Lucas D. Ellis received his B.S. from California Polytechnic State University, M.S. from Dartmouth College, and Ph.D. focusing on heterogeneous catalysis from the University of Colorado. He is currently a Director’s Postdoctoral Fellow at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). His research focuses on developing heterogeneous catalysts and chemical processes capable of enhancing our societies environmental sustainability. This focus on sustainability has been true early in his career as a Research Technician pursuing lignin valorization technologies, to his stint working at a cellulosic ethanol start-up, pursuing cost-effective lignocellulosic pretreatment processes, and now as a Director’s Postdoctoral Fellow at NREL, developing novel plastic upcycling technologies to monetizing recycling efforts. He has authored 13 peer-reviewed publications and 2 patents.