PNNL

Cynthia (Cindy) Powell, PhD, is the chief science and technology officer of the Energy and Environment Directorate at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), where she seeks to identify and foster new ideas that will translate into tomorrow’s technology breakthroughs. She also builds and demonstrates new research capabilities while also facilitating research and development partnerships with industry, academia, and other research organizations. A materials scientist, Dr. Powell is especially interested in scalable solutions to challenges associated with metals, polymers, composites, and other materials that must be addressed to realize the Department of Energy’s goals for affordable, reliable energy for all Americans. 

Dr. Powell joined PNNL in 2017 as the division director for the Energy Processes and Materials Division, which spans areas such as battery technologies, advanced metals manufacturing, biomass conversions, carbon capture and utilization, applied catalysis, advanced separations, and hydrogen production and storage. In 2018, she launched PNNL’s Solid Phase Processing Science initiative, a Laboratory Directed Research and Development program offering a new approach to metals manufacturing by applying mechanical energy.

Prior to joining PNNL, Dr. Powell held various leadership positions at the National Energy Technology Laboratory, including executive director for Research & Innovation and chief research officer. 

• PhD, materials science and engineering, Case Western Reserve University
• MS, ceramic engineering, Clemson University
• BS, ceramic engineering, Clemson University

2020

• Gwalani B., M. J. Olszta, S. Varma, L. Li, A. Soulami, E. J. Kautz, S. Pathak, A. Rohatgi, P. V. Sushko, S. Mathaudhu, C. A. Powell, and A. Debaraj. 2020. “Extreme Shear-Deformation-Induced Modification of Defect Structures and Hierarchical Microstructure in an Al-Si Alloy.” Communications Materials 1 (85). PNNL-SA-153669. https://doi.org/10.1038/s43246-020-00087-x