Current Student Profiles

Kadijat Alakiu is a Cornell University graduate in Environmental Engineering with a minor in Law and Society. In the private sector, at Pacific Gas & Electric, she contributed by enhancing their 200+ page energy policy plan and used her knowledge of the utility industry to align with sustainability goals. She supported the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Technology Transitions through facilitating market proposals of clean energy and sustainability technologies by bridging technical, economic, and policy perspectives. At Cornell, Kadijat was heavily involved in Engineers for a Sustainable World, a professional engineering organization. Over the span of three years, as a member and on the executive board, she collaborated on projects, forging innovative, lasting solutions for local and global sustainability challenges. Her adaptability and expertise support her drive to shape clean energy engineering and influence energy policy advancements in her future roles.

Abdulrahman Al Jaberi is a dedicated leader with over 16 years of experience in the energy domain, working as Senior Project Manager in a UAE Internationally Renowned Energy Company. Throughout his career, he has worked across various sectors in plants operation management, FEL - EPC decarbonization / fossil fuel projects, digital transformations, and venture management. This has provided him with a comprehensive understanding of the industry and equipped him with skills of critical thinking, disclosive listening, navigating of complex problems, mobilizing mega projects, leading with emotional awareness, business acumen, fostering authentic partnerships and embracing continuous learning to achieve goals. His unique value lies in building consensus among diverse stakeholders to solve complex challenges—for example, aligning government, private sector, and technical teams in major programs. He aims to drive energy transition innovation through roles as venture builder, entrepreneur or intraprenuer in climate, energy and clean technologies, fostering collaboration between U.S. and the UAE startup founders. 

Fred Burondwa is a lawyer specializing in financing and transforming early-stage impact enterprises into high-growth, scalable enterprises that deliver financial returns and meaningful social impact for share/stakeholders. His career centers on leveraging strategic investment and robust legal frameworks to deploy solutions that address Africa's urgent energy infrastructure and climate challenges. Fred's professional journey includes experience at Ortus Advocates, a law firm specializing in energy practice, where he worked on governance and regulatory initiatives. He is driven by the belief that strategic investment and strong legal frameworks can empower communities and unlock transformative change. In pursuing his Master of Energy Transition at Dartmouth, Fred aims to deepen his expertise in sustainable development and equitable energy futures.

Trung Dam holds a dual B.A. in Environmental Studies and Data Science from Macalester College. With diverse experience in sustainability analytics at Aquila, clean energy startup incubation at Grid Catalyst, and EVs infrastructure policy advocacy at Great Plains Institute, Trung brings a unique blend of technical expertise and deep understanding of energy transition to energy finance challenges. He is proficient in R, Python, and SQL, combined with hands-on scientific communication in Puerto Rico and sustainable project management at Macalester College. Driven by his strong commitment to equitable and scalable climate solutions, Trung welcomes opportunities to collaborate with businesses on their energy transition strategy, emphasizing cross-sector collaboration and innovative approaches.

Rebecca Foulkes is a mission-driven climate professional at the intersection of technology, community, and systems transformation. In pursuing the MET, she is deepening her technical expertise to scale disruptive climate technology solutions in emerging markets and developing nations. At Fluor Corporation, Rebecca supported internal operations and external engagements to accelerate and scale up early-stage energy transition startups within the industrial environment, including carbon-to-value and long-duration energy storage. She enabled the advancement of 120+ early-stage climate technologies at Greentown Labs by strengthening the existing startup community, partnerships, and programming across the innovation ecosystem. She earned her BA in Political Science and International Affairs, with a focus on Latin America, from the University of Colorado, Boulder. With this background, she brings a global lens to accelerating the energy transition through early-stage innovation and cross-sector collaboration.

Amy Fulton is a dedicated climate professional passionate about sustainable land-use management, renewable energy project development, and climate policy. With extensive experience implementing local development ordinances for the County of San Diego, she is an effective communicator and problem-solver, skilled at navigating complex regulatory landscapes and advancing the deployment of clean energy projects. She graduated magna cum laude from San Diego State University with a BA in Sustainability, where she built a strong foundation in the human-environment relationship and systems thinking. This balance guides her commitment to both people and the planet. Amy strives to develop sustainable, equitable, and impactful solutions in the energy and climate field. Her interests also include ecosystem adaptation, the water-water nexus, and green urban infrastructure. 

Max Goodman is a data scientist and social organizer dedicated to climate and energy justice.  He cut his teeth at social impact startup Floodbase, leveraging satellite imagery and machine learning for flood adaptation, before making a conscious pivot to electric grid analysis. All the while, Max has been a dynamic and collaborative leader in climate mental health and sacred activism, building bonded communities that sustain long-term campaigns. Across all these settings, Max's ethics motivate him to seek objective truth and move quickly towards concrete results.

Caroline has more than a decade of experience in grassroots organizing, public policy, and strategic campaigning in the energy field. Through her work with higher education, non-profit, and advocacy organizations, she creates powerful, resilient and inclusive renewable energy deployment. Caroline nurtures transformational leadership, rooted in communities in the South. With a Master's of Energy Transition from Dartmouth, she leverages successful organizing into strategic campaign wins that move our society toward justice, sustainability and resilience.

Nicholas Harris holds dual Bachelor of Arts degrees in Economics and Environmental Studies from Dartmouth College, Class of 2025. He has energy project development, financial analysis, market research, and consulting experience from roles at Radia Inc., Fitch Ratings, and student-run investment and consulting groups. Throughout his academic and professional experiences, he has worked collaboratively in teams across diverse stakeholders, further strengthening his ability to communicate priorities clearly and adapt in fast-paced environments. Nicholas is drawn to the intersection of energy, infrastructure, and finance, with a particular interest in advancing breakthrough energy solutions. He has developed skills in valuations, modeling, and due diligence. Nicholas is actively seeking full-time opportunities in energy investments or related fields where he can support teams focused on financing and accelerating transformative energy projects.

Darrick Howard is an energy professional with a background in international collaboration. He most recently worked for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Japan as Assistant to the Head Consul at the Consular Office of Japan in Anchorage. In this role, he facilitated partnerships between Alaskan stakeholders and Japanese energy investors. He also supported Japanese firms exploring Alaska's energy opportunities, and organized high-level discussions through the Online Arctic Symposium to strengthen Arctic energy cooperation. Building on this experience, he now aims to focus his career on advancing tidal energy and green hydrogen, while enhancing energy security through the application of hydrogen fuel cells to power data centers. His work will address challenges such as mitigating price volatility and navigating evolving regulatory frameworks. A lifelong Alaskan, he enjoys ice fishing, skiing, and snowmachining, activities that reflect his deep connection to the state's vast wilderness and his resilience in challenging environments.

Shariful Islam, a seasoned energy professional from Rajshahi, Bangladesh, specializes in power plant construction, operation, and management. With more than seven years of professional experience, Shariful has led the operation of a 226MW independent power plant at Confidence Power and Energy PLC., working with MAN 18V48/60TS engines and MARIM-4C2 turbines. His technical expertise covers Waste Heat Recovery Boilers (WHRB), Water Treatment Plants (WTP), Effluent Treatment Plants (ETP), Fuel Treatment Plants (FTP), HFO storage systems, and advanced control technologies. He is also an expert in operating DCS-Distributed Control System and SCADA-Supervisory Control and Data Acquisition systems for efficient and reliable plant performance. Shariful is committed to advancing the global energy transition, with expertise in sustainable sourcing, renewable energy integration, energy analysis and consulting, as well as smart grid and sustainable power solutions.

Paul Kargol is pursuing a Master of Energy Transition at Dartmouth College, building upon his Bachelor of Science in Earth and Environmental Geosciences from Washington and Lee University. With expertise in GIS mapping, geophysical surveying, and environmental research, Paul has contributed to significant projects, including hydrostratigraphic research on the Ganges River delta aquifer system and coastal conservation initiatives with the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources. His technical proficiency spans ArcGIS Pro, RockWorks, and MATLAB, demonstrated through his work digitizing maps, conducting sediment analysis, and creating complex 3D geological models. Paul has presented his research at the national Geological Society of America conference and served as a founding member of his university's Sigma Gamma Epsilon chapter. Committed to sustainability and community engagement, Paul combines his scientific expertise with leadership experience and a passion for environmental stewardship, positioning him at the forefront of the energy transition field.

Rebecca Middlen is a recent graduate of Vassar College with a B.A. in Environmental Studies. Her undergraduate research examined how sea level rise reshapes coastal communities, but more broadly, she has pursued interdisciplinary approaches to environmental challenges—integrating ethical perspectives, historical context, and spatial analysis to advance net-zero objectives. Committed to environmental justice, Rebecca is particularly interested in how law can be leveraged to promote equitable responses to climate change. Following the completion of her Master's degree, she intends to enroll in law school and build a career in environmental policy, working to ensure that climate adaptation and mitigation strategies not only reduce emissions but also protect vulnerable communities and create more just
environmental futures.
 

With a strong academic background and a passion for interdisciplinary problem-solving, Ella focused much of her research on urban design and climate mitigation when working at the University of Oklahoma. She earned her BA from Dartmouth College in June 2025, majoring in Environmental Studies with a minor in Human-Centered Design. She is dedicated to developing innovative, practical solutions that drive sustainable and equitable transformations in urban environments.

Riley Roach earned a Bachelor's degree in Sustainable Technology from Appalachian State University, complemented by minors in Entrepreneurial Studies and Community & Regional Planning. Riley was selected for the National Science Foundation Renewable Energy for Undergraduates (NSF REU) cohort, researching Resilient Carbon-Free U.S. Electric Power Systems. Her experience with the NSF I-Corps program led her to explore the commercial viability of algae as a biofuel. As a Technical Asset Management Intern at CleanCapital, Riley operated and maintained solar portfolios. As a recipient of the North Carolina Sustainable Energy Association Scholar Award, she engaged directly with clean energy stakeholders at the NCSEA conference. Beyond academics, Riley competed on the Women's Cross Country and Track team at Appalachian State, where she learned time management, teamwork, and accountability. Her career goal is to establish accessible, equitable, and reliable sustainable systems.

Jordan has extensive research experience across diverse labs and projects, along with strong skills in communicating research, supported by a background in teaching and curating science education content. With this expertise, Jordan brings a passion for interdisciplinary research collaboration and advancing effective science communication. At Dartmouth, she continues to deepen my understanding of the multifaceted challenges and opportunities in advancing renewable energy by integrating her enthusiasm for climate science, energy research, and community involvement. She is actively pursuing researcher or research analyst positions where she can apply her skills in communication, critical thinking, and data analysis to accelerate the transition to clean energy.

Otto Schmidt earned a dual B.A. in Physics and Mathematics with a focus in Statistics and Data Science from St. Olaf College. At St. Olaf, Otto conducted research on snow albedo, worked as a statistical consultant for biology faculty, captained the cross country and track teams, and studied in Ecuador, Jordan, Namibia, and Vietnam. He interned with Consulting Engineers Group, where he developed an energy market price prediction tool for battery owners. Otto's array of experiences guides his interdisciplinary thinking and communication. Otto's leadership skills are bolstered by guiding backpacking trips for young adults in Europe, Canada, and the US. Through this, he instills confidence, community, and passion for the outdoors in the next generation. He is currently pursuing a Master of Energy Transition at Dartmouth. Strong communication supports his goal of advising businesses and governments to take impactful steps toward sustainability as they navigate a shifting energy landscape.

Matteo holds a BSc in Economics and Business Administration from Bocconi University, where he completed his thesis on financing frameworks for large-scaleinfrastructure through Public-Private Partnerships (PPP's). At Maire Tecnimont Group, a listed energy & infrastructure engineering group, he worked on corporate financial analysis, performing due diligence, contractor risk assessments, and financial evaluations across North America, EMEA and Asia. His academic training built a strong foundation in project finance and PPP structuring, while his experience as a Strategy & Investment Analyst at an independent real assets venture provided exposure to development strategy and portfolio asset management. Fluent in Italian and English, and conversational in Chinese and Spanish, Matteo is originally from Rome, Italy. Outside of his academic and professional interests, he enjoys playing soccer, tennis, and sailing.

Krutika is a commodities analyst with six years of experience in soft commodities markets. She specializes in leveraging data analysis, scenario modeling, and forecasting to support strategic decision-making. Her expertise lies in synthesizing diverse data sources, from trade flows to weather patterns in major cocoa and coffee growing regions. She translates these insights into actionable strategies for trading teams. Throughout her career, Krutika has partnered with sales and trading desks to generate profitable trade ideas and sharpen forecasts, combining quantitative rigor with seasoned market instincts. Currently, she is pursuing a Master of Energy Transition at Dartmouth College to broaden my expertise from soft commodities into renewable energy markets and transition economics. This progression is a deliberate step to align her analytical background and experience in environmental supply chains with the rapidly changing demands of the energy sector. Krutika aims to leverage her expertise across the evolving energy and commodity markets.

Chloe studied computer science at the University of Nottingham, but discovered she is more passionate about using technology to tackle real environmental challenges. At China Huaneng Group, she worked on data integration systems for hydropower operations and energy digitalization, while her experience at Ping An Bank exposed her to green finance and ESG frameworks driving sustainable investments.

Her undergraduate research on Large Language Models now informs her current work on LLM-based approaches for electrical grid stability and renewable energy integration. She applies machine learning and Python-based data analysis to energy challenges like demand forecasting, grid optimization, and fault detection. Chloe has competed in mathematical modeling competitions and is passionate about bridging AI capabilities with practical energy transition needs.

Outside of work, Chloe stays active with piano, tennis, and boxing. Now she is looking to combine her background with a growing interest in sustainability, with the goal of using data and technology to make a meaningful contribution to the energy transition.