Early-Career Spotlight: Michelle Herrera
Welcome to the Materials, Chemical, and Computational Science (MCCS) Early-Career Spotlight, a monthly feature showcasing the National Renewable Energy Laboratory's (NREL's) early-career researchers' interests, motivations, and achievements. This month, we are featuring Michelle Herrera, who has been a project manager at NREL since 2024.
Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Michelle Herrera has long known what she wanted to do when she grew up.
"I knew from a very early age that I wanted to work in renewable energy," said Herrera, a project manager at NREL. "That motivation has driven the choices I have made in life. However, life has a funny way of taking you on its own path."
Even when the details were fuzzy, like what her specific role in the industry would be, the destination was clear. Little did she know that her perseverance would one day pay off.
Eager for Engineering
Herrera attended Baylor University, where she chose to pursue a degree that she could apply to her dream career.
"I chose general engineering, which involved electrical and mechanical electives," Herrera explained. "I thought that I would need both disciplines. I was able to work on an honors thesis researching the use of biogas in a fuel cell."
Engineering degree in hand, Herrera turned to the job market.
"After graduation, I did not land a renewable energy job and ended up working for Sonoco Flexible Packaging as a process engineer," Herrera shared.
But she did not let the minor setback shake her resolve.
"I started in the production laboratory and gained manufacturing experience," Herrera said. "I knew I didn't want to spend my entire career in flexible packaging, so I decided to apply to the Colorado School of Mines for a master's degree."
Ready for Research
Herrera was offered a position at Mines in a master's program researching the direct reduction of iron—a cleaner alternative in the steel industry and one step closer to her dream career.
"At the time, I knew nothing about metallurgy or the steel industry but jumped at the opportunity to go to my dream school. My time at Mines was incredible," Herrera recalled. "I loved to learn and enjoyed researching carbon formation in direct reduced iron. My thesis involved plant trials changing process conditions to alter the carbon in the final material."
After obtaining her master's, Herrera was offered a research engineering position at voestalpine Texas in Corpus Christi, Texas, a plant she worked with during her master's program.
"I spent half my time as a research engineer, building plant simulations and partnering with universities," Herrera said. "The other half was spent as a process engineer, where I was the engineer on duty for the week and on call for plant shutdowns. I led maintenance turnaround projects and conducted investigations for plant trips. I was first introduced to project management during this job."
Doing the Dream
Herrera spent a little over two years at voestalpine before turning to the job market once more.
"At the time, I still thought I wanted to be a researcher," Hererra said. "I landed a project engineering position at a green-ammonia startup. I was finally in renewable energy!"
Working for the startup was an exciting experience for Herrera. The pace of project execution was much faster than her previous manufacturing role, and she obtained her project management professional certification.
"It was here that I really fell in love with project management," Herrera shared. "There is so much joy that comes from successfully finishing a build."
The startup began facing financial difficulties, so Herrera decided to explore other opportunities.
Passionate About Projects
Herrera applied to NREL and landed her current position as a project manager for the MCCS Research Operations Team.
"My path has allowed me to see different industrial plants, giving me a solid foundation for engineering and problem-solving," Herrera explained.
Herrera currently manages equipment installations and modifications for various research groups within the MCCS directorate. The work involves overseeing projects from the initiation stage all the way to execution and handover. She is also part of the MCCS laboratory space management team and helps manage the Institutional General Purpose Equipment program.
"I am a data-driven individual," Herrera said, "so ensuring that project documentation is present and organized effectively is what I strive for. My goal is to make the project execution phase easier for all parties by ensuring that expectations are clearly communicated."
Herrera is even managing the modification of a muffle furnace for the direct reduction of iron—a topic closely related to her master's studies. "Understanding the technology and research helps me better visualize the final outcome compared to the other projects I manage," she said.
"The people I work with are what excite me about my job," Herrera said. "The research operations team consists of a great group of individuals who are excited about the work we do at NREL. Additionally, as a project manager, I get to interact with various teams inside and outside the directorate. Every project brings a unique group of people together, keeping things interesting."
Last Updated May 1, 2025