The Center on Global Energy Policy (CGEP) at Columbia University SIPA is excited to announce that Dr. Lucija Muehlenbachs and Dr. Destenie Nock will join CGEP’s Visiting Faculty program for the 2023 fall semester. The Visiting Faculty program supports interdisciplinary research and understanding about key global energy and climate issues by inviting academic scholars from external institutions to become part of the Columbia community.
Dr. Muehlenbachs is an Associate Professor of Economics at the University of Calgary. She has published extensively on the oil and gas industry, on topics such as the likelihood of inactive oil wells being reactivated, methane leaks from the distribution system, and the water quality impacts on rivers and streams. She is also a University Fellow at Resources for the Future.
“CGEP serves as a premier hub for energy and climate researchers,” said Dr. Muehlenbachs. “Personally, I am thankful for the opportunity to be amidst the vibrant community of students, scholars, and the voices behind my favorite podcasts, such as ‘Columbia Energy Exchange’ and ‘The Big Switch.’ Additionally, it is an honor to be in the presence of Geoffrey Heal, a luminary in my field of resource economics.”
Dr. Nock is currently Assistant Professor in Civil & Environmental Engineering (CEE) and Engineering and Public Policy (EPP) at Carnegie Mellon University’s College of Engineering, where her research lies at the intersection of energy policy, sustainable development, and equity. At Carnegie, she creates mathematical models to help understand energy and sustainability transitions. She is also the CEO of People’s Energy Analytics, an energy justice-based start-up company.
“The United States is in a unique position to address climate change and energy equity as it relates to power system expansion,” said Dr. Nock. “I’m looking forward to working with members of the Columbia community to dive into practical policy solutions for addressing energy insecurity across the country.”
CGEP awards Visiting Faculty positions to scholars and experts who focus on one of several core research areas at CGEP, including renewable energy, oil and natural gas, geopolitics, energy markets and finance, climate change and the environment, as well as technology and innovation.
“We’re excited to welcome Dr. Muehlenbachs and Dr. Nock on campus this term,” said Dr. Melissa Lott, Senior Director of Research at CGEP. “Our Visiting Faculty program fosters global collaboration and innovation in climate and energy research. By bringing leading experts to Columbia, we’re making sure that our students have access to diverse perspectives and cutting-edge ideas from global academic institutions while fostering dialogue and collaboration across the research community. These are essential for crafting innovative and inclusive policy frameworks that can support efforts to tackle the climate crisis.”
The Visiting Faculty program aims to foster interdisciplinary research and understanding about key global energy and climate issues. Faculty are invited to participate in the program by the Academic Steering Committee, chaired by Dr. Geoffrey M. Heal, Donald C. Waite III Professor of Social Enterprise at Columbia Business School, and Jason Bordoff, Founding Director of CGEP.
The program also allows scholars to identify new opportunities for high-impact research and raise the visibility of data-driven, actionable policy solutions. Through the program, participants host public events, faculty lectures and student seminars, and contribute to ongoing research initiatives at CGEP.
On October 26, CGEP will host Dr. Muehlenbachs for a student roundtable and fireside chat with Dr. Geoffrey M. Heal followed by a reception. On November 15, CGEP will host Dr. Nock for a student roundtable and fireside chat with Dr. Geoffrey M. Heal. You will be able to register for these upcoming events here.
