Samaras Named Next Director of Wilton E. Scott Institute for Energy Innovation

We are thrilled to announce that CEE Professor Costa Samaras (CEE/EPP PhD ‘08)  has been appointed as the next Director of the Wilton E. Scott Institute for Energy Innovation. Samaras joined CEE in 2014 as an Assistant Professor and was appointed as a full professor in 2022. His research interests encompass a broad spectrum within energy systems, spanning from the intricate technicalities of decarbonization to strategic innovation in energy and infrastructure policies.

Currently, Samaras is in a public service role at the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy (OSTP). Having served since 2021, he has been recently promoted to Principal Assistant Director and Chief Advisor for the Clean Energy Transition. As a distinguished figure in OSTP, Costa has been instrumental in shaping policy initiatives that align the United States' energy innovation landscape with the magnitude of the climate crisis.

Bill Sanders, Dean of CMU's College of Engineering, expresses his confidence in Samara’s leadership: "Costa brings the perfect amalgamation of policy and technical expertise, along with exceptional communication skills that yield tangible impacts. His unmatched ability to unite individuals towards solving monumental challenges solidifies his capability to guide the Scott Institute in playing a pivotal role in our global energy transition."

In close collaboration with Executive Director Daniel Tkacik and co-Director Professor Andy Gellman, Costa and Valerie Karplus, the newly named Associate Director of the Scott Institute for Energy Innovation, will work diligently to advance the Institute's mission. This mission revolves around fostering the growth of technologies and policies that expedite our journey towards a sustainable, net-zero emissions future. Samaras will continue his impactful public service in Washington, DC, during the upcoming fall term.