Dr. Katelyn Dean is a Research Specialist at the EFI Foundation.
Dean’s work focuses on advancing the energy transition by researching innovative policy support mechanisms at state and federal levels. In addition to her technical climate expertise and federal agency experience, Dean brings a deep-rooted passion for pragmatic, evidenced-based science policy with broad societal benefits. Thus far, her work at EFIF has included state and local government procurement of clean commodities and strategies for improved federal energy technology policy implementation.
Prior to joining EFIF, Dean was an energy and market analyst with the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Clean Energy Demonstrations (OCED). There, she conducted energy market, policy, and emissions research for a variety of advanced clean energy technologies in support of the OCED portfolio strategy development. Her work included lead authorship on two agency-wide Pathways to Commercial Liftoff reports describing commercialization outlooks and strategies for clean hydrogen and sustainable aviation fuel through ample public-private engagement. Dean first joined DOE as an American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Science and Technology Policy Fellow.
Before transitioning to energy policy, Dean spent seven years researching the air quality, health, and economic impacts of wildfire smoke across the U.S. Her scholarship was highly interdisciplinary, bringing together experts in chemistry, economics, and public health to quantify the impacts of wildfire smoke experienced by everyday Americans. Her work included geospatial analysis of global atmospheric chemistry models, satellite-based datasets, and low-cost air pollution sensors. Dean’s research resulted in nearly 30 academic papers that are widely cited and have been featured in national news outlets including CNN, Axios, and the Washington Post.
Dean holds a doctorate and Master of Science degree in atmospheric science from Colorado State University in Fort Collins, Colorado, and a Bachelor of Science in physics from the College of Charleston in Charleston, South Carolina.
