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The energy transition is in the midst of its own transition. Spiking electricity demand and geopolitical events are driving up energy prices, while debates over the best sources...
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Daniela Bushiri, a chemical engineer pursuing her PhD at Columbia University, is on a mission to drive sustainable solutions in our evolving energy landscape. With a background in STEM research, Bushiri said her participation in the David Leuschen Global Energy Fellows program has been a key part of her development and ambition to become a leader in energy, focused on leveraging her technical skills to address energy access and infrastructure needs.
Her journey in energy started when after receiving her bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the New Jersey Institute of Technology, she worked as an intern at several oil and gas companies. Witnessing the environmental impact of traditional energy sources motivated Bushiri to shift her focus toward clean energy solutions.
Now at Columbia, her research focuses on green hydrogen production, where she develops robust electrocatalysts that can survive harsh environments, such as seawater, as highlighted in her recent publication on selective oxygen evolution — guided by her advisors, Dr. Daniel Esposito and Dr. Jingguang Chen. This is crucial for advancing hydrogen as a reliable clean energy source, making it more accessible and effective in reducing carbon emissions globally. Her goal is to contribute to innovative technologies that can help solve global energy challenges.
The Global Energy Fellows program, Bushiri said, has significantly shaped her understanding of the crucial link between technology and policy. “Without policy, technology doesn’t reach the people who need it,” she said.
The program has offered her opportunities to engage with key thought leaders, including Jason Bordoff, CGEP Founding Director, and Dr. Tony Reames, CGEP Visiting Faculty and Director of the SEAS Detroit Sustainability Clinic at the University of Michigan, in monthly lunch discussions about pressing energy issues. This exposure has given her a well-rounded perspective on topics like equitable energy access and the role of policy in emerging markets, all while strengthening her ability to navigate the complexities of energy and climate solutions.
Daniela Bushiri and the 2024 Global Energy Fellows at the welcome reception in March 2024.
A standout aspect of the program for Bushiri has been the emphasis on communication and professional growth. “I’ve learned how to approach conversations about energy with a more holistic view of how policy influences technological deployment,” she said.
Networking has also played an important role in her career growth. Through the fellowship, she connected with the Africa Finance Corporation, which invests heavily in energy infrastructure in Africa. “I met the President and CEO, Samaila Zubairu, at CGEP’s Global Energy Summit,” she said, “and through my engagement with him and his team, I’ve been able to learn how energy investments take place in Africa and other emerging markets.”
One of the highlights of her fellowship was the summer internship, which is supported by the fellows program. Bushiri worked with the NGO Groupe Utalii Kwaetu (GUK) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, focusing on sustainable energy access solutions in off-grid communities. Her work, which centered on a feasibility study for hydroelectric mini-grids in a rural village in eastern Congo, helped strengthen her interest in addressing Africa’s energy crisis.
Looking ahead, Bushiri sees diversity as a critical component of the future of energy leadership. She emphasizes the importance of women’s voices in shaping cleaner energy solutions, especially in Africa. “Women have the power to shift the narrative in energy policy,” she said, underscoring the need for greater representation in the field.
Bushiri has also served as a moderator for several Women In Energy events, highlighting her commitment to empowering women in the energy sector.
Bushiri moderates a Women In Energy panel in “Careers in the Energy Transition” in November 2023.
For Bushiri, the Global Energy Fellows program has her with the skills, network, and perspective to make a meaningful impact in the energy transition.
Find more information and apply for the David Leuschen Global Energy Fellows program by November 7, 2024, here.
Karen Young, a senior research scholar at Columbia University's Center on Global Energy Policy, says Secretary Rubio is visiting Gulf allies to reassure them their interests are represented in the deal - but that it might be a tough sell, amid worries that America's commitment to the Gulf states is "not what it used to be."
President Trump has ordered the DOJ to investigate oil companies over claims they are too slow to lower gas prices despite falling crude costs. Karen Young, senior research scholar at Columbia Universityâs Center on Global Energy Policy, called the move âpolitical theater,â saying thatâs ânot really how gasoline prices workâ in the U.S.
Critical minerals were once again near the top of the agenda for G7 leaders as they met in Évian, France, this week, a year after the G7 launched the Critical Minerals Action Plan.
In March 2026, the Office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) announced it was investigating "structural excess capacity and production in manufacturing sectors" in 16 economies.
The US Export-Import Bank is preparing to close the first funding tranche of Project Vault, a public-private partnership establishing the US Strategic Critical Minerals Reserve.
