Senior energy innovation leader with 10+ years of experience driving large-scale technology commercialization and innovation initiatives across public and private sectors. Proven success designing and managing multimillion-dollar programs that accelerate deployment, build markets, and forge high-impact partnerships. Adept at navigating technical and policy complexity to deliver actionable strategies and measurable results.
Professional Experience
Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations
Senior Manager (8/2024 – 9/2025)
Program Development Expert (6/2022 – 7/2024)
- Led the strategic design, execution, and oversight of a $350M portfolio of commercialization programs for energy technologies including renewable generation, storage, hydrogen, nuclear, carbon management.
- Selected $60M prize winners enabling 5 manufacturing facilities, $140M+ in economic activity, 300+ jobs, and domestic production of electrolyzers, fuel cells, transformers, batteries.
- Created rapid-deployed voucher programs to address commercialization and adoption barriers faced by technology developers resulting in awarding 300+ commercialization service agreements 5x faster than traditional funding mechanisms.
- Designed and implemented industry-National Laboratory collaborative efforts resulting in active engagement with over 200 stakeholders across clean energy value chains (technology developers and providers, financiers, off-takers, users…).
Policy and Procedure Manager (11/2023 – 3/2025)
- Developed in coordination with Department’s senior leadership 300+ policies and operational documents governing critical business processes including operations of cross-functional teams, projects due diligence, award issuance, oversight approach, and go/no-go decision framework for a $85 billion portfolio of domestic clean energy demonstration projects.
- Supported senior leadership in responding to Office of the Inspector General and Government Accountability Office questions and investigations.
Office of Manufacturing and Supply Chains
Supply Chain Manager (8/2023 – 11/2023)
- Led a multi-agency team to design and execute the due diligence and allocation of the first round of the $10B 48C tax credit program for new domestic clean energy manufacturing plants, development of critical materials extraction and refining facilities, and industrial decarbonization projects.
Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy – Solar Energy Technologies Office
Technology Manager (2/2022 – 6/2022)
Advanced Solar Energy R&D Specialist (11/2019 – 2/2022)
Senior Science and Technology Fellow (5/2016 – 10/2019)
- Executed ~$60M in funding programs supporting development of solar hardware and software products, components manufacturing, and business model innovation to bring non-traditional capitals into the clean tech space.
- Performed technical and financial due diligence; negotiated project milestones; oversaw projects part of a ~250 portfolio of funded companies yielding a 33x investment multiplier.
- Published research demonstrating how a robust investor ecosystem and independent technology validator are needed in the same location to accelerate technology commercialization: DOE Report.
PostDoctoral Scholar (9/2013 – 5/2016)
- Simulated, designed, and tested innovative solutions to increase silicon solar cells efficiency using optical nanostructures (metamaterials) as antireflection coatings.
- Selected for several leadership training programs organized by Stanford’s faculty.
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PostDoctoral Associate (3/2011 – 8/2013)
- Demonstrated deep-UV sub-250nm optical gain in AlGaN solid state laser device.
- Developed multi band (visible and near-infrared) light emitting devices based on rare earth-doped transparent conductive oxides.
- Laboratory Safety Coordinator for the Boston University Research Compliance – Environmental Health & Safety.
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PostDoctoral Fellow (11/2009 – 12/2010)
- PostDoc Fellow at MATIS Labs. working on growth and characterization of Si and Ge nanowires
Advisory & Public Engagement
Licensee, organizer, and curator (10/2014 – present)
- Coordinator of fundraising and sponsorship tasks, editorial decisions, communication plan, social media strategy, logistic organization, and ultimate decision-maker responsible for the planning and execution of 11 TEDx events with a total of 1800+ guests, 90+ speakers, 100+ organizing team members, $100k+ budget.
Chair, Executive Committee (3/2021 – Present)
- Coordinator of the programs, activities, and engagement effort for the 300+ members of the Foundation residing in the DC / Maryland / Northern Virginia geographic area.
Vice President (1/2022 – 12/2024)
President (1/2011 – 12/2014)
- Elected by 150+ members. Interacted with academic and professional stakeholders to develop and execute the Association’s multi year plan.
- Increased fundraising contributions from $500 to $7k in 4 years.
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Stanford Leaders in Communication / StartX (Stanford start-up incubator)
Communication Coach (1/2014 – 4/2016)
- Participated in Stanford Leaders in Communication to develop persuasive speaking, negotiation, and Q&A skills for effectively promoting research and influencing stakeholders.
- Practiced high-stakes communication techniques through weekly sessions and real-world role-playing to enhance leadership presence and message impact.
- Coached/facilitated communication and persuasion workshops at StartX (Stanford startup accelerator), AWIS (Association for Women in Science), Stanford International Center.
Stanford Office of Technology Licensing
Volunteer (Summer 2014)
- Defined market segments, value proposition, possible revenue streams, business plan for a Stanford-owned technology related to residential building efficiency.
Education
PhD in physics, SUMMA cum laude (11/2006 – 2/2010)
- Demonstrated the first room-temperature visible electroluminescent device based on silicon nanowires (dissertation: Growth, properties and processing of group IV semiconductor nanowire.)
- Expert in several materials science techniques.
- Representative of Ph. D. Students in the Physics and Astronomy Department Council of the University of Catania.
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M.SC. in physics, SUMMA cum laude (11/2004 – 10/2006)
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B.SC. in physics, SUMMA cum laude (11/2001 – 9/2004)
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Diploma, summa cum laude (11/2004 – 5/2007)
- Recipient of full scholarship (college tuition, lodging, advanced research experience) awarded to the top 1% of the university students.
- Final dissertation: study of the diffusion mechanisms of dopants in amorphous silicon for microelectronic applications.
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