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
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!