The constant theme through my career has been a focus on protecting or improving our environment. My work has included controlling non-point-source pollution, managing our country’s nuclear waste, minimizing biofouling in water treatment, and understanding the impacts of subsurface carbon sequestration. My current role is leading the Sandia National Laboratories Energy and Homeland Security programs, which have a mission to secure the nation’s critical infrastructures and the environment against attacks, threats, and climate change by performing world-class research and development. Working at Sandia has strengthened my skills as an integrator, pulling from the depth of expertise at Sandia to build interdisciplinary teams. In this presentation, which I hope will be interrupted with many questions, I will share stories and highlights from my career, as well as talk about the intersection of my career and personal life.
Bio: Susan Altman is Deputy to Sandia’s Energy & Homeland Security (E/HS) Portfolio. Its mission is to secure the nation’s critical infrastructures and environment against attacks, threats, and climate change by performing world-class research and development. This position includes leading the internally funded Laboratory Directed Research and Development E/HS investment area, as well as the Laboratory Climate Security initiative.
Prior to moving into management, Susan spent more than 20 years conducting basic and applied research in geohydrology, geochemistry, biofilms, and water treatment, eventually earning the special appointment of Distinguished Member of the Technical Staff. She has published over 55 reports and peer-reviewed articles, and she holds three patents.
Susan has worked in nuclear waste management, fossil energy, and energy and water programs. She previously served as Assistant Director for the Center for Frontiers of Subsurface Energy Security, a Department of Energy, Basic Energy Sciences, Energy Frontier Research Center focused on the science behind safe, effective, and reliable subsurface CO2 storage. Susan created the Biofilms Laboratory, which generated and tested innovations to ensure the safety of water distribution systems and mitigate biofouling on water-treatment membranes and hydrokinetic water-power devices.
Susan has received 15 internal Sandia recognition awards, including an Employee Recognition Award in Individual Leadership for “leading the Center for Frontiers of Subsurface Energy Security (CFSES) team in developing transformative science for carbon sequestration.” She is also a Fellow at the College of Earth and Mineral Sciences at The Pennsylvania State University.
A strong supporter of inclusion and diversity, Susan mentors staff and created Research Clubs within the Integrated Security Solutions Division to provide focused training in developing and executing cutting-edge research projects. As a member of Sandia’s People and Culture leadership, she works to create bridges between the Labs’ R&D and business communities. Susan also serves on the Geoscience Advisory Board at The Pennsylvania State University. Susan has a bachelor’s degree in environmental sciences from Wesleyan University and a PhD in hydrogeology from The Pennsylvania State University. She has been at Sandia National Laboratories since 1994