"I heard it from a number of people early on in my career and definitely needed the advice to stick with it. When you are working in service of a higher goal, all of the smaller tasks are important, regardless of subject matter.


This issue features Michelle Krynock, Senior Life Cycle Analyst at the Department of Energy’s National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), Global CO2 Initiative Advisory Board Member.

Michelle serves as part of the life cycle analysis competency on the Energy Systems Analysis Team within the Strategic Systems Engineering Analysis directorate. Michelle has been performing life cycle analyses (LCAs) at the lab for nine years and has used LCA techniques for research, policy and regulatory support across numerous energy-related industries. She currently manages LCA projects in technological areas such as carbon conversion, carbon storage, critical minerals sustainability, and chemical production.

Can you explain how you started out in this field and also what keeps you here? 


I stumbled into it after I finished my undergraduate degree. I needed a job, and I happened to find this one. 


What keeps me there is that it's very interesting and challenging. It's at the forefront of a lot of environmental issues that I care about. I’ve never been bored in this role. So that's why I stayed. 



Have you ever received any particularly good advice? 


I heard from a number of people early on in my career that it is important to stick with it. When you are working in service of a higher goal, all of the smaller tasks are important, regardless of subject matter. Even if the task you are working on today is not as exciting as you would like, there is bound to be another problem soon that will be more engaging.

What is your background?


I have a bachelor's in Civil and Environmental Engineering and Engineering and Public Policy from Carnegie Mellon. Many of the people with whom I work have advanced degrees. When I was first hired, I was the youngest one on the team. Since I was the junior person, I ended up working on a lot of tedious data stuff, which actually ended up being a great way to learn about the topic. I spent a long time as one of three modelers on the team, so most of the projects came through me in some capacity. Since I had the opportunity to look at most of the projects, I learned a lot and became a generalist on the team. I was able to keep track of how everything works, which is one of the benefits of being a generalist rather than a specialist Ph.D. who focuses only on a specific technology area.



Have you changed your mind about anything since you've been in this field?


I was initially really skeptical of consequential LCA. When I first started, it sounded too uncertain. But these days, I’m actually really, really interested in it. You have to be thinking of consequences in some way when you're making these models, especially if you're in a regulatory space. You need to keep in mind what you're doing and how it will be used. If not a fully consequential LCA, often at least a hybrid model seems to be the answer for most things that I do. 

Is there a fun fact about yourself that you could share?


I have three cats: Polly, Robin and Maeve. I got Polly six years ago and later I decided that she needed a friend, so I got Robin. However, Robin was too much for her, so I got Robin a friend – Maeve. Now Robin and Maeve play together, and we have achieved a necessary balance.


Is there anything else that you would like to share with readers?


NETL is hiring! Come check us out!

News in a Nutshell

A recording of "Exploring the Future of Carbon Capture and Utilization" is now availalbe on the GCI YouTube channel


DOE Invests $29 Million to Reduce Carbon Emissions


LanzaTech Expands Gas Fermentation Tech to Recycle Waste Carbon Into Protein, Partners with US Military


A recording of the DOE/NETL 45Q Carbon Oxide Conversion LCA Training Workshop is now available


Playbook of Solutions To Mobilize Clean Energy Investment in the Global South

Imminent Events

Deploy 2024

December 4-5, 2024


Demonstrate, Deploy, Decarbonize 2024 (Deploy24) is the second annual convening of leaders and decision-makers across sectors dedicated to accelerating clean energy deployment and investment in the United States. Hosted by the Department of Energy, Deploy24 will showcase cutting-edge innovations, encourage open and honest discussion on breakthrough strategies, and forge collaborations that will strengthen economic competitiveness and enable domestic decarbonization.

Keep in touch


We want to hear from you! Is there something or someone that you would like to see featured in a future issue? Let us know!

Visit our website
LinkedIn  Instagram  YouTube
X Share This Email
LinkedIn Share This Email