Dan received a Ph.D. degree in Inorganic Chemistry from the University of California, Berkeley in 2008. His doctoral research combined synthetic molecular and materials chemistry with detailed characterization and performance testing of novel heterogeneous catalysts. He then worked on a variety of catalyst development projects at the Dow Chemical Company in the Renewable Feedstocks & Process Catalysis Group before joining the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in 2010. Dan's research at NREL integrates the synthesis and characterization of functional molecules and materials to enable advanced renewable fuels production and related energy technologies. 

Inorganic chemistry and catalysis

New synthetic pathways to functional materials

Renewable fuels production and processes

Biomass conversion catalysis

Inorganic molecular and materials synthesis and characterization

Molecular precursor approaches to nano- and meso-scale materials

Compositional and morphological control of materials

Surface chemistry

Catalysis science including heterogeneous catalyst design and synthesis and zeolite synthesis and modification

Electrocatalysis and photocatalysis

In-situ and operando characterization techniques

Staff Scientist, National Bioenergy Center, NREL, 2011–present

Post-Doctoral Researcher - NREL, Chemistry and Nanoscience Center, 2010–2011

Senior Chemist, The Dow Chemical Company, 2008–2009