Valerie Karplus

Valerie Karplus is a Professor in the Department of Engineering and Public Policy at Carnegie Mellon University (CMU) and Associate Director of the Wilton E. Scott Institute for Energy Innovation. She holds a Ph.D. in Engineering Systems from MIT and a B.S. in Biochemistry and Political Science from Yale University. Her research focuses on resource and environmental management in global industrial contexts, emphasizing institutions, management practices, and policy design. Key areas include decarbonization pathways, hydrogen energy systems, and the intersection of public policy with workforce resilience.

Dr. Karplus leads the Laboratory for Energy and Organizations (LEO) at CMU and is affiliated with MIT’s Energy Initiative and environmental policy centers. She previously directed the MIT-Tsinghua China Energy and Climate Project (2011–2016), analyzing China’s energy policies and their global impacts. Her work bridges academia and practice, addressing challenges like steel industry decarbonization and clean energy workforce development through interdisciplinary approaches.

Notable contributions include modeling China’s carbon neutrality targets (C-REM 4.0), evaluating hydrogen hub risks, and assessing energy audit effectiveness. She has secured grants such as a $500,000 ARISE planning grant to analyze Appalachian workforce skills for decarbonization. Media engagements include commentary on EU energy strategies, green hydrogen viability, and nuclear energy for AI systems.