Dr. Kelly Twomey Sanders is an Associate Professor in the University of Southern California’s Sonny Astani Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. She is currently on academic leave to serve as the Assistant Director of Energy Systems Innovation at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy.
Sanders’ research portfolio aims to:
- accelerate the pace of decarbonization and electrification, while preserving grid reliability and equity across vulnerable groups;
- analyze tensions between climate change adaptation and mitigation strategies;
- anticipate the effects of climate change on energy systems; and
- reduce the environmental impacts of providing energy and water.
Sanders has authored more than 50 peer-reviewed publications and has given dozens of invited talks on topics at the intersection of engineering, science, and policy. She has been recognized in Forbes’ 30 under 30 in energy, MIT Technology Review’s 35 innovators under 35, and American Academy of Environmental Engineers and Scientists 40 under 40 for her contributions to the energy field. In 2019, she was granted an NSF Early CAREER award. Her research and commentary have been featured in media outlets such as The New York Times, The Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, Foreign Affairs, WIRED magazine, Forbes, Bloomberg, The Wall Street Journal and Scientific American.
Sanders received her B.S. in Bioengineering from the Pennsylvania State University, as well M.S.E and Ph.D. degrees in Mechanical Engineering and Environmental Engineering from the University of Texas at Austin, respectively. She teaches classes related to energy and the environment.
Click here for Sanders’ Current CV (2/2022): 202201_KellyTwomeySanders_CV_public
Media & Video Interview Highlights:
- Interview on NPR’s To the Point on the 2021 Texas Blackout.
- Interview with Resources Radio “AC/DC: Unequal Access to Air-Conditioning”
- Milken Institute’s “Staying Afloat During the Drought“
- MIT Technology Review’s 2016 35 Innovators Under 35 Feature
- USC Press Release on MIT TR 35
- Forbes 2012 30 under 30 Feature
Also check out latest news and commentary here.
Contact Information:
Dr. Kelly T. Sanders
Sonny Astani Department of
Civil and Environmental Engineering
University of Southern California
Kaprielian Hall, Room 200b
3620 S. Vermont Avenue
Los Angeles, CA 90089-2531
Email: ktsanders@usc.edu