Earth Scientist
Earth Scientist

Biography

Jana Simo joined Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) in 2023 as an Earth scientist in the Energy and Environment Directorate. An experienced project manager, she leads and advises research programs in geothermal, hydrogen, and carbon sequestration. Before PNNL, she spent 17 years with Exxon Mobil as a technical expert and project lead for several subsurface research areas.

Simo is an experienced technical leader with a demonstrated history of solving tough geological problems for the energy industry across the global portfolio. Her skills are rooted in Earth science (sedimentology, stratigraphy, sequence stratigraphy, tectonics, and visualization) with deep technical expertise in reservoir modeling and simulation, as well as integrated problem solving. She is proactively working to increase knowledge and gain experience in sustainability and progressing the UN Sustainable Development Goals, with particular interest in gender equality, clean energy, and climate action (SDGs 5, 7, 13).

With a track record of delivering results with high impact, she is sought after for bringing research and innovation into business applications for success. Simo has spent her career working between research and business as an innovative thinker and problem solver. Recognizing technology and information gaps in the business and successfully developing research projects or products to fill them is a strength. She has been specifically requested by projects to create and apply new ideas and workflows, as well as successfully initiated paradigm change in projects while mentoring and leading an integrated team through the process. At times, this has included linking ongoing research and business challenges, and at other times innovating on-the-fly. Successful examples include proxy modeling applications with experimental design on high-uncertainty reservoir cases, leading efforts on reduced-physics simulation and bringing workflows into routine business applications, integrated efficient model updates (framework to simulation) during continuous production drilling, software testing for business use and recommendations, and creating integrated workflows for seismic inversion-modeling simulations that create unified teams and reduce timelines to production. Geologic expertise includes deep and shallow water clastics and lacustrine and marine carbonates, with roles in research, exploration, development and production, overseas building operations influence, and rapid timeline surge-support roles.

Time as a principal scientist in industry engaged her in pivotal leadership roles for project planning, research direction, and developing technical strategy in carbon capture, carbon storage, and deep water project developments. Simo currently manages the Geothermal Subsector for PNNL, oversees project management on subsurface hydrogen projects, and provides technical guidance on subsurface research and modeling across sectors.

Simo is passionate about teaching and mentoring. She lives by "pay it forward" and works hard at elevating women and underrepresented people in the work force through network building, mentoring, and increased visibility. Simo is proud to be recognized and promoted in technical roles through not only technical expertise and performance, but also through positive behaviors and lifting teams as a whole.

Research Interest

  • Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage
  • Geothermal Energy
  • Hydrogen Storage
  • Nuclear Energy
  • Seismic Assimilation
  • Reservoir Characterization
  • Basalt Mineralization
  • Cross-scale Modeling
  • Multi-phase Flow
  • Subsurface Fractures
  • Geomechanics

Disciplines and Skills

  • Project Management
  • Business Development
  • Industry Relations
  • Data Integration
  • Geology
  • Subsurface Characterization
  • Reservoir Modeling
  • Flow and Transport Models
  • Machine Learning – Subsurface Application
  • Geophysics, including Inversion
  • Communication, Teaching, and Staff Development

Education

  • PhD, Geology, University of Wisconsin - Madison
  • MS, Geosciences, University of Arizona
  • BS, Geology, University of Wisconsin - Madison

Affiliations and Professional Service

  • Lean In, Equity & Sustainability Circle, 2022–present