Alexis Abramson, associate professor of mechanical and aerospace engineering, was appointed faculty director of the Great Lakes Energy Institute.
Abramson has been with the Case School of Engineering since 2003, where she has focused her research on novel techniques for thermal characterization of nanostructures, the design and synthesis of unique nanomaterials for use in alternative energy applications and strategies to accelerate technology commercialization at universities and research institutions.
On temporary assignment to the federal government since 2011, Abramson has been providing strategic leadership and oversight to the Emerging Technologies Team at the Department of Energy’s Building Technologies Office, which invests about $90 million per year in the research, development and commercialization of energy-efficient and cost-effective building technologies that are within five years of being market-ready. Abramson’s work there to develop strategies that focus on quality public engagement, peer-reviewed quantitative analysis and structured prioritization of federal investment projects has been so successful that the DOE requested she extend her leadership position with the program, which will continue until December.
From 2006 to 2009, Abramson was a senior fellow at NorTech, Northeast Ohio’s tech-based economic development organization. There, she focused on enabling economic development in northeast Ohio by leveraging technology development and commercialization opportunities at companies and academic institutions in the region.
“I am thrilled about Abramson’s acceptance of this position,” said Dean Jeffrey L. Duerk. “Her work with the DOE and NorTech has made her an expert at interfacing with industry on both the regional and national levels. This and her focus on accelerated technology transfer align perfectly with the goals of the institute. She is the ideal person to build upon the foundation laid by Iwan Alexander and Dianne Anderson, who will continue as the institute’s executive director.”
Abramson will replace outgoing inaugural GLEI faculty director Iwan Alexander, who also serves as the chair of the Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering. Alexander is leaving the university in July to become dean of the School of Engineering at the University of Alabama at Birmingham.