Government & Science Policy Elizabeth Burrows, PhD Breakout Session 2 Technology Manager 2020 Careers in Science & Engineering Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) Symposium Program US Department of Energy University of Kentucky (virtual) August 29, 2020 1 | Bioenergy Technologies Office eere.energy.gov
My winding career path (and how transitions were made) Bioenergy Technologies Office at DOE Mount Holyoke College Contractor on communications team BAs in Math and Environmental Studies Contractor on tech team(s) Research in Ecosystem Science Technology Manager Marine Biological Laboratory National Science Foundation Research in Forest Ecosystem Science AAAS Science Policy fellow Oregon State University PhD in Biological & Ecological Eng. Joule Unlimited Minor is Ecosystem Informatics Industry position at biofuels start-up Princeton/Rutgers Postdoc in Chemistry 2 | Bioenergy Technologies Office
My winding career path (and how transitions were made) Bioenergy Technologies Office at DOE Mount Holyoke College Contractor on communications team BAs in Math and Environmental Studies Contractor on tech team(s) Research in Ecosystem Science Technology Manager Applied to a summer Marine Biological Laboratory internship, was National Science Foundation Research in Forest Ecosystem Science AAAS Science Policy fellow offered a full-time position Oregon State University PhD in Biological & Ecological Eng. Joule Unlimited Minor is Ecosystem Informatics Industry position at biofuels start-up Princeton/Rutgers Postdoc in Chemistry 3 | Bioenergy Technologies Office
My winding career path (and how transitions were made) Bioenergy Technologies Office at DOE Mount Holyoke College Contractor on communications team BAs in Math and Environmental Studies Contractor on tech team(s) Research in Ecosystem Science Technology Manager Random lucky Marine Biological Laboratory connection: went to a National Science Foundation Research in Forest Ecosystem Science AAAS Science Policy fellow lunch lecture and met an OSU professor Oregon State University PhD in Biological & Ecological Eng. Joule Unlimited Minor is Ecosystem Informatics Industry position at biofuels start-up Princeton/Rutgers Postdoc in Chemistry 4 | Bioenergy Technologies Office
My winding career path (and how transitions were made) Bioenergy Technologies Office at DOE Mount Holyoke College Contractor on communications team BAs in Math and Environmental Studies Contractor on tech team(s) Research in Ecosystem Science Technology Manager Random lucky connection: went to a Marine Biological Laboratoy Networking National Science Foundation Research in Forest Ecosystem Science lunch lecture and met AAAS Science Policy fellow an OSU professor Oregon State University PhD in Biological & Ecological Eng. Joule Unlimited Minor is Ecosystem Informatics Industry position at biofuels start-up Princeton/Rutgers Postdoc in Chemistry 5 | Bioenergy Technologies Office
My winding career path (and how transitions were made) Bioenergy Technologies Office at DOE Mount Holyoke College Contractor on communications team BAs in Math and Environmental Studies Contractor on tech team(s) Research in Ecosystem Science Technology Manager Followed spouse to DC, applied for every Marine Biological Laboratoy National Science Foundation Research in Forest Ecosystem Science possible position AAAS Science Policy fellow Oregon State University PhD in Biological & Ecological Eng. Joule Unlimited Minor is Ecosystem Informatics Industry position at biofuels start-up Princeton/Rutgers Postdoc in Chemistry 6 | Bioenergy Technologies Office
My winding career path (and how transitions were made) Bioenergy Technologies Office at DOE Mount Holyoke College Contractor on communications team BAs in Math and Environmental Studies Contractor on tech team(s) Research in Ecosystem Science Technology Manager Fellowship was ending. Search “bioenergy” on LinkedIn. Marine Biological Laboratoy There were two hits. National Science Foundation Research in Forest Ecosystem Science 1 st required PhD plus 10 yrs. AAAS Science Policy fellow 2 nd required BA plus 2 yrs. Applied to both. Oregon State University PhD in Biological & Ecological Eng. Joule Unlimited Was offered the 2 nd . Minor is Ecosystem Informatics Industry position at biofuels start-up It led to other positions in the office. Princeton/Rutgers Postdoc in Chemistry 7 | Bioenergy Technologies Office
Bioenergy Technologies Office’s Mission and Vision A thriving and sustainable bioeconomy Vision fueled by innovative technologies Developing transformative and Mission revolutionary sustainable bioenergy and coproducts technologies for a prosperous nation Strategic Develop industrially relevant Goals technologies to enable domestically produced biofuels, biopower, and coproducts BETO Reduces Technology Uncertainties and Enables Affordability Through R&D 8 | Bioenergy Technologies Office
Bioenergy Technologies Office’s Program Areas Conversion & Refining Distribution & End Use Production & Harvesting Feedstock Supply Conversion Advanced Development Develops technologies to convert Develops technologies to cost- and Optimization non-food feedstocks into biofuels, effectively transform renewable Aims to reduce technology bioproducts, and biopower. carbon sources into high-quality, uncertainty in bioenergy by integrating individual sustainable, and energy-dense Conducts feedstock blend testing, technologies into a feedstocks. separations, materials compatibility system/process and provides evaluations, and techno-economic Advanced Algal Systems vital knowledge fed back to analyses to focus research on highest Focuses on improving the research programs. impacts. productivity of algal biomass and enhancing the efficiency of cultivation and harvesting. Crosscutting Sustainability and Strategic Analysis Supports program decision-making and develops science-based strategies to understand and enhance the economic and environmental benefits of advanced bioenergy. 9 | Bioenergy Technologies Office
Bioenergy Technologies Office STEM resources 10 | Bioenergy Technologies Office
Bioenergy Career Map 11 | Bioenergy Technologies Office
Bioenergy Career Map 12 | Bioenergy Technologies Office
What I would have liked to know when I was a student • Any/all opportunities are valuable – Career is less about “choosing” the best fit, and more about taking the opportunities that arise • If you’re debating between some tough choices (e.g., which classes to take, summer internship vs. working, jobs to apply for, etc.), you can’t go wrong! • Employers often have leeway in hiring, so when in doubt, just apply • Positive attitude and hard work really do pay off • Scientists, engineers, quantitative thinkers are needed everywhere, especially in government and policy 13 | Bioenergy Technologies Office
Thank you! Questions? I look forward to answering any questions you have! 14 | Bioenergy Technologies Office
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