About Us

Stephen Stella leads EPRI’s Technology Innovation Program which is focused on exploring the impact of Emerging Topics, Trends, and Technologies across the energy industry.  He works with researchers, early-stage technology developers, subject matter experts and utilities to identify the impact of emerging products and technologies in a diverse array of energy applications. Prior to joining EPRI, Stephen worked in numerous engineering, marketing, and business development roles spanning multiple companies and industries, including stints in the semiconductor, alternative energy, and automotive industries. Stephen holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering and an M.S. in Mechanical Engineering from the Ohio State University, and an MBA from the Ross Business School at the University of Michigan.  He currently resides in Iowa City, IA.

Rick has over 37 years of professional experience ranging from customer audits to program development, strategic planning, sales training, market potential studies, and market research related to both small and large commercial business customers. This builds off his chemical engineering and business administration education.

Dr. Ashley Roberts is a Technical Leader in EPRI’s Low-Carbon Resources Initiative (LCRI) and Generation Sector, based in Charlotte, NC. Her expertise centers on the development of low-emission technologies and markets. At EPRI she works across projects focused on hydrogen and low-carbon fuels, lifecycle assessment, workforce development, and strategic management. She was an officer of two start-ups and has over 10 years of experience in the energy sector, having worked with public, private, and government organizations. She received her PhD in Materials Science and Engineering from Monash University in Melbourne, Australia, and holds an MS in Engineering Physics and MBA in International Business from Appalachian State University.

Dr. Suma Jothibasu is Technical Leader with the Energy Storage Group at Electric Power Research Institute, Palo Alto. Her research focus is on Microgrid design for improved resiliency, feasibility analysis and valuation studies. She is Principal Investigator for several CEC and DoD funded projects Microgrid demonstration and feasibility studies. She received her PhD in electrical engineering from the University of Texas at Austin. Her PhD dissertation was on electric power network design for high resiliency and high DER integration. She has over 10 years of research experience in power system and DER modeling area.

Dr. Charlyne Smith is a Nuclear Engineer and Scientist at the Electric Power Research Institute, where she co-leads the Nuclear Innovation Program. She is also a research scientist at the University of Florida, working on nuclear materials projects. Dr. Smith holds a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics and Chemistry from Coppin State University, as well as a master’s degree in Nuclear Engineering and a PhD in Nuclear Engineering, both from the University of Florida. With a background as a Distinguished Research Fellow at Idaho National Laboratory and Research Scientist at the University of Florida, Dr. Smith specializes in advanced characterization and post-irradiation examination of nuclear fuels and materials, publishing extensively in leading nuclear materials and engineering journals. She spearheads initiatives like the Nuclear Energy – SMR Symposium and Nuclear Engineering Bootcamp to enhance education and research in developing countries.

Emma Wong is the Lead of Nuclear Innovation with an additional focus on International Engagement and Support at the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI). She has just returned from a two-year secondment at the OECD Nuclear Energy Agency in Paris, France where she was the Senior Nuclear Technology and Innovation Advisor. There she led the efforts on the SMR Dashboard, Nuclear Innovation 2050, Global Forum for Nuclear Innovation, and disruptive technologies such as Artificial Intelligence.

Emma was the key interface to the U.S. Department of Energy, Nuclear Regulatory Commission, the Nuclear Energy Institute, industry members, and other national and international organizations for aging management research. 

Emma holds a B.S. and an M.S. Chemical Engineering Degrees from the University of Michigan and the University of California San Diego respectively. 

Nancy LaFlair  is a Engineer IV  at the Electric Power Research Institute with the Energy Delivery and Consumer Solutions sector. In her current role, she supports testing and evaluations in power quality and continuity of power in critical applications. Prior to joining EPRI, she served 10 years in the United States Navy, working in the Nuclear Power Program. Nancy has a combined 16 years of experience in operations, maintenance, training, and electrical safety and risk analysis. Nancy holds a B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the Citadel.