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Kelly W

- Research Program Mentor

PhD candidate at Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Expertise

renewable energy, energy transition, clean tech, chemical engineering, chemistry, economics, coding/code-based research, machine learning, consulting and project management, sustainability

Bio

I am a 2022 MIT ChemE, 2023 Schwarzman Scholar, and an incoming MIT PhD in Social and Engineering Systems focused on all things climate mitigation and adaptation. Currently, I'm an associate at RMI, a climate thinktank. I have done internships, worked, and conducted research on energy systems transition (making our electricity grid lower-carbon) and industrial decarbonization (making things we need more sustainably). I'm interested in using concepts from engineering, policy, and operations research to help us prepare for a different and climate-changed low-carbon society. Outside of my professional interests, I enjoy relaxing and hanging out with friends on hikes, ski trips, and camping adventures. I also play ultimate frisbee, love reading, and have traveled to 17 countries. Fun fact - I helped write MIT's current 10-year climate action plan!

Project ideas

Project ideas are meant to help inspire student thinking about their own project. Students are in the driver seat of their research and are free to use any or none of the ideas shared by their mentors.

Lifecycle analysis of plastic products

Are you interested in understanding (and calculating) where the emissions of an everyday product such as a plastic item come from? Do you want to start thinking creatively about solutions to reduce these emissions? I have expertise in carbon accounting methods and industrial manufacturing processes, and can guide you through a project on gathering emissions data using tools developed by National Labs or other clean energy groups (including understanding how they work for future use or developing your own version!). Outcomes could include a policy paper or a scientific review paper on lifecycle emissions of these products. We could take it local, and start examining local supply chains and gathering local data as well!

Coding skills

Python, MATLAB, java, machine learning

Languages I know

Chinese, intermediate-high; Spanish, intermediate-high

Teaching experience

I have mentored summer interns on analytical and policy-related projects at my climate nonprofit with positive feedback, and have taught high school students STEM (biology lab and chemistry) in Germany, which included university teaching school training.

Credentials

Work experience

MIT - Trancik Lab (2022 - Current)
Researcher
ExxonMobil (2020 - 2020)
Intern, Chemicals North America
Macquarie Capital (2021 - 2021)
Investment Banking Summer Analyst
RMI (2023 - Current)
Associate

Education

Massachusetts Institute of Technology
BSE Bachelor of Science in Engineering (2022)
Chemical Engineering
Tsinghua University
MIM Master in Management candidate
Global Affairs
Massachusetts Institute of Technology
PhD Doctor of Philosophy candidate
Social and Engineering Systems

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