CCST Project
Biomethane
COMPLETED: June 2018
Authors
Dr. Brandt holds a Ph.D. and M.S. in energy and resources from the University of California, Berkeley. He is interested in reducing the environmental impacts of energy systems and, more specifically, in understanding, measuring, and reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from fossil energy sources. His research uses the tools of life cycle assessment (LCA) and process optimization to measure and estimate impacts from technologies at broad scales (LCA) and to help reduce these impacts (optimization). More specifically, his research focuses on the environmental impacts of oil shale and other substitutes for conventional petroleum; mathematical modeling of petroleum depletion and the transition to oil substitutes; and capture and storage systems. He serves on the Science Advisory Panel, Methane Reconciliation Project, National Renewable Energy Laboratory and was a technical steering committee member for an Independent Review of Well Stimulation by the California Council on Science and Technology. Dr. Brandt earned a B.S. in environmental studies with an emphasis on physics from UC Santa Barbara.
Mr. Von Wald holds a B.S. in Integrated Science and Technology from James Madison University in Harrisonburg, Virginia. He is currently working toward his M.S. in Energy Resources Engineering at Stanford University, expected June 2018. Toward that effort, he is on a Graduate Research Assistantship with the Environmental Assessment and Optimization Group at Stanford University, where he is working as an author on this study. He has spent time studying abroad at the University of Malta, where he worked with the University to conduct a feasibility analysis of electromobility in Malta and has previously held internships with Accenture Federal Services in Arlington, Virginia and the Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy in Washington, D.C. Upon graduation in June 2018, he will begin pursuing his Ph.D. in Energy Resources Engineering at Stanford University, planning to continue research in the natural gas and electric power sectors.
Dr. Rajagopal's research focuses on the areas of lifecycle assessment, energy economics and policy, agricultural economics and policy, and climate policy - areas in which he has numerous peer-reviewed publications. Dr. Rajagopal earned his Ph.D. in energy and resources from the University of California, Berkeley, his M.S. in agricultural and resource economics from the University of California, Berkeley, an M.S. in mechanical engineering from the University of Maryland, and a Bachelor of Technology in mechanical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology, Madras.
Austin Jude Stanion is a master's student in Urban and Regional Planning at the UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs where he studies Transportation Policy and Planning. Austin is interested in how emerging technologies can shape public transportation and reduce environmental impact. Austin earned a B.A. in Anthropology from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Staff
Amber Mace, Ph.D. is the Deputy Director of the California Council on Science and Technology (CCST) and is a Policy Fellow with the UC Davis Policy Institute for Energy, Environment and the Economy. Mace devotes her time to building new and revitalizing existing programs and organizations that are dedicated to increasing the impact and value of science-informed decision-making.Prior to this, Mace served as the Associate Director of the UC Davis Policy Institute for Energy, Environment and the Economy. She also served as the Executive Director of the California Ocean Protection Council (OPC) and Assistant Secretary for Coastal Matters at the California Natural Resources Agency. In this role she applied her background in ocean policy and marine ecology and collaborative leadership skills to guide the state in developing policies that promote the sustainable use of California's ocean ecosystem. Prior to that, she served in the dual roles of science advisor to the OPC and executive director of the California Ocean Science Trust, a non-profit whose mission is to provide objective, high-quality science to decision makers.
She learned firsthand about the challenges of public policy-making at the federal level as a Knauss Fellow in the U.S. Senate Commerce, Science and Transportation Committee, and at the state level as a California Sea Grant state fellow at the California Natural Resources Agency. Amber was recognized as a Coastal Hero by Sunset magazine in 2011 and her California coastal research experience includes piloting a submersible with the Sustainable Seas Expedition. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in geography from UC Berkeley and a doctorate in ecology from UC Davis and the Bodega Marine Laboratory.
Sarah Brady, Ph.D. is the Director of Policy Engagement for CCST and the Co-Chair of the CCST Science Fellows Alumni Network. Sarah most recently served as Legislative Director in Assemblywoman Susan Bonilla's office where she was hired after her placement as a CCST Science and Technology Policy Fellow in 2014. Sarah initiated policy work to retain women in STEM careers by preventing pregnancy discrimination in graduate programs. The law requires all California colleges to establish a family leave policy for their graduate students. Sarah also spearheaded legislation to increase the use of biomethane, reduce the cost of college textbooks, and improve access to computer science education. In addition, she conducted bill analysis and provided vote recommendations to Assemblywoman Bonilla on all bills related to utilities and commerce, energy, water, natural resources, and environmental toxicity. Prior to the Fellowship, Sarah earned bachelor's degrees in chemistry and French from North Central College and a doctorate in chemistry at the University of Oregon researching the degradation of plastics. She was also a GK-12 Fellow and an NSF-IGERT Fellow where she worked at the Hong Kong Baptist University.
Puneet Bhullar is the Program Assistant for the CCST team. She provides high-level administrative support on various CCST projects. Prior to joining CCST, Puneet worked in numerous non-profit offices where she provided support for our states most disenfranchised communities. During this time, she worked with homeless veterans across the Central Valley and displaced refugees in Sacramento. Puneet graduated with a B.A. in political science from the University of California, Davis.
Mikel Shybut, Ph.D. is a Program Associate for CCST. Most recently, Mikel was placed as a CCST Science and Technology Policy Fellow on the California State Senate Transportation and Housing Committee. On the Committee, Mikel published publicly available analyses of Senate and Assembly bills on a range of topics, including autonomous vehicles, bus seat belt requirements, broken parking meters, drug use in vehicles, and balcony safety requirements, to name a few. He also staffed legislation for the Committee and co-staffed a bill for the Chair relating to a major effort to address congestion in the Bay Area. Mikel received a doctorate in plant biology from the University of California, Berkeley and has a Bachelor of Arts degree in biological chemistry and Russian from Grinnell College in Iowa.
Our Mission
To engage leading experts in science and technology to advise State policymakers - ensuring that California policy is strengthened and informed by scientific knowledge, research, and innovation.
