines the practices of pursuing net zero, and makes recommendations for the road ahead. Alicia received her BA from Duke University in a self-designed curriculum intersecting environmental science and policy with cultural anthropology, and earned her MBA at the Stanford Graduate School of Business.

  • Maksim Sonin

    Maksim Sonin

    Hydrogen Projects Fellow, Precourt Institute for Energy

    BioDr. Maksim Sonin is an energy executive and thought leader who drives strategic global investments and executes large-scale capital developments worth over $15B per project, from inception to operation across major sectors and geographies, from the Arctic to the Arabian Desert, with teams spanning 5 continents.

    Dr. Sonin has held executive roles and served on the Boards of UCC (with a $10B+ capital projects portfolio), Silleno ($7B+ world-scale petrochemical complex, 1250 kta), KMG Petrochem ($2B+ gas treatment plant, 9 BCMA), and other organizations, focusing on humanitarian and global energy concerns. This includes leading the development of the world’s largest plants for producing ammonia and urea, with the highest capacity per train. He has worked with Chevron, Shell, and ExxonMobil in consortium venture and collaborated with other global players.

    Holding an MS in Management from Stanford University as a Sloan Fellow, a PhD in Engineering, and an MS in Finance from different institutions, Dr.Sonin's academic achievements are further complemented by distinguished certifications in his field. He is a Projects Fellow at Stanford's Precourt Institute for Energy, an elected Fellow (FEI) of the Energy Institute (UK), and a member of both the Forbes Technology Council and the Stanford Hydrogen Initiative.

    Recent / Coming speaking engagements:
    • Global Hydrogen Leaders, S&P Global(May’24)
    • Reuters Events, Energy (September’24)
    • Stanford Ammonia Symposium (October ’24)
    • Global Clean Hydrogen (November ’24)
    • S&P Global, World Hydrogen (March ’25)
    • Argus, Clean Ammonia (April ’25)
    • 5th American Hydrogen Forum, Houston (May ’25)
    • The Energy Projects, EPC Show (June ’25)
    • Carbon Capture Technology Expo North America (June ’25)
    • Hydrogen Technology North America Expo (June ’25)
    • Green Hydrogen Summit, Seattle (September ’25
    • Experience Power (EP) week, Denver. A POWER magazine Advisory Board Member (Oct-Nov ’25)
    • Global Sustainable Energies. Milan. TBC
    • American Data Centers & AI (November’ 25)

    Selected interviews:
    1. Nikkei BP (Savior of data centers, green hydrogen made from offshore wind power will save Japan's power shortage)
    2. S&P Global ( Datacenters balancing sustainability goals with accelerating AI demand)
    3. IBM (Can nuclear power fuel AI's growing energy needs?)
    4. Power Magazine (Power Demand from Data Centres Keeping Coal-Fired Plants Online; Central Theme for Energy’s Future: Decentralizing Power Generation):
    5. The Epoch Times (EIA Forecasts US Fuel Stockpiles Headed for 25-Year Low by 2026; AI Data Center Build-Out Raises Concerns About America’s Future Power Needs)
    6. ReadWrite (How AI Will Soon Disrupt the Greater Energy Industry)
    7. Mashable (Ammonia Could Play a Key Role In Creating a Low-Carbon Energy System)
    8. Inc.com (Building a Sustainable Future: How Companies Can Make a Positive Impact
    9. Investing.com (a Global, Low-Carbon Economy Isn’t as Far-Fetched as Many Might Think
    10. International Business Times (Why Leaders Can't Be Afraid to Push Boundaries)
    11. PMI PM Network (Cold Rush: Tapping the Arctic's Frozen Assets Starts with Navigating Extreme Risks)

  • Katie Taflan

    Katie Taflan

    Assistant Director, Explore Energy, Precourt Institute for Energy

    Current Role at StanfordProgram Manager, Precourt Institute for Energy

  • Cynthia Williams

    Cynthia Williams

    Assistant Director, Net Zero Energy Alliance, Precourt Institute for Energy

    Current Role at StanfordAssistant Director, External Engagement, Stanford Precourt Institute for Energy

  • Audrey Yau

    Audrey Yau

    Director, Sustainability Accelerator Fellowship & Stanford Energy Fellowship, Precourt Institute for Energy

    BioAs a Director in the Precourt Institute for Energy and the Sustainability Accelerator in the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, Audrey is responsible for the overall strategic and operational leadership for the Stanford Energy Postdoctoral Fellowship, the Summer Undergraduate Program on Energy Research, and the Stanford Sustainability Accelerator Fellowship. In her role, Audrey develops educational experiences that connect academic learning with real world impact for undergraduates and postdoctoral scholars in Stanford's newest school.

  • Miki Yu

    Miki Yu

    Assistant Director, Strategic Outreach, Precourt Institute for Energy

    BioMiki Yu joined Precourt Institute for Energy (PIE) as an Event and Outreach Program Planner. In this role she will help shape the programs that PIE, TomKat Center and GCEP offer as they build greater visibility within the Stanford community, the energy community at large, and throughout the world.

    Miki started at Stanford working for the Office of Development in 2002, where she reported to the Vice President’s office. She then joined the Stanford Challenge Campaign as an initial team member, working with OOD partners and engaging volunteers and donors at every stage to build and direct momentum for The Stanford Challenge campaign. She was instrumental in executing the Leading Matters component of the campaign, which achieved record breaking attendance and engagement results.

  • Yutong Zhu

    Yutong Zhu

    External Engagement Specialist, Precourt Institute for Energy

    BioWhen in school, I won a nationwide competition in China to make art out of trash. I built a miniature “Olympic stadium” from styrofoam, a winning submission whose prize was a week-long trip to Hong Kong to learn about recycling. Visiting the city’s recycling facilities changed my life: growing up in the heavily polluted city of Xi’an in the 90s, Hong Kong’s cleanliness shocked me. It was my first encounter with the term “sustainability” and determined my career’s trajectory.

    Carbon-capture materials, hydrogen-producing catalysts, energy-efficient aluminum production: all the products and processes that I developed and commercialized at Australia’s national lab have eliminated millions of tons of carbon dioxide and saved clients millions of dollars in energy expenses. I also helped two battery startups commercialize their technologies, and I evaluated hundreds of climate tech companies at an early-stage venture capital firm.

    Equipped with ten years experience commercializing deep tech from zero to one in the sustainability and climate space, I want to build and scale high-efficiency, mass-market climate solutions after Stanford. Interested? Let’s chat.