Energy Experts

From biofuels to batteries, UW–Madison has a wealth of expertise in energy. The researchers working in energy at UW–Madison are generating the knowledge and clean technologies that will accelerate a transition to sustainable, resilient, and affordable energy systems. This resource connects you to UW–Madison faculty conducting research in all areas of energy. If you are a UW–Madison faculty member working in energy and would like to be added to this list, please email communications@energy.wisc.edu

For specific media requests, please contact Mary Blanchard.

Name/Email Title/Department Research Interests

Andrea Strzelec

strzelec@wisc.edu

Energy Expert

Program Director, Masters of Engineering in Engine Systems, Polymer Engineering, and Power Engineering
College of Engineering

  • Heterogeneous reaction kinetics and characterization
  • Automotive emissions aftertreatment
  • Low temperature catalysis
  • Particulate filtration
  • Pyrolysis
  • Remediation of hydrocarbon contamination

Shannon Stahl

stahl@chem.wisc.edu

Investigator

Professor of Chemistry, Steenbock Professor of Chemical Sciences
College of Letters & Sciences

  • Catalysis (homogeneous, heterogeneous, and electrochemical)
  • Fuel cells and flow batteries
  • Hydrocarbon and biomass conversion and upgrading
  • Selective oxidation
  • Electrochemical energy storage and conversion
  • Green chemistry

Vatsan Raman

sraman4@wisc.edu

Affiliate

Professor of Biochemistry, Bacteriology, and Chemical and Biological Engineering
College of Agricultural & Life Sciences

  • Systems and synthetic biology
  • Computational protein design combined with high-throughput phenotyping
  • Allosteric transcription factor design
  • Directed evolution of microbial biosynthetic pathways

Scott Williams

spwilliams@wisc.edu

Investigator

Research and Education Coordinator
Wisconsin Energy Institute

  • Collegiate energy education
  • Energy career opportunities
  • Energy policy and regulation
  • Wind energy training

Sara Patterson

spatters@wisc.edu

Energy Expert

Professor Emerita of Horticulture
College of Agricultural & Life Sciences

  • Developmental and genetic characterization of the abscission process and senescence in plants
  • Role and value of school and community gardens

Shawn Kaeppler

smkaeppl@wisc.edu

Energy Expert

Professor of Plant and Agroecosystem Sciences
College of Agricultural & Life Sciences

  • Seed development and composition
  • genetic and genomic analysis
  • Lignocellulosic biofuel
  • Abiotic stress tolerance
  • Epigenetics

Steve Karlen

skarlen@wisc.edu

Investigator

Scientist
Wisconsin Energy Institute

  • Lignin biosynthesis, structure, chemistry, and reactions
  • Lignocellulosic bioprocessing
  • Development of synthetic methodology
  • Analytical instrumentation, including NMR, MS, HPLC, GC, XRD, and many other types
  • Exotic materials
  • Nano-technology

Stephanie Diem

sjdiem@wisc.edu

Energy Expert

Assistant Professor of Nuclear Engineering & Engineering Physics
College of Engineering

  • fusion energy
  • experimental plasma physics
  • microwave heating of plasmas
  • magnetically confined plasmas
  • electron Bernstein wave heating

Jordan R. Schmidt

schmidt@chem.wisc.edu

Energy Expert

Professor of Chemistry
College of Letters & Sciences

  • Next Generation Ab Initio Force Field Development
  • Microkinetic Modeling
  • Metal Organic Framework Nucleation and Crystallization
  • Nano-porous materials for flue gas separation

Dietram A. Scheufele

scheufele@wisc.edu

Energy Expert

Taylor-Bascom Chair & Director of Undergraduate Studies, Life Sciences Communication
College of Agricultural & Life Sciences

  • Social media
  • Media
  • Public opinion
  • Science communication
  • Science policy

Bulent Sarlioglu

sarlioglu@wisc.edu

Investigator

Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering
College of Engineering

  • Electric machines, drives, motors, and new topologies
  • Electrification of vehicles
  • Power electronics using wide band-gap devices
  • Electric actuation systems
  • Automotive, aerospace, naval and renewable energy applications
  • Complex and interdisciplinary power system architecture

Sarah Johnston

sarah.johnston@wisc.edu

Energy Expert

Assistant Professor of Agriculture and Applied Economics
College of Agricultural & Life Sciences

  • Industrial organization
  • Energy and environmental economics
  • Renewable energy subsidies

Lori Sakk

sakk@wisc.edu

Energy Expert

Director, Wisconsin Public Utility Institute

Chris Rutland

rutland@engr.wisc.edu

Energy Expert

Phil and Jean Myers Professor of Mechanical Engineering, Emeritus
College of Engineering

  • Computational fluid dynamics
  • Turbulence, combustion, and spray modeling for internal combustion (IC) engines
  • Turbulent reacting flows
  • Large eddy simulation
  • IC engine aftertreatment modeling

David Rothamer

rothamer@wisc.edu

Energy Expert

Associate Professor of Mechanical Engineering
College of Engineering

  • Laser based diagnostics
  • Internal combustion engines
  • Soot formation
  • Influence of fuel properties on combustion

Line Roald

roald@wisc.edu

Energy Expert

Assistant Professor of Electrical & Computer Engineering
College of Engineering

  • Modeling, optimization and control of energy systems
  • Integration of renewable energy and resilience to uncertain events
  • Stochastic optimization

Robert J. Hamers

rjhamers@wisc.edu

Energy Expert

Wisconsin Distinguished Professor of Chemistry, Steenbock Professor of Physical Science
College of Letters & Sciences

  • Chemistry, photochemistry, electronic properties, and atomic-level structure of semiconductor surfaces and interfaces
  • Chemical transformations and environmental impact of nanomaterials
  • Development and implementation of novel analytical probes and characterization tools for in situ chemical analysis at surfaces and interfaces
  • Electrochemical energy storage

Richard Lindroth

richard.lindroth@wisc.edu

Energy Expert

Vilas Distinguished Achievement and Douglas D. Sorenson Professor of Entomology
College of Agricultural & Life Sciences

  • Genetic and environmental factors influencing poplar production
  • Plant chemistry
  • Sustainable forestry

Robert Lasseter

rhlasseter@wisc.edu

Energy Expert

Professor Emeritus of Electrical & Computer Engineering
College of Engineering

  • Distributed resources
  • Restructuring of electrical power system
  • Application of power electronics to utility systems
  • Simulation methods
  • Power electronic circuits and control
  • HVDC, SVC, FACTS and custom power applications

Christy Remucal

remucal@wisc.edu

Energy Expert

Associate Professor of Civil & Environmental Engineering
College of Engineering

  • Formation of reactive oxygen species in water
  • Polar organic contaminants in natural and engineered aquatic systems
  • Molecular composition and reactivity of dissolved organic matter

Rolf Reitz

reitz@engr.wisc.edu

Energy Expert

Professor Emeritus of Mechanical Engineering
College of Engineering

  • Combustion, gas dynamics
  • Spray motion and formation
  • Hydrocarbon kinetics
  • Engine fluid dynamics
  • Computer modeling

Rebecca Larson

rebecca.larson@wisc.edu

Energy Expert

Associate Professor of Environmental Studies
Nelson Institute for Environmental Studies

  • Biological waste
  • Manure management
  • Handling and treatment of agricultural and food processing waste
  • Land application of various waste streams
  • Waste-to-energy technologies

Randy Jackson

rdjackson@wisc.edu

Energy Expert

Campbell-Bascom Professor of Grassland Ecology
College of Agricultural & Life Sciences

  • Structure and function of managed, semi-natural, and natural grassland ecosystems
  • Landscape-level nutrient exchange
  • Ecosystem-level carbon and nutrient cycling
  • Plant community responses to disturbances

Rebecca Smith

rasmith29@wisc.edu

Investigator

Scientist
Wisconsin Energy Institute

  • Lignin biosynthesis, structure, chemistry, and reactions
  • Lignocellulosics bioprocessing
  • Development of synthetic methods for biosynthetic products

Philip Romero

promero2@wisc.edu

Affiliate

Assistant Professor of Biochemistry
College of Agricultural & Life Sciences

  • Protein engineering
  • Computational modeling and machine learning
  • Automated and high-throughput technologies

Tricia Kiley

pjkiley@wisc.edu

Affiliate

Professor and Department Chair of Biomolecular Chemistry
School of Medicine & Public Health

  • Biomolecular folding and interactions
  • Gene expression
  • Metals in biology
  • E. coli

Paul Evans

pgevans@wisc.edu

Energy Expert

Professor of Materials Science & Engineering
College of Engineering

  • X-ray diffraction
  • Microscopy
  • Optics
  • X-ray probes for ultrafast dynamics
  • Micro-and-nanoscale properties of magnetic materials
  • Magnetism
  • Domains and switching in ferroelectric materials
  • Surfaces and interfaces of organic and inorganic materials
  • Epitaxial crystallization processes in oxide thin films and nanostructures

John Pfotenhauer

pfot@engr.wisc.edu

Energy Expert

Professor of Mechanical Engineering
College of Engineering

  • Low temperature refrigeration
  • Cryogenics
  • Applied superconductivity

Peter Carstensen

peter.carstensen@wisc.edu

Energy Expert

Professor Emeritus of Law
University of Wisconsin Law School

  • Relation of competition policy and law to regulated industries
  • Relationship between antitrust law and regulation
  • Buyer power issues
  • The operation and regulation of markets for agricultural commodities

Paul P.H. Wilson

paul.wilson@wisc.edu

Energy Expert

Grainger Professor of Nuclear Engineering and Chair of Nuclear Engineering & Engineering Physics
College of Engineering

  • Monte Carlo methods
  • Nuclear fuel cycles
  • Energy policy
  • Proliferation analysis
  • Transmutation/depletion/activation