Dr. Kathleen Araújo is Professor of Sustainable Energy Systems, Innovation, and Policy at Boise State University, and Director of the Energy Policy Institute. As a recognized authority on decision-making, policy, and management in energy system transitions, her expertise spans technology change, regional diversification, and critical infrastructure resilience against cyber threats, extreme weather, geopolitics, and related disruptions. Prior to her faculty and director roles, she completed doctoral work on international energy and environmental policy at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) and post-doctoral research on nuclear safety and science-technology policy at the Harvard Kennedy School of Government.

Over nearly two decades, Dr. Araújo has led significant multi-institutional research and educational initiatives. She currently directs U.S. Department of Energy-funded research and a national consortium on consent-based siting for critical infrastructure, with an emphasis on spent nuclear fuel and integrated waste management. She also leads a $24M National Science Foundation initiative on energy-water system resilience, as well as online programming focused on nuclear security and safeguards.

While her work spans all energy sectors, her nuclear research focuses on regional road-mapping; safety, security, and safeguards for plant restarts, digital twins, and tech hubs; SMR and microreactor development; post-Fukushima regulatory changes; and international drone-nuclear regulation presented at the IAEA. She authored Low Carbon Energy Transitions (Oxford University Press) and edited the Routledge Handbook of Energy Transitions, recognized as Best Edited Volume by the American Energy Society. Dr. Araújo regularly consults across sectors and was honored as a Boise State Presidential Innovator in 2023.