Caldeira Lab

Michael Dioha (Postdoctoral Fellow)

Michael Dioha is a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Carnegie Institution for Science Department of Global Ecology at Stanford University. His research interests revolve around energy-environment-economic (E3) modeling, the quantification of energy/climate scenarios, and interdisciplinary issues in energy and environmental justice, especially in the Global South.

Michael plays advisory and analysis roles for several international organizations, including the International Renewable Energy Agency (IRENA) and the United Nations Global Compact. He also sits on multiple advisory boards, including the Sustainability Expert Advisory Forum of the Global Network for Sustainable Development.

Before joining the Carnegie Institution for Science, Michael 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, Michael also advocates for innovative approaches that promote just and equitable socio-technical transitions in Africa.

Michael holds an interdisciplinary Ph.D. degree in Energy & Environment and a B.Sc. degree in Mechanical Engineering. Outside of work, Michael enjoys playing soccer, cycling, and art.

David Farnham (Postdoctoral Fellow)

David Farnham is an environmental engineer and hydroclimatologist interested in how climate affects our engineered water and energy systems. David’s work can broadly be described as the development of statistical models to estimate and/or predict climate risks at time scales ranging from daily to seasonal to multi-decadal.

With regard to water systems, David has authored papers on topics ranging from the prediction of urban water contamination, to the estimation of future regional riverine flooding hazard, to the climate drivers of seasonal precipitation variability in water scarce regions such as the Southwestern, United States.

Within energy systems, David has been focusing on weather/climate dependent renewable energy technologies; namely solar, wind, and hydro power. For example, David has recently been investigating the implications of yearly to decadal fluctuations in potential wind and solar energy supply for energy system planning.

Tyler Ruggles (Research Associate)

I am a scientist studying low carbon energy transitions. How do we create a low carbon energy system? What could that system look like? What technological breakthroughs are necessary? These are some of the questions which motivate my research.

My current work focuses on studying the interannual variability of renewable energy resources and potential consequences for a highly-renewable grid. I also model the conversion of electric power to liquid fuels or hydrogen to study the benefits these technologies can bring to the grid including increased flexibility.

Before starting on energy systems research, I completed a PhD in particle physics while based at CERN working for the University of Wisconsin-Madison.