Jennifer Palmer manages the technical coordination between internal and external Advanced Research on Integrated Energy Systems (ARIES) stakeholders, supports the evolution of the platform’s R&D plan, and assists in the coordination of technical reviews and requests for information. She plays a key role in the strategic planning of ARIES.

Jennifer brings more than 30 years of experience in delivering strategic and impactful technology-based partnerships in manufacturing, buildings, transportation, grid, hydro, fossil, bioenergy and renewable technologies. She is well versed in stakeholder engagement, collaborating with senior lab and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) officials within Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy. Most recently, Jennifer served as the program manager for technology transfer at the Y-12 National Security Complex in Oak Ridge, Tennessee, and the Pantex Plant in Amarillo, Texas, where she managed the intellectual property portfolio across two sites for the National Nuclear Security Administration. She has also served as a program manager at Oak Ridge National Laboratory where she managed the lab’s $55M discretionary R&D portfolio, facilitated DOE’S National Laboratory User Facilities strategy for Applied R&D at Oak Ridge National Laboratory—including the Manufacturing Demonstration Facility, the Carbon Fiber Technology Facility, the Buildings Technologies Research and Integration Center, the National Transportation Research Center, and the Grid Research Integration and Deployment Center; and supported proposal development for the Cybersecurity Institute for Energy Efficient Manufacturing, the National Alliance for Water Innovation, the Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation, the Center for Bioenergy Innovation, and the Oak Ridge Innovation Institute for workforce development in emerging energy-related fields.

Education

M.A., Management, Tusculum University

B.S., Environmental Science, Tusculum University

A.S., Dual: Chemistry and Biology, Roane State Community College

Graduate Certificate in Systems Engineering, University of Tennessee

Certificate in Technology Commercialization, Institute of Technology Commercialization, University of Texas-Austin 

Professional Experience

Research Advisor and Technical Coordinator (ARIES), National Renewable Energy Laboratory, (2022–present)

Program Manager (Technology Transfer), Y-12 National Security Complex and Pantex Plant, (2021–2022)

Program Manager (Strategic Planning; Energy and Environmental Sciences; Science and Technology Partnerships), Oak Ridge National Laboratory, (1999–2021)

Research Associate (Environmental Science), University of Tennessee/Oak Ridge National Laboratory, (1992–1999) 

Featured Work

Market Assessment for “Healthy Air” HVAC System in California, Oak Ridge National Laboratory Technical Report (2006)

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 5–Builders and Buyers Handbook for Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Marine Climate, NREL Technical Report (2006)

Building America Best Practices Series: Volume 4–Builders and Buyers Handbook for Improving New Home Efficiency, Comfort, and Durability in the Mixed Humid Climate, NREL Technical Report (2005)

Fate and Transport of Dissolved Organic Carbon in Soils From Two Contrasting Watersheds, Soil Science Society of America Abstract (2003)

Time Integrated, Flux-Based Monitoring Using Semipermeable Membrane Devices to Estimate the Contribution of Industrial Facilities to Regional PCB Budgets, Environmental Toxicology Chemistry (2002)

Assessment of the Influences of Groundwater Colloids on the Migration of Technetium-99 at the Paducah Gaseous Diffusion Plant Site in Paducah, Kentucky, Oak Ridge National Laboratory Technical Report (1994)

Awards and Honors

United States White House Communications Agency Distinguished Leadership for President Obama and VP Biden Announcement of The Institute for Advanced Composites Manufacturing Innovation, Oak Ridge National Laboratory (2015)

Director Award for Outstanding Team Accomplishment (Energy and Environmental Sciences), UT-Battelle/Oak Ridge National Laboratory (2014)

Excellence in Technology Transfer (Advanced Manufacturing), UT-Battelle/Oak Ridge National Laboratory (2014)

Distinguished Achievement Award for Technical Support (Environmental Sciences), Oak Ridge National Laboratory (2000)