Research

Current research areas, organized end to end and back along the energy and critical-mineral value chain.

Energy system evolution

Modeling how power systems change over decades: ERCOT analysis, ReEDS and GCAM scenario work, Texas power system evolution, and surrogate optimization for linking models across scales (Morris screening, design-of-computer-experiments).

Critical mineral supply chains

Optimization and game-theoretic approaches: lithium supply chain optimization, reverse logistics, two-player supply chain models, and the effects of trade and climate policy on emerging technologies. Includes policy work — a critical minerals policy brief series.

Battery circularity

The “and back” of end to end: black mass production, processing, and uses; chemical extraction; 3D printing with recovered graphite; EV battery reuse case studies; and the 3R-BET (reuse, repurpose, recycle) battery evaluation tool.

Energy generation, buildings, and use

Rural and farm solar degradation, grid-interactive efficient buildings, green building surrogate optimization, HVAC monitoring, geothermal development on legacy fossil infrastructure — including tribal lands and HUBZones — and CO₂ storage infrastructure design.

Data centers and load growth

The collision of AI compute demand with the grid: data center electricity analysis from megawatts to zettaflops, flexible load, and what surging demand means for ratepayers and system planning.

Defense and resilient energy systems

Systems engineering for defense energy systems: mobile microgrids, land-based transportable nuclear energy systems analysis, and multi-source power system design.

RFID, health, and logistics

See the RAID Lab: pharmaceutical supply chains, smart pills, retained surgical instrument prevention, RTLS, and ISS materials tracking.

Community infrastructure analytics

GIS asset mapping, land value analysis, city assets (parks, libraries, performance arts), sidewalk repair queues, air and water sensor development, and state and local budget analytics.