Dr. Baskaran is Chief Science and Technology Officer for Pacific Northwest National Laboratory’s Energy and Environment Directorate, responsible for directing science and technology investments to deliver solutions for the nation’s most important energy and environment challenges. Prior to this role, he managed the Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) market sector, where he developed and implemented PNNL’s EERE strategy, coordinating closely with U.S. Department of Energy program managers and industry partners.
Dr. Baskaran joined PNNL in 1993 and has held a variety of research and management positions. As a researcher, he developed new materials for automotive, fuel cell, and microelectronic applications, and also has overseen research thrusts in hydrogen and fuel cells, and in CO2 capture and gas separations. Dr. Baskaran’s management responsibilities have ranged from planning, oversight and execution of materials and manufacturing programs, to managing a structural materials research group and leading Laboratory Directed Research and Development initiatives.
He has co-authored 50 technical papers, received ten patents, and has been the co-recipient of an R&D 100 Award, a PNNL Director’s Award for Excellence for best research group (materials synthesis), and two awards from DOE Basic Energy Sciences for Significant Implications of DOE Research.
A materials scientist by training, Dr. Baskaran received his degrees from Indian Institute of Technology-Chennai, Virginia Tech, and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.