The RECS 2024 cohort is an interdisciplinary group of early career professionals and graduate students who are well positioned to make a meaningful impact on the CCUS industry.
Quinn Antus joined the Colorado Energy Office last summer to lead the state’s new carbon management program. Previously, she was Co-founder and Executive Director of Signal Tech Coalition, where she formed a network of private-sector leaders representing $140B. Her work centered on economic advocacy for climate action, as well as facilitating public-private partnerships and investments to support nascent climate tech markets. Prior to Signal, she served as the Head of Operations for a tech company that reached a million-dollar run rate within a year of launch. She also managed a global network of innovators, entrepreneurs, and mentors working at the intersection of tech and social impact during her time at the accelerator Uncharted. She was a Global Shaper with the World Economic Forum and has been a speaker for TEDxVail, Denver Startup Week, Switch, Women in Climate Tech, and more.
Hassnain Asgar is an environmental and materials engineer with a passion for industrial decarbonization. He earned his Ph.D. in Environmental Engineering from Cornell University, where he engaged in diverse interdisciplinary projects ranging from investigating fluid-solid interactions for low carbon energy to exploring carbon capture and mineralization techniques. In his current role as a co-founder of a start-up, Carbon To Stone, geared towards providing carbon management solution to heavy industries such as iron and steel, cement manufacturing, and mining), he is focused on scale-up and commercialization efforts of energy efficient solutions for carbon capture and mineralization.
Omar Bakelli is a Ph.D. student at the University of Utah and a Graduate Research Assistant at the Energy & Geoscience Institute, under the guidance of Professor Brian McPherson and Dr. Ting Xiao. He conducts research sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy, specializes in Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS), with a focus on improving numerical simulations of multiphase flow in porous media. This critical work enhances understanding of fluid-rock interactions, crucial for the secure long-term storage of CO2 underground. With prior experience in the O&G industry as a field engineer with Halliburton company, Omar brings practical expertise to his academic endeavors. He holds dual master’s degrees in petroleum engineering and hydrogeology from the University of North Dakota and Kasdi Merbah Ouargla University in Algeria, highlighting his multidisciplinary approach to addressing environmental challenges.
Kevin Biehl is a Consultant at CREO, a thinktank committed to catalyzing decarbonization investment from family offices and foundations. He is tasked with helping to build the organization’s knowledgebase in nascent climate tech project development. As Lead Fellow with the Circular Carbon Network, Kevin managed the largest public database of carbon removal and utilization market actors, co-authoring the 2021 and 2022 Circular Carbon Market Report. He also helped launch Terraset, the first organization to pool philanthropic capital exclusively for carbon removal, later establishing its advisory council. Alongside his work with nonprofits, Kevin was a Commercial Associate with Global Thermostat, working to develop the partnerships and strategy for the company’s first commercial scale DAC deployment. Kevin holds a master’s degree in energy and environment and an MBA from Duke University, as well as a BS in meteorology from the University of Oklahoma.
Dr. Amanda Borth is an Associate Research Professional at Arizona State University’s Consortium for Science, Policy & Outcomes (CSPO), based in Washington, D.C. At CSPO, she focuses on participatory technology assessment of climate intervention technologies. Amanda is also a Research Fellow at American University’s Institute for Responsible Carbon Removal (IRCR). In 2023, Amanda earned her PhD in Communication from George Mason University (GMU), where she specialized in science and climate change communication. Her previous experiences include working as a Graduate Research Assistant for GMU’s Center for Climate Change Communication, Project Coordinator for IRCR, museum educator at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum, and intern for the US House Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Amanda holds a BA in International Studies from American University, Washington D.C.
Sarah Buckhold is a Research Scientist at the University of Wyoming School of Energy Resources. Soon to be defending her dissertation, her master’s and PhD research focused on wind patterns in complex terrain and atmospheric modeling for wind energy resource analysis, respectively. Her role at the School of Energy Resources studies a broad range of topics related to Wyoming’s energy economy including hydrogen, renewable energy, carbon management, and hybrid energy solutions. She earned her bachelor’s degree from California State University, Chico, and both of her post-graduate degrees will be from the University of Wyoming in mechanical engineering.
Edgar Carrejo is currently a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Forest Biomaterials at North Carolina State University where he conducts carbon capture research in the pulp and paper industry under the guidance of Professor Sunkyu Park. His work focuses on leading both experimental and techno-economic analyses of a DOE-funded project aimed at evaluating the integration of carbon capture technologies in the paper industry. Before joining the Ph.D. program in 2022, Edgar gained over a decade of hands-on engineering experience in the Colombian paper industry. He holds a Master’s Degree in Industrial Engineering from ICESI University (Colombia, 2017) and a Bachelor’s Degree in Chemical Engineering from Valle University (Colombia, 2012). Edgar is passionate about developing carbon sequestration technologies at an industrial scale as a way to mitigate growing greenhouse gas emissions.
TJ Considine works as a Carbon Removal Buyer at Microsoft. In this role, he evaluates carbon removal projects across several high durability pathways, including Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Direct Air Capture, and negotiates multi-year offtake agreements for those with high potential. He holds an MBA from UC Berkeley, and B.S. in Chemical Engineering from Northwestern University.
Ben Davis works on carbon management policy at the BlueGreen Alliance (BGA), a coalition of labor unions and environmental groups working to solve today’s environmental challenges in ways that create and maintain quality jobs and build a stronger, fairer economy. Ben identifies advocacy priorities for BGA and ensures that worker voices help shape federal carbon management programs. Ben also represents the United Steelworkers, advocating for pro-worker carbon management. Prior to joining the BlueGreen Alliance, Ben worked on Oceana’s climate and energy team, where he coordinated advocacy efforts and partnered with small businesses, local stakeholders, and other allies in support of ocean protections. Ben studied political science and justice at American University. Amid his years in school, Ben organized students pushing for climate action and helped a team of young organizers found Blue Future, a youth-led organization focused on training young organizers.
Dr. Sarah N. Dendy is a geologist specializing in subsurface characterization and carbon sequestration opportunities. With a bachelor’s degree in Earth Science from UC Berkeley and a Ph.D. in Geology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Sarah’s academic journey has been marked by a commitment to understanding Earths paleoclimate systems and potential pathways for mitigating climate change. As a SLOAN Scholar alum, she has demonstrated exceptional dedication to mentorship in her field. Currently, Sarah works in the Subsurface Energy Resources section of the Illinois State Geological Survey, where she is involved in several DOE grants focusing on carbon sequestration in the Illinois Basin. Sarah is passionate about science communication and ensuring public access to energy resource data.
Donovan Dye is a master’s student at the University of Kentucky studying Chemical Engineering. His research is supported by the Tennessee Valley Authority’s Innovation & Research Fellowship which seeks to advance TVA’s decarbonization goals and understanding of how post-combustion carbon capture will impact a natural gas combined cycle power plant’s ability to meet variable electricity load. He also earned his B.S. in Chemical Engineering with an Environmental Engineering certificate at the University of Kentucky and worked as an undergraduate researcher with their Center for Applied Energy Research Carbon Materials Group converting coal tar pitch into carbon fiber materials. His love for learning has led him from a technical career in the automotive industry, through military service as an aircraft mechanic, to the pursuit of an advanced degree in engineering with goals of addressing climate change and achieving a sustainable future.
Anna Eckhoff is the Policy and Development Manager at Mantel Capture, a startup commercializing the first high temperature, liquid phase carbon capture material. At Mantel, Anna manages the company’s grants program and commercial development efforts. Prior to joining Mantel, Anna worked at Bain & Company and The Nature Conservancy. Anna holds an MPA from the Harvard Kennedy School, an MBA from MIT Sloan and a BA from the University of Chicago
Carlos Fernandez is the Senior Process Design Engineer at ION Clean Energy. He designs point source carbon capture systems for industry ranging from NGCC to Pulp Plants. His work at ION focuses on decarbonizing large scale commercial flue gases using the minimum energy input and capitalizing on making the point source capture systems economically feasible for the end user. Carlos has a B.S. in Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering from the University of Delaware. He also has 8+ years of experience working in the oil and energy sectors.
Catherine Fraser is the Senior Climate and Energy Program Associate at Data for Progress (DFP). She leads DFP’s work to advance a progressive approach to climate, carbon removal, and energy policy. Catherine holds a master’s degree in public policy from Georgetown University and a bachelor’s degree in environmental policy from Colby College. Catherine previously lived in Texas, working at the intersection of petrochemical pollution, climate change, and environmental justice.
Angela Gallimore is the Director of Concept Development at Carbon America, where she has led Carbon Capture and Sequestration (CCS) projects for over four years. She focuses on commercialization, risk assessment, and securing federal and state funding, including the successful CarbonSAFE Phase III project in southern Colorado. She has also held the role of Senior Project Execution Manager at Carbon America, allowing her to gain expertise in the construction and execution of early-stage CCS projects. Angela is dedicated to making a tangible impact in the fight against climate change by developing and guiding practical, effective CCS projects. Previously, Angela was a Navy Civilian Program Manager for seven years, improving Chemical, Biological, and Radiological Defense capabilities of Navy and Coast Guard surface ships.
Davis Harper is the Carbon & Energy Program Manager at Restore the Delta, a public education, research and policy nonprofit based in Stockton, CA dedicated to ensuring the health of the San Francisco-Bay Delta Estuary. His work is focused on supporting disinvested communities to engage from a place of power with carbon management projects in the San Joaquin Delta region. As a lifelong resident of an agricultural community, a former investigative environmental journalist, a successful clean energy policy advocate, and a community organizer with experience building inclusive governance structures in California’s North San Joaquin Valley, he brings a myriad of valuable perspectives to the fast-moving space of carbon management. Davis holds a B.A. in Environmental Studies from the University of California, Santa Cruz.
Laura Hatalsky is the Deputy Policy Director at the Carbon Removal Alliance, an organization with 25+ member companies working to build the permanent carbon removal industry, including the companies developing and buying carbon removal. In her role, Laura develops the policy priorities and represents the organization’s interests before key players in Washington, DC. She joins the organization after nearly 2 decades living and working in Washington, DC at the intersection of policy, advocacy, and politics, including roles with Senator Catherine Cortez Masto, the Senate Democratic Policy Communications Center under Senators Harry Reid, Chuck Schumer, and Ron Wyden. Laura has advised candidates around the country as the policy director of the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee (DSCC), and worked at the multimillion-dollar campaign incubator, The Hub Project. Laura earned her Master’s Degree from Georgetown University McCourt School of Public Policy and Bachelors from Bucknell University.
Dr. Danielle Henckel joined the National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, CO in 2021 where she is currently a researcher. Previously she obtained her B.S. in Chemistry at Indiana University in 2012 and her Ph.D. in Chemistry at the University of Washington in 2018, followed by a post-doctoral research position at University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign. During her previous research she has gained expertise in the synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of electrocatalytic materials. Broadly, her current research involves exploring different electrochemical conversions that could contribute to clean energy technologies including water electrolysis, conversion of CO2 to value-added products as well as CO2 capture and release. She hopes to continue to explore ways to decarbonize industries with new technologies.
Danish Kumar is a graduate student in Civil Engineering at the University of Wyoming, where his research focuses on the techno-economic analysis of hydrogen production pathways integrated with carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS). As a graduate research assistant, he has gained hands-on experience with Wyoming’s CarbonSAFE Phase III commercial CO2 storage project, working on aspects like site characterization, risk assessment, and regulatory requirements. With expertise spanning energy systems, sustainability, GIS, and climate adaptation planning, Danish aims to leverage the RECS program to deepen his CCUS knowledge, engage with stakeholders, and advance his goal of becoming a leader in responsibly deploying CCUS technologies to mitigate climate change.
Shubham Kumar is a Ph.D. student in Earth Sciences at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay, Mumbai, and in Civil Engineering at Monash University, Melbourne, as part of the joint Ph.D. program at the IITB-Monash Research Academy, IIT Bombay, Mumbai. He is the recipient of the Prime Minister Research Fellowship (2022) and is working under the supervision of Prof. Vikram Vishal and Prof. Ranjith P.G. Prior for his doctoral program, he obtained a bachelor’s degree (BTech) in Chemical Engineering. Shubham’s research focuses on evaluating hydrocarbon reservoir stability, optimizing gas production, and assessing the potential for CO2 sequestration within the matrices of shale and coal. He has worked on a Department of Atomic Energy-sponsored research project titled ‘Porosity Controls on Gas Storage in Unconventional Hydrocarbon Reservoirs through Neutron Scattering’ in the Department of Earth Sciences at IIT Bombay. He is a member of the student-led team that won the coveted ‘XPRIZE for Demonstration of Carbon Dioxide Removal,’ supported by the Elon Musk Foundation, which was the sole Indian entry to win the competition as announced at the Sustainable Development Forum of COP-26 in Glasgow, UK.
Maria Maigaard Paulsen is a PhD student in the Department of Energy at Aalborg University in Denmark. Her research focuses on direct air capture and its integration with power-to-X technologies, emphasizing process integration through experimental work, thermo-chemical modeling, and techno-economic evaluation. She recently spent time at the Center for Green Chemistry and Engineering at Yale University as a visiting assistant in research, exploring CO2 utilization through electrocatalysis. Maria holds a Master’s degree in Energy Engineering with a specialization in thermal energy and process engineering from Aalborg University, completed in 2022. Her research aims to advance sustainable carbon utilization technologies by addressing the challenges and opportunities in direct air capture and utilization, and by developing innovative solutions to enhance their efficiency and environmental performance.
Emmy Moore is a Ph.D. student in the department of Engineering and Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University, where she is advised by Professors M. Granger Morgan and Valerie Karplus. Her research focuses on the regulatory and operational aspects of carbon sequestration, particularly through the development and permitting of Underground Injection Control Class VI wells. She is currently investigating regional variations in CO2 sequestration project outcomes in the U.S. Prior to starting her Ph.D., Emmy earned a B.S. in Chemical Engineering from the University of Iowa and worked as an Environmental Control and Life Support Systems Engineer in the space industry, where she led the design of the Carbon Dioxide Control Assembly for NASA’s Lunar Gateway Program.
John Morgan is the Environmental Engineer at Apache Generating Station under the Arizona Electric Power Cooperative. He earned his Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Chemical Engineering from Arizona State University. As an Engineer, his job function is to ensure compliance of essential air and water permits. John researches solutions to reduce the greenhouse gasses emitted from the plant’s coal and natural gas generation units. His research focuses on renewable generating sources and a variety of carbon capture methods. During his education, he worked on several carbon capture and carbon conversion projects. His thesis involved developing a novel process for fabricating reactor membranes. The reactor membrane served a dual purpose, one as a water gas shift reactor, and the other as a carbon dioxide permeable membrane. For his engineering project, he developed a method for converting carbon dioxide effluent into methanol using green hydrogen. During the course of these projects and his career he has gained a passion for developing reliable and clean energy for all communities.
Calli Obern is Science, Technology and Policy Fellow in the Office of Carbon Management at the U.S. Department of Energy. In this role, she advances international engagement with a portfolio of countries, including China, India, Kenya, and multilateral organizations to enhance U.S. competitiveness on carbon management. Her career began at the Aspen Institute, where she managed dialogues on energy and climate policy between the United States, China, and India. She also served as director of policy and stakeholder engagement at a carbon removal startup. Calli is a NextGen Foreign Policy member and a Women Leaders in Energy and Climate Fellow at the Atlantic Council. Calli received her MA in international policy from Stanford University, specializing in climate and energy, and her BA in diplomacy and world affairs and Chinese from Occidental College
Habib Ouadi is an Oilfield Operations Specialist at the Energy & Environmental Research Center (EERC) in Grand Forks, ND, where his work focuses on oil and gas field activities such as well drilling, logging, coring, and production; enhanced oil recovery (EOR); carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS); saltwater disposal (SWD); geothermal extraction; and facilities and well completion for both conventional and unconventional fields. Mr. Ouadi is a Ph.D. candidate in Energy and Petroleum Engineering at the University of North Dakota. He holds an M.Eng. degree in Petroleum Engineering from the University of North Dakota and an M.S. and a B.S. degree in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Boumerdes, Faculty of Hydrocarbons, Algeria.
Rishabh Pandey is a Project Engineer with Projeo Corporation, an engineering, consulting, and integrated project management company focused on low-carbon energy projects. He has over 3 years of industrial and academic experience in carbon capture and enhanced oil recovery. In his role at Projeo, Rishabh actively supports Illinois Industrial Carbon Capture and Sequestration (IL-ICCS) Class VI CO2 injection operations. His responsibilities include microseismic and distributed fiber monitoring, geochemical sampling, external mechanical integrity testing, and continuous monitoring of downhole and surface data. His expertise includes Class VI permit application, well designing, well site supervision, preparing procedure and budget for drilling, testing, and completion of CO2 injection and monitoring wells. Rishabh holds a Master’s degree in Petroleum Engineering from the University of Oklahoma and a Bachelor’s degree from the University of Petroleum and Energy Studies, India.
Dr. Teresa M. Pique is a Senior Researcher at Y-TEC (Argentina), where she leads the CCUS R&D team. She obtained her Ph.D. at the Engineering Faculty of Universidad de Buenos Aires in 2014. Teresa worked as a postdoctoral fellow at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) before joining the Argentinian National Research and Technology Council (CONICET) as a researcher. She’s been studying, researching, and teaching about innovative materials and training undergraduate and postgraduate students in engineering. In recent years at Y-TEC, Teresa has moved from working on artificial/synthetic materials to natural rocks for applications for CO2 capture and geological storage.
Lauren Rogers is a Plant Process and Performance Engineer at GE Vernova. In this role, she has supported carbon capture and sequestration (CCS) integration with combined-cycle power plants for both conceptual design programs and active FEED studies. In addition to post-combustion carbon capture, she has contributed to the process and performance optimization of sorbent direct air capture (DAC) systems. Prior to her current role, Lauren rotated through GE Vernova’s Edison Engineering Development Program, where she engaged in cost and performance modelling and customer relations through the Carbon Capture Solutions team. Lauren holds a M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the Georgia Institute of Technology and B.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Florida.
Paula Vanessa Sanchez, an Electrical Engineer I at Worley and earned her Electrical Power Engineering Technology degree from the University of Houston. In this role, she leverages her expertise to develop Engineering Work Packages (EWPs), specifying the electrical materials and components necessary for the project site. She ensures precise material take-off by effectively communicating with designers and engineers, calculating quantities of electrical materials needed for construction, and ensuring alignment with project specifications and deadlines. Currently, she is actively involved in the Direct Air Capture 1 Project in Texas, where Worley was awarded the engineering design for the largest Direct Air Capture facility globally, located in the U.S. Permian Basin. Scheduled to be operational by 2025, the Stratos facility aims to capture up to 500,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide annually, assisting companies in achieving their climate change goals and moving towards Net Zero emissions by 2050.
Spencer Schecht is a Senior BD Lead – Americas at the Global CCS Institute. Spencer is a climate change expert skilled across the energy value chain with competencies in member success, business development, virtual and in-person facilitation, account management, and project delivery. In his current role, Spencer is responsible for client engagement across North America, including delivering maximum value to current members, new member recruitment, commercial opportunity prospecting, and advocacy optimization. Prior to joining the Institute, Spencer has built robust experience working in non-governmental and non-profit organizations delivering mission-oriented results. Spencer holds an MA in International Relations with a focus on Global Environmental Policy from American University, an MA in Natural Resources and Sustainable Development from The United Nations Mandated University for Peace, and a BS in Biological Sciences from the University of Maryland, College Park.
Dr. Hannah Schlaerth is a life cycle emissions analyst at the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations. At DOE, she provides technical input and emissions assessments for a wide breadth of critical decarbonization technologies including point-source carbon capture, direct air capture, and hydrogen production. Prior to joining DOE, she received her Ph.D. in environmental engineering from the University of Southern California while researching the air pollution impacts of climate change mitigation and adaptation strategies. Hannah is driven by her passion for the environmental and human health co-benefits of a decarbonized energy system.
Maria Spadaro is an Emerging Technologies Project Manager with Montrose Environmental. Maria has an MSc. degree in GeoEnergy from the University of Edinburgh, where her coursework and research focused on reservoir analysis and modelling for carbon sequestration and hydrogen storage and leakage dynamics, and she holds a B.S. in Geology from the University of Pittsburgh. Maria’s career has focused on the transition from the high carbon output past to a low carbon future. She began her career in the oil & gas industry with boots on the ground rig experience performing the downhole geophysical and directional drilling analyses. She was one of the project managers on the Hurricane Sandy rebuild and reconstruction effort: Build it Back NYC, which ultimately inspired her to pursue graduate education to further her geoscience expertise. Since her Msc., she has worked across the energy industry as a management consultant advising clients on green technology investment strategies, as a low carbon coordinator with the Oil & Gas Climate Initiative liaising with senior stakeholders across oil and gas, and as a technical advisor to a geothermal startup developing novel drilling equipment. Additionally, she is the founder of the Snow Sports Climate Initiative, a startup that aims to mobilize the snow sports and outdoors communities for decarbonization investments.
Elizabeth Torres is a CCUS Project Manager at Cemex USA, a premier global building materials company. In alignment with Cemex’s decarbonization strategy, Elizabeth spearheads pivotal Carbon Capture Utilization and Storage (CCUS) initiatives aimed at mitigating unavoidable and challenging-to-abate CO2 process emissions within Cemex’s U.S. operations. She is responsible for the entire CCUS project lifecycle, encompassing meticulous planning and execution across capture, utilization, transport, sequestration, policy advocacy, and community engagement endeavors. Before joining Cemex, Elizabeth managed projects in the oil and gas sector, specializing in special core analysis with a focus on reservoir characterization for Class VI permits. She holds a B.S. in Geophysics with a minor in geology from the University of Houston.
Casey Yamamoto-Hillman is an assistant project manager in Battelle’s Commercial Carbon Services Division. Her work includes CCS site feasibility studies, Class IV permit application development, project technoeconomic analysis, and market trend studies. Prior to joining Battelle, she was an Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) Research Fellow at US EPA Region 9 in the Underground Injection Control (UIC) Program, where she researched environmental justice considerations in Class VI permitting for projects in California and assisted with permit technical review. Before this, she conducted CCS numerical modeling research on the Groningen gas field for the Caltech Center for Geomechanics and Mitigation of Geohazards. Casey has a B.S. in Engineering Geology from UCLA and a M.S. in Geology from California Institute of Technology.