Jennifer E. Baka

Jennifer E. Baka is an Associate Professor and John T. Ryan, Jr. Faculty Fellow in the Department of Geography at Pennsylvania State University's College of Earth and Mineral Sciences. She is affiliated with the Institute of Energy and the Environment (IEE) and contributes to UN Sustainable Development Goals through her research on energy systems, environmental governance, and political-industrial ecology.

• Research areas include petrochemicals, renewable energy landscapes, hydraulic fracturing, and land reclamation.
• Current projects focus on energy metabolism, regenerative landscape design, and health data policy.
• She has received the National Science Foundation CAREER Award and leads interdisciplinary collaborations on energy transitions.

Her work analyzes policy frameworks, environmental justice implications, and governance structures in energy systems, with regional expertise in Appalachia and Pennsylvania. She examines the intersection of industrial ecology, land use, and sustainable development, shaping debates on fossil fuels and renewables.

Scientific Awards:

• NSF CAREER Award
• John T. Ryan, Jr. Faculty Fellowship

Collaborations include partnerships with the National Science Foundation and institutions working on energy metabolism, regenerative landscapes, and health data initiatives.