PNNL

Anastasia Bernat is a data scientist specialized in processing and modeling energy and Earth system data for impactful decision-making science. Her project history primarily resides in the emergent term of “climate tech” that refers to the array of technologies that address the urgent challenges posed by climate change across multiple sectors. Bernat has programmed several science-relevant data tools and data products, including artificial intelligence (AI)-driven software to streamline National Environmental Policy Act reviews (SearchNEPA), a techno-economic simulator for advanced geothermal systems (GeoCLUSTER), and a Department of Energy feasibility mapper (GRIDCERF). Combining data science, computational modeling, and environmental science, she is also deft in geographic information systems and statistical modeling used to better enable intelligent hazard mapping and environmental monitoring analyses. Her leadership has guided data product teams to deliver impact and value to sponsors across DOE offices, including contributing to U.S. Government Accountability Office audits and earning project-level recognition by the White House in the “AI for Good” space. With a decorated writing background, she served as a science communication chair and was awarded a science policy scholarship. Prior work at the University of Chicago resided in computational ecology where she researched ecological responses to human-induced rapid environmental change and taught statistical methods to graduate students.

• Climate and energy technology
• GeoAI and geospatial modeling
• Big structured and unstructured data
• Human-Earth system dynamics
• Multi-sector energy solutions
• Data and artificial intelligence governance
• Science writing and communication

• Honors BA in English, University of Chicago
• BS in environmental science, University of Chicago

• Invited Presenter, International Atomic Energy Agency AI Consultancy Meeting, 2024
• Invited Presenter, Duke University Case Studies in Data Governance and Supply Chain Security, 2023
• Chair of the Science Communication Committee, National Science Policy Network (NSPN), 2023 – 2024
• Science Policy Scholar, NSPN, 2023
• Member, American Geophysical Union, 2024 – present
• Member, American Association for the Advancement of Science 2024 – present
• Member, Society of Literature, Science, and the Arts, 2024 – present

• Exceptional Contributions Award, Energy and Environment Directorate (EED), Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), 2023
• Of-the-Year (OTY) Innovation in Research Team Finalist, EED, PNNL, 2023
• OTY Early Career Researcher Award Finalist, EED, PNNL, 2022
• Seven Outstanding Performance Awards, EED, PNNL, 2022 – present 
• Best Oral Presentation, Midwest Women in Science Conference, 2021 
• Fulbright U.S-Italy Research Semi-Finalist, Fulbright Association, 2019
• Honors BA and BA Thesis with Special Honors, University of Chicago, 2019
• General Honors and Dean's List, University of Chicago, 2015 – 2019

• White, M. et al. Numerical investigation of closed-loop geothermal systems in deep geothermal reservoirs. Geothermics. 2024
• Bernat, A. Building an enhanced flight mill for the study of tethered insect flight. JoVE. 2021.