A Researcher’s Career Journey, an Arizona High School’s Innovation, and a Scientist’s Mentorship Mentality

04/30/25 • 8 min

In this episode, hosts Kerrin Jeromin and Taylor Mankle highlight the human side of energy innovation—from personal career journeys to community impact and mentorship. Highlights include:

A look into how Senior Scientist Susan Habas’ love for 90s pop culture inspired her to pursue a career in catalytic research, providing the foundations for her cutting-edge work at NREL.
How Ponderosa High School in Arizona is empowering students who faced difficulties in their education by giving them a glimpse into advanced energy careers through a unique partnership with NREL and the Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN2).
Recognizing the work of solar photochemistry pioneer Garry Rumbles, who is retiring after 25 years at NREL and leaving behind not just a legacy of research, but a culture of support and mentorship.

This episode was hosted by Kerrin Jeromin and Taylor Mankle, written and produced by Allison Montroy, Hannah Halusker, and Kaitlyn Stottler, and edited by James Wilcox, Joe DelNero, and Brittany Falch. Graphics are by Brittnee Gayet. Our title music is written and performed by Ted Vaca and episode music by Chuck Kurnik, Jim Riley, and Mark Sanseverino of Drift BC. Transforming Energy: The NREL Podcast is created by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory in Golden, Colorado. Email us at [email protected]. Follow NREL on X, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Threads, and Facebook.

In this episode, hosts Kerrin Jeromin and Taylor Mankle highlight the human side of energy innovation—from personal career journeys to community impact and mentorship. Highlights include:

A look into how Senior Scientist Susan Habas’ love for 90s pop culture inspired her to pursue a career in catalytic research, providing the foundations for her cutting-edge work at NREL.
How Ponderosa High School in Arizona is empowering students who faced difficulties in their education by giving them a glimpse into advanced energy careers through a unique partnership with NREL and the Wells Fargo Innovation Incubator (IN2).
Recognizing the work of solar photochemistry pioneer Garry Rumbles, who is retiring after 25 years at NREL and leaving behind not just a legacy of research, but a culture of support and mentorship.

Previous Episode

The Ocean Energy Testing Barrier, Building a Fire-Resilient Home From Ashes, and a Surprise High School Science Bowl Victory

In this episode, hosts Taylor Mankle and Kerrin Jeromin explore stories of innovation and determination at NREL, including:

How researchers are testing marine energy technologies in land-locked Colorado. With tools like a sophisticated wave tank and the Large Amplitude Motion Platform (LAMP), researchers can test marine energy devices in simulated ocean conditions—without ever dipping a toe in the sea. These facilities reduce time, cost, and risk, accelerating the development of reliable energy from ocean waves and currents.
The building strategies that one NREL employee used to rebuild his home after Colorado’s most destructive wildfire. With insights from NREL-validated designs and a focus on passive energy techniques, air sealing, and ember-resistant construction, Kevin Lombardo rebuilt a home that is both fire resilient and energy-efficient.
And one team’s surprise win at Colorado’s Regional High School Science Bowl. After a last-minute entry, Stargate Charter School defeated four-time champion Fossil Ridge, securing a spot at the national finals in Washington, D.C. Along the way, students answered challenging STEM questions.

Next Episode

A Record-Breaking Year for Innovation and the Industry Growth Forum

In this episode, hosts Kerrin Jeromin and Taylor Mankle dive into a banner year for innovation at NREL. Together, they explore the entrepreneurial side of energy technology, including:

NREL’s record-breaking 294 invention disclosures and 46 patents in Fiscal Year 2024—including the first patent from NREL’s Cybersecurity Research Center, an AI-powered system for grid security. Licensing Executive Eric Payne explains how patents reflect years of prior innovation, and the team highlights one invention that began its journey more than a decade prior. Plus,
The 30th anniversary of NREL’s Industry Growth Forum, which broke attendance records with more than 1,000 participants and introduced new features like reverse pitches and spotlight sessions. With $5 billion in investment capital represented and nearly 3,000 meetings between startups and investors, this year’s forum marked a significant step in accelerating the commercialization of advanced energy solutions.

Correction: More than 200 active investors attended the Industry Growth Forum together representing $5 billion in capital that they are looking to deploy over the next 12 months, not years.

Transforming Energy: The NREL Podcast - A Researcher’s Career Journey, an Arizona High School’s Innovation, and a Scientist’s Mentorship Mentality

Transcript

[intro music, fades]

Kerrin: Welcome to Transforming Energy: The NREL Podcast, brought to you by the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Renewable Energy Laboratory. We’re highlighting the latest in advanced energy research and innovations happening at the lab. It’s Wednesday, April 30th. I’m Kerrin Jeromin.

Taylor: And I’m Taylor Mankle.

Kerrin: We have a great episode today focused on some great peopl