Anne Starace

Anne Starace is a Researcher IV in Chemistry at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), working within the Catalytic Carbon Transformation and Scale-Up Center. With a PhD in Chemistry from Indiana University Bloomington and a Bachelor's degree from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, she has built a career focused on renewable energy research since completing her postdoctoral work at NREL (2010-2013).

Her educational background includes:

• PhD in Chemistry, Indiana University Bloomington
• Bachelor of Chemistry, University of Nebraska-Lincoln

Dr. Starace's research interests center on sustainable chemical processes, with particular expertise in renewable fuels and chemicals, waste valorization, and catalyst poisoning and regeneration. Her work bridges fundamental catalytic chemistry with practical applications for bio-based products. She investigates thermal conversion processes like pyrolysis, catalytic depolymerization of plastics, and co-processing of bio-oils with petroleum streams. Her research integrates experimental approaches with machine learning techniques to optimize renewable fuel production.

Her publication record shows consistent productivity with 27 research outputs between 2011-2025, demonstrating evolving focus from fundamental thermal properties to advanced catalytic processes and machine learning applications. The research spans biomass conversion, plastic waste recycling, and process optimization for renewable fuels, reflecting the growing importance of circular economy approaches in energy research.

While no specific scientific awards are listed in the available information, her work has garnered citations across various platforms, with some publications receiving significant attention in the research community.

Dr. Starace collaborates extensively across NREL and with external partners, as evidenced by her multi-author publications. Her current work at the Catalytic Carbon Transformation and Scale-Up Center focuses on developing practical solutions for integrating renewable feedstocks into existing energy infrastructure while addressing technical challenges like catalyst deactivation.