Bio

Edgar Virgüez is a Research Engineer in the Department of Energy Science & Engineering at Stanford University, where his work advances sustainable, low-carbon energy systems. His findings have resulted in more than 40 scholarly outputs that have garnered over 900 citations in leading journals, including Energy & Environmental Science, Environmental Science & Technology, Nature Cities, the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the U.S., & Science. In recognition of his expertise, Dr. Virgüez serves on the Editorial Board of the Environmental Research: Energy journal, and regularly reviews manuscripts for 15 journals (e.g., Nature Communications, Nature Sustainability).

Beyond his individual scholarship, Dr. Virgüez serves as Managing Director of the $23 million U.S. Department of Energy-funded EARNEST Consortium, a landmark initiative led by Stanford University. This effort brings together 18 universities, three national laboratories, and two research organizations to identify and advance solutions for the future of the U.S. electricity system. Beyond EARNEST, he has collaborated with organizations such as the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank, contributing expertise in life cycle assessment, cost-benefit analysis, and decarbonization strategies for governments and utilities across the Americas.

Globally, Dr. Virgüez contributes to major energy and climate initiatives. Since 2024, he has served as an Expert Advisor to the Earthshot Prize, founded by Prince William, reviewing nominations in the Fix Our Climate category and assessing their potential for innovation, impact, and scalability toward an annual $1.25 million award. He also serves in expert advisory roles for institutions such as Schmidt Sciences, evaluating large-scale research programs advancing scalable decarbonization and energy systems solutions, and provides expert review on energy-related reports for global organizations, including the International Energy Agency.

For his professional contributions, Dr. Virgüez has received more than 20 awards totaling $34,365. Among his most notable honors, he was recognized by the American Geophysical Union with the Science for Solutions Award (2025), honoring significant scientific contributions to address societal challenges, and received the K. Patricia Cross Future Leaders Award (2020) from the Association of American Colleges and Universities, a national distinction recognizing exceptional rising scholars demonstrating strong promise as future higher education leaders. As an educator, Dr. Virgüez has taught 17 courses to ~600 students, with consistently outstanding evaluations validating his teaching excellence. This achievement was formally recognized with the Graduate School Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching (2021) from Duke University.

In 2022, he was elected as a Young Trustee to the Board of Trustees of Duke University, the institution’s highest governing body. During his three-year term, he served on committees for Graduate and Professional Education and Research, External Engagement, Honorary Degrees, and the Young Trustee Nominating Committee, which he chaired for one year. He currently sits on the Climate Commitment Campaign Advocates Board, where he advises the university on the major philanthropic initiative on climate change.

Dr. Virgüez holds a Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences and Policy with a Certificate in College Teaching (2022) and an M.A. in Environment with a Geospatial Analysis Certificate (2018) from Duke University, along with an M.Sc. in Environmental Engineering (2010) and a dual B.Sc. degree in Chemical and Environmental Engineering (2009) from Universidad de los Andes. He has also completed professional certificates in Australia, the United States, and Colombia, and has received more than $795,000 in scholarships and fellowships from competitive programs sponsored by institutions such as the Sloan Foundation.

Academic Appointments

  • Research Engineer, Energy Science & Engineering

Honors & Awards

  • Science for Solutions Award, American Geophysical Union (AGU) (2025)
  • Best Student Paper Award (Energy and Environment Specialty Group), American Association of Geographers (2022)
  • U.S. Carbon Program Leadership Award, U.S. Carbon Cycle Science Program & North American Carbon Program (2022)
  • LatinX Awards: Excellence in Activism Award, Duke University (2022)
  • Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching (<0.1% of Duke University’s Ph.D. students), Duke University Graduate School (2021)
  • Forever Duke Student Leadership Award (<0.5% of Duke University Class of 2021), Duke University & Duke Alumni Association. (2021)
  • Chron15: 15 leaders, pioneers, and icons at Duke University, Duke University Chronicle (2021)
  • International Awards Program: Graduate/Professional Academic Wizard of the Year, Duke University International House (2021)
  • Advancing Diversity and Inclusion Award (Energy and Environment Specialty Group), American Association of Geographers (2021)
  • K. Patricia Cross Future Leader Award, Association of American Colleges and Universities (2020)
  • Australia Awards International Fellow, Australia’s Department of Economic Development, Jobs, Transport and Resources (2015)
  • Procter & Gamble’s Prestige Award, Procter & Gamble (P&G) Colombia (2008)

Boards, Advisory Committees, Professional Organizations

  • Trustee (Board Member), Duke University (2022 - 2025)
  • Expert Advisory Panel, Earthshot Prize (2024 - Present)
  • Executive Editorial Board Member, Environmental Research: Energy (2023 - Present)
  • Future Leaders Society Advisory Committee, American Association of Colleges and Universities (2022 - 2023)

Professional Education

  • Ph.D., Duke University, Environmental Sciences and Policy (2022)
  • Certificate, Duke University, College Teaching (2022)
  • M.A., Duke University, Energy & Environment (2018)
  • Certificate, Duke University, Geospatial Analysis (2018)
  • M.Sc., Universidad de los Andes, Environmental Engineering (2010)
  • B.Sc., Universidad de los Andes, Chemical Engineering & Environmental Engineering (double major) (2009)

Service, Volunteer and Community Work

  • Board of Trustees, Duke University (July 1, 2022 - Present)

    Selected as a board member (Young Trustee) of Duke University’s highest governing body, the Board of Trustees. Recognized as an individual of outstanding character, ability, and vision from the current ~10,000 graduate and professional student body and ~8,000 graduate or professional alums of Duke’s Class of 2021 and 2022. Identified as an emerging leader with the qualities necessary to act as a university fiduciary responsible for procuring Duke’s long-term health, overseeing and aligning its strategic direction, educational policy, finances, and operations with its mission. Duke University Board of Trustees.

    Location

    Durham, NC

  • Executive Editorial Board Member, Environmental Research: Energy (June 1, 2023 - Present)

    One of the seven members appointed to the Executive Editorial Board for the Environmental Research: Energy journal. Recognized as a prominent scientist in the energy field, tasked with giving the journal its scientific authority, providing the publishing team with intelligence on the latest scientific and technological developments, and advocating for the journal within scientific communities. Institute of Physics (IOP) Publishing.

    Location

    Palo Alto

  • Expert Advisory Panel, Earthshot Prize (February 1, 2024 - Present)

    Member of the Expert Advisory Panel for the Earthshot Prize. Recognized as an experienced, reputable professional from across the globe tasked with reviewing Earthshot nominations for their impact potential, uniqueness, and innovation. The Earthshot Prize, led by Prince William of Wales, annually selects five winners across five categories (nature, air, oceans, waste-free world, & climate), awarding $6.25 million ($1.25 million per category) as a catalyzer to help scale their proposed solutions. Earthshot Prize.

    Location

    Wales

Contact

Additional Info

Links

All Publications

  • Planning reliable wind- and solar-based electricity systems ADVANCES IN APPLIED ENERGY Ruggles, T. H., Virguez, E., Reich, N., Dowling, J., Bloomfield, H., Antonini, E. G. A., Davis, S. J., Lewis, N. S., Caldeira, K. 2024; 15

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.adapen.2024.100185

    View details for Web of Science ID 001301508100001

  • The Influence of Regional Geophysical Resource Variability on the Value of Single- and Multistorage Technology Portfolios. Environmental science & technology Li, A. X., Virguez, E., Dowling, J. A., Wongel, A., Covelli, D., Ruggles, T. H., Reich, N., Lewis, N. S., Caldeira, K. 2024

    Abstract

    A stylized macro-scale energy model of least-cost electricity systems relying only on wind and solar generation was used to assess the value of different storage technologies, individually and combined, for the contiguous U.S. as well as for four geographically diverse U.S. load-balancing regions. For the contiguous U.S. system, at current costs, when only one storage technology was deployed, hydrogen energy storage produced the lowest system costs, due to its energy-capacity costs being the lowest of all storage technologies modeled. Additional hypothetical storage technologies were more cost-competitive than hydrogen (long-duration storage) only at very low energy-capacity costs, but they were more cost-competitive than Li-ion batteries (short-duration storage) at relatively high energy- and power-capacity costs. In all load-balancing regions investigated, the least-cost systems that included long-duration storage had sufficient energy and power capacity to also meet short-duration energy and power storage needs, so that the addition of short-duration storage as a second storage technology did not markedly reduce total system costs. Thus, in electricity systems that rely on wind and solar generation, contingent on social and geographic constraints, long-duration storage may cost-effectively provide the services that would otherwise be provided by shorter-duration storage technologies.

    View details for DOI 10.1021/acs.est.3c10188

    View details for PubMedID 39007544

  • The climate sciences need representation from the Global South ONE EARTH Virguz, E., Leon, L., Freese, L. M. 2024; 7 (3): 370-373

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.oneear.2024.01.016

    View details for Web of Science ID 001290886900001

  • How I balanced my Ph.D. research with opening doors for others Science Virguez, E. 2022; 662: 376

    View details for DOI 10.1126/science.abq8440

  • High-resolution data shows China's wind and solar energy resources are enough to support a 2050 decarbonized electricity system APPLIED ENERGY Li, M., Virguez, E., Shan, R., Tian, J., Gao, S., Patino-Echeverri, D. 2022; 306

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.apenergy.2021.117996

    View details for Web of Science ID 000709734400004

  • Utility-scale photovoltaics and storage: Decarbonizing and reducing greenhouse gases abatement costs APPLIED ENERGY Virguez, E., Wang, X., Patino-Echeverri, D. 2021; 282

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.apenergy.2020.116120

    View details for Web of Science ID 000599655100006

  • Variability of technology learning rates ADVANCES IN APPLIED ENERGY Carlino, A., Wongel, A., Duan, L., Virguez, E., Davis, S. J., Edwards, M. R., Caldeira, K. 2025; 20

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.adapen.2025.100252

    View details for Web of Science ID 001611230600001

  • Economic development, air conditioning and adaptation to warming ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS Wongel, A., Freese, L. M., Virguez, E., Davis, S. J., Caldeira, K. 2025; 20 (12)

    View details for DOI 10.1088/1748-9326/ae1f2a

    View details for Web of Science ID 001629235700001

  • Renewable energy quality trilemma and coincident wind and solar droughts COMMUNICATIONS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT Li, M., Ma, Q., Shan, R., Abdulla, A., Virguez, E., Gao, S., Patino-Echeverri, D. 2024; 5 (1)

    View details for DOI 10.1038/s43247-024-01850-5

    View details for Web of Science ID 001348910100002

  • Oahu as a case study for island electricity systems relying on wind and solar generation instead of imported petroleum fuels APPLIED ENERGY Covelli, D., Virgueez, E., Caldeira, K., Lewis, N. S. 2024; 375

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.apenergy.2024.124054

    View details for Web of Science ID 001291274100001

  • Preventing bad behavior in academia. Science (New York, N.Y.) da Cruz Albino, R., Brimble, M. A., Zdenek, C., Vandenbroeck, K., Masud, S., Zhang, X., Cosentino, M., Gupta, A., Abdul-Ghani, R., Gerarduzzi, C., Jackson, P., Oomen, R., Servais, B., Manjunatha, A., Bulthuis, N., Romero-Molina, C., Teng, D., Kosanic, A., de Angeli Dutra, D., Alekkou, D., Venturini, A. M., Virguez, E., Obasa, A. E. 2024; 385 (6704): 22-24

    Abstract

    We gave young scientists this prompt: Describe one change to scientific policy or culture that would substantially decrease incidents of scientific misconduct or other unethical behavior.

    View details for DOI 10.1126/science.adr0734

    View details for PubMedID 38963843

  • Identification of reliable locations for wind power generation through a global analysis of wind droughts COMMUNICATIONS EARTH & ENVIRONMENT Antonini, E. G. A., Virguez, E., Ashfaq, S., Duan, L., Ruggles, T. H., Caldeira, K. 2024; 5 (1)

    View details for DOI 10.1038/s43247-024-01260-7

    View details for Web of Science ID 001178129600002

  • The role of dispatchability in China's power system decarbonization ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE Li, M., Shan, R., Abdulla, A., Virguez, E., Gao, S. 2024; 17 (6): 2193-2205

    View details for DOI 10.1039/d3ee04293f

    View details for Web of Science ID 001162871100001

  • Changing outdated expectations. Science (New York, N.Y.) Singh, G., Teng, D., Turki, H., Bouchard, L., Chen, Y., Chugh, M., Wen, J., Chen, E. Y., Bezerra, P., Wu, L., Huang, J., Wen, Q., Hartzell, C., Stroup, B., Klinger, M., Perez, E. C., Virguez, E., Kirshner, S. N., Xu, C., Sharma, V. 2024; 383 (6678): 24-26

    View details for DOI 10.1126/science.adn4211

    View details for PubMedID 38175880

  • Reframing international students’ success: Institutional responsibility for international student wellbeing and belongingness Supporting College Students of Immigrant Origin: New Insights from Research, Policy, and Practice Suresh, M., Wagnon, J., Hall, T., Campos, R., Wakio, S., Virguez, E., Sperling, J. Cambridge University Press. 2024; 1: 332-351

    View details for DOI 10.1017/9781009408240.020

  • Copy-and-paste fixes can’t decarbonize Global South cities Nature Cities Virguez, E. 2024; 1 (8): 492-493
  • Opportunities and constraints of hydrogen energy storage systems Environmental Research: Energy Dowling, J., Ruggles, T., Virguez, E., et al 2024; 1 (3)

    View details for DOI 10.1088/2753-3751/ad58e5

  • Disproportionate energy disruptions afflicted rural Hispanic households during winter storm Uri Environmental Research: Energy Kumar, A., Ruggles, T., Virguez, E. 2024

    View details for DOI 10.10188/2753-3751/ad6a1d

  • Low-carbon transition pathways of power systems for Guangdong-Hongkong-Macau region in China ENERGY & ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE Liu, Z., Li, M., Virguez, E., Xie, X. 2024; 17 (1): 307-322

    View details for DOI 10.1039/d3ee02181e

    View details for Web of Science ID 001112655400001

  • Move up or move over: mapping opportunities for climate adaptation in Pakistan's Indus plains ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS Schmitt, R. J. P., Virguez, E., Ashfaq, S., Caldeira, K. 2023; 18 (11)

    View details for DOI 10.1088/1748-9326/acfc59

    View details for Web of Science ID 001087014100001

  • NextGen Voices: Historic introductions. Science (New York, N.Y.) Bismuth, K., Sharma, V., Powell, J. R., Tang, H., Cao, B., Huang, J., Patel, R. J., Bezerra, P., Zhang, X., Wen, Q., Oda, F. S., Verstiuk, O., Khan, M. S., Virguez, E., Zhi, Y., Dedyo, J. M. 2023; 382 (6666): 28-30

    View details for DOI 10.1126/science.adk8769

    View details for PubMedID 37797006

  • AI in search of human help SCIENCE Heim, A., Bharani, T., Konstantinides, N., Powell, J., Srivastava, S., Cao, X., Agarwal, D., Waiho, K., Lin, T., Virgueez, E., Strielkowski, W., Uzonyi, A. 2023; 381 (6654): 162-163

    View details for DOI 10.1126/science.adi8740

    View details for Web of Science ID 001046573800011

    View details for PubMedID 37440643

  • The Effect of Down-Cascade Re-Regulation on Alleviating the Flow Regime Alteration Induced by an Up-Cascade Reservoir WATER Wang, Y., Wang, X., Virguez, E., Zheng, K., Hu, T., Mei, Y., Wang, H. 2023; 15 (12)

    View details for DOI 10.3390/w15122166

    View details for Web of Science ID 001017832000001

  • The future of scientific societies. Science (New York, N.Y.) da Silva, C. F., Virguez, E., Eker, S., Zdenek, C. N., Bergh, C., Gerarduzzi, C., Ge, Y., Klinger, M., Allareddy, V., Hoots, E., Henriquez, T., Waiho, K., D'Ippoliti, C., Al Harraq, A., Xu, H., Zou, J., Xia, Y., Abdul-Ghani, R., Chugh, M. 2023; 380 (6640): 30-32

    View details for DOI 10.1126/science.adh8182

    View details for PubMedID 37023192

  • Guiding the deployment of electric vehicles in the developing world ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH LETTERS Dioha, M. O., Lukuyu, J., Virguez, E., Caldeira, K. 2022; 17 (7)

    View details for DOI 10.1088/1748-9326/ac765b

    View details for Web of Science ID 000810747600001

  • What I promised my mother. Science (New York, N.Y.) Virguez, E. 2022; 376 (6593): 662

    View details for DOI 10.1126/science.abq7831

    View details for PubMedID 35511994

  • Integrating wind and photovoltaic power with dual hydro-reservoir systems ENERGY CONVERSION AND MANAGEMENT Wang, X., Virguez, E., Mei, Y., Yao, H., Patino-Echeverri, D. 2022; 257

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.enconman.2022.115425

    View details for Web of Science ID 000819922400003

  • Energy storage reduces costs and emissions even without large penetration of renewable energy: The case of China Southern Power Grid ENERGY POLICY Li, M., Shan, R., Virguez, E., Patino-Echeverri, D., Gao, S., Ma, H. 2022; 161

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.enpol.2021.112711

    View details for Web of Science ID 000745081600007

  • Graduate student perspectives on transforming academia CONSERVATION SCIENCE AND PRACTICE Sykora-Bodie, S. T., Jones, J., Hastings, Z., Lombardi, E., Barnett, M., Davis, O. N., Ferrari, O. M., Polanco, V., Hofner, A. N., Hunter, B., Ippolito, T., Krantz, W., Neyra, O., Perez-Figueroa, O., Raub, K. B., Sou, J., Virguez, E., Waters, T., Whitten, J. 2022; 4 (1)

    View details for DOI 10.1111/csp2.556

    View details for Web of Science ID 000718789000001

  • Embracing the value of cultural wealth from underrepresented groups Teaching Gradually: Practical Pedagogy and Classroom Strategies for Graduate Students by Graduate Student Virguez, E. Stylus Publishing LLC. 2021: 190-196

    View details for DOI 10.4324/9781003447382-40

  • Clustering and dispatching hydro, wind, and photovoltaic power resources with multiobjective optimization of power generation fluctuations: A case study in southwestern China ENERGY Wang, X., Virguez, E., Xiao, W., Mei, Y., Patino-Echeverri, D., Wang, H. 2019; 189

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.energy.2019.116250

    View details for Web of Science ID 000504505700062

  • New Index for Runoff Variability Analysis in Rainfall Driven Rivers in Southeastern United States JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGIC ENGINEERING Wang, X., Virguez, E., Chen, L., Duan, K., Dong, Q., Ma, H., Mei, Y., Wang, H. 2019; 24 (12)

    View details for DOI 10.1061/(ASCE)HE.1943-5584.0001826

    View details for Web of Science ID 000497999000001

  • Integrating wind, photovoltaic, and large hydropower during the reservoir refilling period ENERGY CONVERSION AND MANAGEMENT Wang, X., Virguez, E., Kern, J., Chen, L., Mei, Y., Patino-Echeverri, D., Wang, H. 2019; 198

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.enconman.2019.111778

    View details for Web of Science ID 000491213400045

  • Abating carbon emissions by means of utility-scale photovoltaics and storage: The Duke Energy Progress/Carolinas case study Cigre Conference Virguez, E., Patino-Echeverri, D. FISE-IEEE. 2019: 1-6

    View details for DOI 10.1109/fisecigre48012.2019.8985012

  • Uncertainty of greenhouse gas emission models: A case in Colombias transport sector Valenzuela, M. M., Espinosa, M., Virguez, E. A., Behrentz, E. edited by Ulengin, F., Li, K., Boltze, M. ELSEVIER SCIENCE BV. 2017

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.trpro.2017.05.380

    View details for Web of Science ID 000404963804051

  • Influence of driving patterns on vehicle emissions: A case study for Latin American cities TRANSPORTATION RESEARCH PART D-TRANSPORT AND ENVIRONMENT Rodriguez, R. A., Virguez, E. A., Rodriguez, P. A., Behrentz, E. 2016; 43: 192-206

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.trd.2015.12.008

    View details for Web of Science ID 000370889700017

  • On the assessment of marginal life saving costs for risk acceptance criteria STRUCTURAL SAFETY Fischer, K., Virguez, E., Sanchez-Silva, M., Faber, M. H. 2013; 44: 37-46

    View details for DOI 10.1016/j.strusafe.2013.05.001

    View details for Web of Science ID 000329476800004

  • Defining guidelines for the application of the marginal life saving costs principle for risk regulation Fischer, K., Virguez-Rodriguez, E., Sanchez-Silva, M., Faber, M. H. edited by Faber, M. H., Kohler, J., Nishijima, K. CRC PRESS-TAYLOR & FRANCIS GROUP. 2011: 444-451

    View details for Web of Science ID 000392245600053

  • Supporting decisions on global health and life safety investments Faber, M. H., Virguez-Rodriguez, E. edited by Faber, M. H., Kohler, J., Nishijima, K. CRC PRESS-TAYLOR & FRANCIS GROUP. 2011: 434-443

    View details for Web of Science ID 000392245600052

https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0732-9832