Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability
Showing 1-50 of 53 Results
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Brian Bartholomeusz
Executive 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.
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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
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
Understand Energy Program Manager, Precourt Institute for Energy
Current Role at StanfordUnderstand Energy, Program Manager
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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
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
Ph.D. Student in Environment and Resources, admitted Autumn 2023
Research Analyst, Precourt Institute for EnergyBioRwaida “Rudy” Gharib is pursuing her PhD in environment and resources (E-IPER) at the Stanford School of Sustainability. Her research focuses on environmental justice and the policy changes/financing needed to support the climate adaptation and resilience of vulnerable populations—specifically, those living in rural poverty, women and girls, and im/migrants/refugees.
Rwaida has worked in humanitarian aid and international development for more than 15 years, acting as an advisor to the World Bank Group’s climate finance programming, supporting the UN Development Programme’s (UNDP) biodiversity platforms, and serving as a presidential appointee for the Obama Administration in various capacities. Rwaida was one of the designers of the White House Power Africa Initiative, a public-private partnership designed to increase access to renewable energy for Sub-Saharan Africa and accelerate the just transition for the continent.
She is an EDGE scholar and a Dalai Lama Fellow. -
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
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
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
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.
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Karalee Elizabeth Kokeny
Financial Analyst, Precourt Institute for Energy
Current Role at StanfordFinancial Analyst, Precourt Institute for Energy
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Amory B Lovins
Lecturer
Current Role at StanfordAdjunct Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Sept 2019 – June 2024. Expected to be retitled Lecturer in CEE thereafter, with the same responsibilities, because the definition changed and Lovins lacks a PhD. Visiting Scholar, Precourt Institute for Energy.
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Rachael Madison
Program Manager, Stanford Energy Fellowships, Precourt Institute for Energy
Current Role at StanfordProgram Manager
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Jennifer Milne
Associate Director for 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 real-world 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. Here, from 2007 onwards, she learned about energy supply, conversion, and exergy destruction. She 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 comes from a biochemistry and plant science background, where she contributed to the discovery of the role of polysaccharides in guard cell wall function and holds 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
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
Adm Svcs Admstr 1, Precourt Institute for Energy
Current Role at StanfordProgram Manager, StorageX Initiative
Program Manager, Precourt Pioneering Projects -
Nilay Papila
Senior Program Manager, Precourt Institute for Energy
BioNilay Papila is an experienced senior program manager, currently working for the Hacking 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
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
Understand Energy Project Manager, Precourt Institute for Energy
Current Role at StanfordProject Manager, Understand Energy
Precourt Institute for Energy -
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.
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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
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. -
Maksim Sonin
Hydrogen Projects Fellow, Precourt Institute for Energy
BioDr. Maksim Sonin is an energy 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, with teams spanning 5 continents.
Dr. Sonin has held executive roles and served on the Boards of UCC ($10bn+ capital projects portfolio), Silleno ($7bn+ world-scale petrochemical complex, 1250kta), KMG Petrochem ($2bn+ 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 fertilizers, with the highest capacity per train. His expertise covers all project phases from inception to operation, and major sectors, ensuring the satisfaction of governments and multinational conglomerates.He has worked with Chevron, Shell, and ExxonMobil at consortium venture, and collaborated with other global players.
Holding an MS in Management from Stanford Graduate School of Business as a Sloan Fellow, a PhD in Engineering from Scientific Research Institute of Natural Gases and Gas Technologies, and an MS in Finance, Dr. Sonin's academic achievements are further complemented by distinguished certifications in his field, such as Portfolio Management Professional (PMI PfMP®) and Program Management Professional (PMI PgMP®), among others. He is a Projects Fellow and a member of 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)
• 5th American Hydrogen Forum, Houston (February ’25)
• Green Hydrogen Summit, Seattle (February ’25)
• S&P Global, World Hydrogen (March ’25)
• Argus, Clean Ammonia (April ’25)
• The Energy Projects, EPC Show (June ’25)
Latest interviews in 2024:
1. ReadWrite (How AI Will Soon Disrupt the Greater Energy Industry), November: https://readwrite.com/ai-disrupt-energy-industry/
2. IBM (Can nuclear power fuel AI's growing energy needs?), November: https://www.ibm.com/think/news/ai-nuclear-power
3. Power Magazine (Power Demand from Data Centers Keeping Coal-Fired Plants Online), October: https://www.powermag.com/power-demand-from-data-centers-keeping-coal-fired-plants-online/
4. Nikkei BP (Savior of data centers, green hydrogen made from offshore wind power will save Japan's power shortage), Japan. September:
https://xtech.nikkei.com/atcl/nxt/column/18/02924/082600004/
5. Mashable (Ammonia Could Play a Key Role In Creating a Low-Carbon Energy System), August. https://nl.mashable.com/climate-environment-1/10161/why-ammonia-could-play-a-key-role-in-creating-a-low-carbon-energy-system-with-maksim-sonin
6. Inc.com (Building a Sustainable Future: How Companies Can Make a Positive Impact), August https://www.inc.com/heather-wilde/building-a-sustainable-future-how-companies-can-make-a-positive-impact.html
7. Msn (Tips for Tackling Large-Scale Industrial Projects With Global Implications) https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/savingandinvesting/5-proven-tips-for-tackling-large-scale-industrial-projects-with-global-implications-according-to-stanford-s-maksim-sonin/ar-AA1sBgZS
8. IBTimes (Why Leaders Can't Be Afraid to Push Boundaries), August. https://www.ibtimes.com/why-leaders-cant-afraid-push-boundaries-3-tips-doing-just-that-3738982
9. Forbes (How to prepare your business to do something for the first time?), April
10.Investing.com (a Global, Low-Carbon Economy Isn’t as Far-Fetched as Many Might Think), April: https://www.investing.com/studios/article-382506 -
Katie Taflan
Program Manager, Precourt Institute for Energy
Current Role at StanfordProgram Manager, Precourt Institute for Energy
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Cynthia Williams
Assistant Director, External Engagement, Precourt Institute for Energy
Current Role at StanfordAssistant Director, External Engagement, Stanford Precourt Institute for Energy
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Audrey Yau
Director, Sustainability Accelerator Fellowship and 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.
