Bioprose Blog: Request for Information closes November 2, 2020
Alternative Fuels and Feedstocks Office
October 27, 2020
Estimated Read Time min
Author: Valerie Sarisky-Reed, Director, Bioenergy Technologies Office
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To better understand the bioenergy workforce development landscape, the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE’s) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) would like assistance from its academic and industry partners to identify existing bioenergy workforce successes within the bioenergy industry and academic learning environment, as well as gaps that impede skill development and/or the recruitment of qualified individuals. BETO is seeking direct input through a Bioeconomy Workforce/Career-Development Request for Information (RFI). The evidence-based workforce development data BETO receives will assist in preparing the nation’s current and future bioenergy workforce for the rapidly and continually changing workforce demands to reskill and upskill in the bioenergy industry.
Exciting careers in the bioenergy workforce. Photos by Dennis Schroeder / National Renewable Energy Laboratory
Exciting, first-of-its-kind opportunities await those who enter the bioenergy workforce. One example is the groundbreaking collaboration between DOE’s Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), LanzaTech, and Virgin Atlantic. This collaboration led to Virgin Atlantic’s first commercial flight fueled by recycled waste gas from a steel mill. You can read more here.
The RFI seeks information on existing bioenergy workforce development assets and gaps in the bioenergy industry and academia. BETO supports groundbreaking technologies to produce biofuels, bioproducts, and biopower (bioenergy) from biomass and waste resources.
The RFI can be found on the BETO website. Feel free to use the RFI Template Word document to respond to the RFI questions. Additional comments and recommendations are welcomed.
Submit your response to bioenergizeMe@ee.doe.gov by no later than 5 p.m. ET, November 2, 2020
Dr. Valerie Sarisky-Reed
Dr. Valerie Sarisky-Reed is the director of the Alternative Fuels and Feedstocks Office (AFFO) in DOE’s Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation (CMEI). In this role, she manages efforts to improve performance, lower costs, and accelerate technology commercialization for the production, storage, delivery and use of alternative fuels, fertilizers, chemicals, and feedstocks. Working with DOE’s national laboratories, academia, and industry, she oversees strategic planning of AFFO research, development and demonstration projects.
Valerie has more than 30 years of experience in addressing both domestic and international energy and environmental topics. In addition to her programmatic activities, she is a founding member of the Metabolic Engineering Working Group, chartered by the Biotechnology Research Subcommittee, an inter-agency coordinating committee under the Office of Science and Technology Policy. She also spent two years serving for the chief scientist at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), helping to build bridges between DOE and the USDA in support of the bioeconomy.
Previously, Valerie served as director for DOE’s Bioenergy Technologies Office, where she managed the development of their Multi-Year Program Plans and focused on scaling up strategic biofuels and chemicals.
AFFO’s current focus areas include scaling up strategic biofuels, chemicals, fertilizers, and feedstocks, while advancing national security independence by establishing a secure domestic supply chain, lowering production costs, invigorating a strong U.S. workforce, and fostering energy growth through diverse, domestic manufacturing pathways.
Valerie holds a Ph.D. in biochemistry from Georgetown University and is a graduate of the U.S. Department of Commerce’s Senior Executive Service Career Development Program.
