Dane Christensen ’00 has joined the Rice Engineering Advisory Board (EAB) and will serve as an advisor to the dean in matters related to the energy transition.
Christensen is a senior laboratory program manager at the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), which accelerates the transition of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies to the marketplace. His research focuses on intelligent efficiency, data-driven controls and analytics, virtual power plants and cybersecurity for grid-edge technologies.
“Energy transition is a key research thrust for our school, and Dane’s expertise will bring invaluable perspective and guidance in this role,” said Luay Nakhleh, William and Stephanie Sick Dean of the George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing. “His affiliation with a national lab introduces a unique area of expertise that will enhance the EAB.”
At NREL, Christensen leads teams in designing technologies that enable smart home systems to perform efficiently. He was instrumental in developing NREL’s award-winning foresee™ home automation technology, which uses machine-learning algorithms, data analytics and modeling to predict comfort needs, energy costs, environmental impacts and grid service availability.
He has also authored more than 60 peer-reviewed publications and has four issued patents, among other accomplishments in developing secure, sustainable and resilient energy systems.
“It's an honor to join the board, and I look forward to working with my colleagues to support the continued success of the George R. Brown School of Engineering and Computing,” said Christensen.
Dane received a B.S. from Rice University and a Ph.D. from the University of California, Berkeley, both in mechanical engineering.