Esther Wilcox is the Research Operations Director for the Bioenergy Science and Technology directorate at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). In this role, she is responsible for ensuring the safe operation of ~140 research labs and 3 pilot plants. Prior to this position, she was the manager of the Thermochemical Process Development Unit (TCPDU) at NREL, a ½ ton/day pilot plant which produced syngas and pyrolysis oil from biomass. She led the TCPDU team in several significant efforts including a technology demonstration for the Department of Energy, design and installation of new unit operations, and improving the safety and operations following a substantial safety event.
Esther’s research background is primarily catalysis and membranes. Early in her career she worked at two start-up companies. While at Range Fuels, she managed the syngas-to-ethanol catalyst testing lab and provided technical support to the pilot plant and the reactor designer of the full-scale plant. At Synkera Technologies, she developed catalytic anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) membranes for hydrogen production and assisted with troubleshooting of the gas sensor and AAO production lines.