Author: Valerie Sarisky-Reed, Director, Bioenergy Technologies Office
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In celebration of Women’s History Month, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) recognizes the positive contributions that the women in the Office have made to help strengthen the future of bioenergy.
More than 50% of BETO’s staff identify as women. These 28 passionate and dedicated women work on bioenergy-based operational matters and technologies for the Office, in areas such as algae, biomass and waste feedstocks, conversion, data modeling and analysis, and systems development and integration.
Advancing the Transition to a Clean U.S. Energy Economy
Leadership at BETO guides the focus of the team toward developing technologies that convert domestic biomass and other waste resources into low-carbon biofuels and bioproducts. Bioenergy technologies like these can enable a transition to a clean energy economy, create high quality jobs, support rural economies, and spur innovation in renewable energy and chemicals production.
The women of BETO contribute to driving the future of bioenergy by:
- Mobilizing public clean energy investment in the biofuel, chemical, and agricultural industries
- Accelerating the deployment of bioenergy technologies
- Supporting the achievement of economy-wide net-zero emissions by 2050 while ensuring that the benefits of this work are equitably distributed to all Americans.
The Women of BETO Help Drive the Future of Bioenergy
Distinguished Expertise and Education at BETO
Combined, women currently working for BETO bring over 155 years of experience at DOE alone and nearly 310 years of industry practice. They have earned 13 master’s degrees (two additional underway) and eight Ph.D. degrees in the following areas:
- Anthropology
- Biological and Ecological Engineering
- Business Administration
- Chemistry
- Engineering Management
- Environmental Public Policy
- Environmental Science and Management
- Global Environmental Policy
- Information Systems and Decision Sciences
- Management
- Microbiology and Molecular Genetics
- Molecular Microbiology and Microbial Pathogenesis
- Natural Resources and Environment
- Plant Molecular Biology
- Project Management
- Public Administration
- Public Relations
- Sustainable Urban Planning
- Water and Environmental Engineering.
Please join us in celebrating Women’s History Month and congratulating these women on their work to help ensure an economically sound and secure future. For more information on the women of BETO’s federal staff, check out these profile spotlights. Efforts from the women of BETO contribute to the bioeconomy’s ability to reduce environmental impacts through the development of affordable domestic fuels and co-products, advancement of clean energy sources, and generation of domestic jobs.
Help BETO Accelerate the Bioeconomy
If you are interested in an exciting career in bioenergy, training opportunities are available through BETO’s Algae Technology Education Consortium. And don’t forget to explore technical and non-technical careers in bioenergy using BETO’s Bioenergy Career Map. This resource allows users to plot the progression from entry level to management jobs in the field, as well as how to transition into other career options.
