Mort D. Webster

Mort D. Webster is Professor of Energy Engineering and Associate Department Head for Graduate Education at the John and Willie Leone Family Department of Energy and Mineral Engineering, College of Engineering, Pennsylvania State University. His research focuses on stochastic optimization and decision-making under uncertainty for energy and environmental systems, with particular expertise in electric power systems, climate impacts, and coupled multi-sector dynamics.

• Ph.D. in Engineering Systems, MIT (2000)
• M.S. in Technology and Policy, MIT (1996)
• B.S.E. in Computer Science and Engineering, University of Pennsylvania (1988)

Webster's research program includes stochastic multi-stage optimization algorithms, electric power systems planning, coupled energy-water-land modeling, and resilience studies. He leads the Program for Coupled Human and Earth Systems (PCHES), funded by the U.S. Department of Energy, which develops integrated models for weather-related variability impacts on power systems.

Recent work involves transmission expansion under uncertainty, electricity market flexibility valuation, and cross-sectoral climate impact analysis. His publications span journals in energy systems, environmental science, and operations research, with methodological innovations in scenario reduction and stochastic programming.

• Scientific Awards: U.S. Department of Energy Early Career Award (2010)

Mentorship includes advising graduate students Jesse Bukenberger, Vijay Kumar, Brayam Valqui, and Sourabh Dalvi. His research has received funding from the National Science Foundation, U.S. Department of Energy, and General Electric Power Services Division. Collaborative efforts include partnerships with Karen Fisher-Vanden and Uday Shanbhag on coupled system resilience, and Thomas Hertel on energy-agriculture-water nexus projects.