Robert McCormick

Robert McCormick is a Senior Research Fellow and platform leader for the Fuels and Combustion Research Platform at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), where he has been active since 1999. His work focuses on end-use issues and fuel-engine interactions with alternative fuels, primarily biofuels including ethanol, biodiesel, and sustainable aviation fuel, as well as next-generation and futuristic fuels.

Dr. McCormick holds a PhD in Chemical Engineering from the University of Wyoming, a Master's degree from Iowa State University, and a Bachelor's degree from Oklahoma State University. His educational background in chemical engineering provides the foundation for his extensive research career in fuel science and combustion.

His research interests span fuel processing, catalysis, and fuel utilization; fuel-engine interactions; and alternative fuel properties, quality, and fuel effects on pollutant emissions. Dr. McCormick's work addresses critical challenges in alternative fuel adoption, including supplying technical data for fuel-quality specifications, understanding fuel-engine compatibility and durability, addressing field performance issues like storage stability and cold weather operation, and investigating how new fuels impact emissions and emission-control systems.

With over 205 research outputs spanning from 1999 to 2025, Dr. McCormick maintains a robust publication record across technical reports, peer-reviewed articles, conference papers, and presentations. His recent work shows a strong focus on sustainable aviation fuels, biodiesel quality assurance, and the interactions between renewable fuels and emission control systems.

• U.S. Department of Energy Vehicle Technologies Office, Team Award for Oversight of the Co-Optimization of Fuels and Engines Initiative (2019)

Dr. McCormick's research is heavily supported by collaborations with engine manufacturers, fuel producers, and regulatory bodies. His work on the Co-Optimization of Fuels and Engines initiative has been particularly influential in developing frameworks for evaluating how new fuel formulations interact with advanced engine technologies. The Fuels and Combustion Research Platform he leads conducts both fundamental and applied research that directly impacts fuel standards, engine design, and emissions regulations across multiple transportation sectors.

His laboratory work encompasses property measurements across wide temperature and pressure ranges, combustion kinetics studies, and large-scale simulations of fuel effects on engine and turbine performance. This comprehensive approach allows his team to address the full spectrum of challenges in alternative fuel adoption, from molecular-level interactions to real-world field performance.