Dr. Rachel A. Meidl, LP.D., CHMM, is a distinguished fellow in energy and environment at Rice University's Baker Institute for Public Policy. Her research focuses on sustainability; circular economy strategies; life cycle management of hazardous materials and wastes; safety and environmental regulations of the treatment, storage, disposal, and transportation of materials and wastes; assessing plastics policies, advanced recycling technologies and alternative energy applications to understand the environmental, economic, and social impacts across the supply chain; and resiliency of the energy industry.
Dr. Meidl was previously appointed as Deputy Associate Administrator of the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration in Washington, D.C. where she led the agency’s domestic and international strategy, policy, and programs of hazardous materials on behalf of the U.S. government.
She is a strategic and visionary leader with over 24 years of regulatory, public policy, advocacy and technical experience in industry, academia, government and international relations.
Dr. Meidl holds a Ph.D. in law and public policy from Northeastern University, a master in environmental policy and management with a concentration in environmental chemistry and international law, a master of education in applied science and technology with certifications in chemistry and physics, and bachelors degrees in conservation biology and zoology & animal physiology from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Dr. Meidl is also is a Certified Hazardous Materials Manager.