
Environmental science of climate, carbon, and energy
Ken Caldeira
Department of Global Ecology
Carnegie Institution for Science
260 Panama St.
Stanford, CA 94305, USA
1 + (650) 704-7212
kcaldeira@carnegiescience.edu
Carnegie Energy Innovation Research Brief
Lab Tabs
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Enrico Antonini (Postdoctoral Fellow)
Enrico is a Postdoctoral Research Scientist for the Carnegie Institution for Science, Department of Global Ecology at Stanford University. His research aims to understand the physics of wind power extraction for regional-scale wind farms. Enrico is investigating the efficiency of large wind farms and which physical parameters control their power extraction.
Before joining the Carnegie Institution for Science, Enrico conducted research in wind energy, computational fluid dynamics and optimization algorithms with the goal of advancing the knowledge of wind turbine aerodynamics and creating new design frameworks for the wind turbine industry.
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Sara Ashfaq (Postdoctoral Fellow)
Sara is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow at the Carnegie Science at Stanford University. Her research focuses on the Sustainable Development, energy-environment-economic (E3) modeling, Renewable Energy Management and Electricity Market. She is broadly interested in the Idealized energy system modeling for net-zero emission energy-systems.
Prior to Stanford, Sara was a Research Assistant at The Australian Research Council (ARC), Hub for Integrated Energy Solutions, Sydney, where she researched microgrid control and management, to provide solutions to a more sustainable, secure, reliable and economically efficient energy supply for Australia.
Sara holds an interdisciplinary Ph.D. and M.Sc degree in Electrical Power and Energy Systems Engineering.
Outside of work, Sara participates in volunteer work for natural crisis, environmental conservation, bushfire and community services.
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Michael Dioha (Postdoctoral Fellow)
Dr. Michael Dioha is a Postdoctoral Research Fellow in the Carnegie Institution for Science's Department of Global Ecology at Stanford University. His research interests revolve around energy-environment-economic modeling, the quantification of energy/emissions scenarios, and interdisciplinary issues in energy and climate justice.
Before joining the Carnegie Institution for Science, Dioha was a Research Analyst at the TERI School of Advanced Studies, New Delhi, where he researched net-zero emission pathways for India. Beyond academic research, Dioha also advocates for innovative approaches that promote just and equitable socio-technical transitions in Africa.
Dioha is a Fellow of the Energy for Growth Hub and a Fellow of the Solar Energy Society of Nigeria. He holds an interdisciplinary Ph.D. degree in Energy & Environment and a B.Sc. degree in Mechanical Engineering. Outside of work, Dioha enjoys playing soccer, hiking, and cycling.
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Lei Duan's research topic is about modeling the climate response to external forcing, especially the global scale geoengineering schemes during his PhD. At Carnegie, he will continue working on climate simulations and also helping with the energy modeling work in Ken Caldeira's group. He had a wonderful experience when he was here previously, and feels happy to come back and work with everyone in Carnegie.
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Edgar Virguez (Postdoctoral Fellow)
Edgar Virguez is an energy systems engineer promoting the transition towards decarbonized electric power systems. Understanding the collective effort required to achieve a rapid and cost-efficient energy transition, he pursues multidisciplinary inquiry-based research. He integrates methods from operations research and geospatial analysis, focusing on identifying pathways toward providing accessible, affordable, clean, and reliable electricity.
Edgar’s solid knowledge base arises from his academic formation. At Duke University, he completed a Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences and Policy (’22) with a Certificate in College Teaching and an M.A. in Environment (Energy and Environment) (’18) with a Geospatial Analysis Certificate. At Universidad de los Andes, he obtained an M.Sc. in Environmental Engineering (’10), a B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering (’09), and a B.Sc. Environmental Engineering (’09). Complementary, Edgar has strengthened his transferable skills by participating in professional certificate programs in Australia, the United States, and Colombia. Acknowledging his academic excellence and research contributions, he has been awarded scholarships and fellowships for more than USD 575,000 from competitive national and international programs sponsored by institutions such as the Sloan Foundation and Procter & Gamble (P&G).
He has participated in nineteen research or consultancy projects with a total budget of USD 3.43 million, working with organizations such as the World Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank. Edgar has directed life-cycle assessments and cost-benefit analyses of integrating new fuels into energy markets, designed mitigation strategies for local governments, and performed risk assessments of exposure to air pollutants. His research has appeared in top-tier peer-reviewed journals like Applied Energy, Energy Conversion and Management, and Energy Policy.
Concurrently to his research interests, he is passionate about improving higher education. During the last decade, he has held several higher education administration positions. He has enhanced the units’ academic, administrative, and financial processes by applying optimization and data analytics methods and defined, planned, and executed strategic global research alliances.
Edgar has developed as a next-generation pedagogue teaching 16 courses, serving more than 560 students, and achieving high ratings by his students. For his contributions and exemplary promise as a leader of the higher education field, he has received several professional honors (total amount of professional awards USD 26,425). In 2020 he was honored as a K. Patricia Cross Future Leader awardee by the Association of American Colleges & Universities (AAC&U), identified as a rising star.
At Duke, he had a distinguished tenure receiving several of the most prestigious awards for graduate students, including the 2021 Graduate School Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching and the 2021 Forever Duke Student Leadership Award. In 2022, he was selected as a board member (Young Trustee) of Duke University’s highest governing body, the Board of Trustees. Edgar was appointed from 2022 to 2025, recognized as an individual of outstanding character, ability, and vision from the current ~10,000 graduate and professional student body and ~8,000 graduate or professional alums of Duke’s Class of 2021 and 2022.
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Leslie Willoughby (Science Writer)
Leslie's first love was a horned toad that lived in her backyard in Albuquerque. It disappeared over winter, emerged in spring, and showed her that nature changes over time. Throughout childhood, she yearned to share that lizard's world with others.
In college she studied environmental interpretation. Afterward, at the newly created Ohio EPA, she funded programs that regulated scrubbers in coal-fired power plants and improved sewage treatment facilities. Later, as a science teacher, she set the lab tables with a new narrative each morning. Monday’s tale might compare skeletons; Tuesday’s could mimic a lunar eclipse.
When climate change became the biggest nature story, Leslie signed on as a reporter in the Eastern Sierra. While forest fires rage and drought starves California's snowpack and water supply, Leslie heeds the call for epic writing muscle. She works out every day.