Our Experts

A dedicated experts and staff run the day-to-day operations of the Institute, and manage its research outputs, training, and public engagement activities. For media or interview inquiries with the Payne Institute Director Morgan Bazilian or any other of the Payne Institute leadership, please contact Greg Clough at (303)384-2218 or gclough@mines.edu.

Morgan Bazilian

Director, Payne Institute
Professor of Public Policy
Engineering Hall 111
303-384-2156
mbazilian@mines.edu

Gregory Clough

Deputy Director, Payne Institute
Engineering Hall 123
303-384-2218
gclough@mines.edu

ALEX BRUNSON

Payne Institute Native American Mining
and Energy Sovereignty (NAMES) Research Associate
1600 Jackson Street, Suite 370H
303-384-2740
brunson@mines.edu

 

 

 

LESLIE FAIGEN

Payne Institute Events Convener
1600 Jackson Street, Suite 370A
303-384-2732
lafaigen@mines.edu

 

 

 

ISABEL GUAJARDO

Payne Institute Critical Minerals Research Associate
1600 Jackson Street, Suite 370A
303-384-2709
isabel_guajardo@mines.edu

 

 

CLARKSON KAMURAI

Payne Institute Critical Minerals Program Manager
and Research Associate
1600 Jackson Street, Suite 370A
303-384-2734
clarkson_kamurai@mines.edu

 

 

 

ANNA AHLSTROM LITTLEFIELD

Payne Institute Geothermal and Low Carbon Technologies Program
Manager and Research Associate
1600 Jackson Street, Suite 370 E
303-384-2742
annalittlefield@mines.edu

 

 

 

Victoria Patti

Operations & Engagement Manager
1600 Jackson Street, Suite 370E
303-384-2721
victoria.patti@mines.edu 

Juliana Reid

Communications and General Manager
1600 Jackson Street, Suite 370 B
303-384-2730
jreid@mines.edu

 

 

 

EARTH OBSERVATION GROUP

Christopher Elvidge

Senior Research Associate
Director of Earth Observation Group
1600 Jackson Street, Suite 370 J
303-384-2731
celvidge@mines.edu

Tilottama (Tilo) Ghosh

Payne Institute Research Associate
Earth Observation Group
1600 Jackson Street, Suite 370 H
303-384-2735
tghosh@mines.edu

Gregory Gleason

Payne Institute System Administrator
and Research Associate
Earth Observation Group
1600 Jackson Street, Suite 370G
303-384-2733
gregory.gleason@mines.edu

Feng Chi (David) Hsu

Payne Institute Research Associate
Earth Observation Group
fengchihsu@mines.edu

Mikhail (Misha) Zhizhin

Payne Institute Research Associate
Earth Observation Group
1600 Jackson Street, Suite 370 I
303-384-2736
mzhizhin@mines.edu

RESEARCH SCIENTISTS

Kellis Ward

Research Scientist
kellisward@mines.edu

 

AFFILIATED PARTNERS

Brad Handler

Researcher and Director,
Energy Finance Lab
bhandler@mines.edu 

Robert (RJ) Johnston

Senior Research Fellow
robert.johnston@mines.edu

Simon Lomax

Director,
Accelerated Methane Reduction Initiative
slomax@mines.edu 

 

 

 

Jahara Matisek

Senior Research Fellow

 

Richard Luarkie

Director, Native American
Mining and Energy Sovereignty Initiative
richard.luarkie@mines.edu

 

 

 

Moshe Mohutsiwa 

Payne Institute Africa Critical Minerals and Energy
Program Manager and Research Associate
mmohutsiwa@mines.edu

 

 

Student researchers

Grace Akinyi

MS, Mineral and Energy Economics

Olufemi Gabriel Awotayo

MS, Mineral and Energy Economics

Andrew Bauman

MS, Mineral and Energy Economics

Donoven Brockman

BS, Metallurgical and Materials Engineering

Angelina Etterman

BS, Geological Engineering

Jason Gustely

MS, Mineral and Energy Economics

Sravan Lavudya

MS, Mineral and Energy Economics

 

 

Liam O’Byrne

BS, Computer Science

 

 

Shane Sethi

MS, Mineral and Energy Economics

Sarah Severin

MS, Natural Resources and Energy Policy

Mirali Seyedrezaei

Ph.D Candidate, Mineral and Energy Economics Program

Arianna Smith

MS, Mineral and Energy Economics

Thomas Steiger

BS, Environmental Engineering

Jacob Verwiel

MS, Mineral and Energy Economics

Evie Webb

BS, Engineering Physics