For as long as she can remember, Emilie Lozier has found comfort in science. Now, she applies that same scientific curiosity to tackling energy technology and workforce challenges for a cleaner, greener future.
Advanced Materials & Manufacturing Technologies Office
January 2, 2025
minute read time
For as long as she can remember, Emilie Lozier has found comfort in science.
“As a child, if I got sick, I’d imagine my body fighting the germs,” explained Lozier. “Or if I worried that an asteroid might collide with Earth, my mom would assure me that there are people who study asteroids and can help us prepare in the unlikely event of a serious asteroid collision. Science helped me make sense of an often-unpredictable world.”
Lozier now applies that same scientific curiosity to tackling energy technology and workforce challenges for a cleaner, greener future.
Lozier is currently an American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS, usually pronounced “triple A S”) Science and Technology Policy Fellow at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office (AMMTO). Here, she supports AMMTO’s Energy Technology Manufacturing and Workforce pillar, with a focus on energy efficiency in microelectronics and semiconductors. These tiny devices are essential to modern technologies like smartphones, laptops, and electric vehicles.
“The energy required to power these technologies is becoming a significant concern,” said Lozier. “It’s crucial to balance this demand with climate and emissions reduction targets. We need to improve energy efficiency across all levels of technology.”
Lozier’s work shows the importance of using expertise in the semiconductor industry to boost energy efficiency. One technical project that Emilie is supporting during her AAAS fellowship is DOE’s Energy Efficiency Scaling for Two Decades (EES2) initiative, which outlines the technological research and development needed to increase the energy efficiency of semiconductor applications, especially computing applications, by 1,000 times over the next two decades. Because semiconductor technologies are the fastest-growing users of electricity—and could soon be the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions from electricity use—the potential impact of this work is historic.
Lozier’s work with AMMTO also includes power electronics, which are vital to the conversion and control of electrical power in U.S. critical infrastructure. By connecting advancements in energy-efficient microelectronics and power electronics with the skills and training needed to support these technologies, Lozier’s work is bridging technological advancement and workforce development, reflecting AMMTO’s emphasis on people as central to its mission.
“I aim to operate at the nexus of science and people, recognizing that people are at the core of scientific progress,” said Lozier.
In this Q&A interview, Lozier shares how she applies her lifelong passion for science to advancing energy technology, fostering collaboration, and advocating for the people who drive the clean energy transition.
You started life with a strong curiosity. Does that still drive you now?
As a child, I loved helping my dad with house projects. In kindergarten or first grade, when I was asked to write down what I wanted to be when I grew up, I would write “worker.” To me, that meant working with my hands to build things, as I had with my dad. As I grew older and saw all the ways science can help us understand the world and make life better, I wanted to become a scientist. Then, as I transitioned into adulthood and progressed through college and grad school, I realized that becoming a scientist isn’t just a matter of saying, “Okay, now I’ll be a scientist.” The reality is that there are many different ways to engage with science.
Along my career path, I’ve worked to envision and align myself with the type of scientist I aspire to be. I want to engage in science that connects with people. Science isn't just an isolated pursuit; it’s deeply intertwined with human experiences and interactions.
A pivotal moment for me came in high school when my home state of Wisconsin—where unions are prominent—passed Act 10, which limited public-sector workers' bargaining rights. I realized how my teachers’ working conditions affected their ability to teach and my ability to learn. This shaped my later involvement in labor organizing during graduate school, particularly in unionizing with my fellow graduate researchers.
After completing my Ph.D. at Northwestern, I worked with United Electrical, Radio, and Machine Workers of America (UE) supporting postdoctoral researchers in their unionization efforts. Now, as the nation creates more manufacturing jobs, especially in the semiconductor industry, I see an opportunity to merge science, technology, and labor for the clean energy transition. The AAAS fellowship provides me with the platform to continue building these skills and work at this crucial intersection.
What obstacles have you faced on the path to where you are now? How have you overcome them?
A big external obstacle was the first year or two of the coronavirus pandemic. My maternal grandmother died of COVID, which was devastating on its own. On top of that, I was a hands-on experimentalist in my grad program, and for months during the pandemic, we couldn’t go in to do our experimental work. When we finally could, there were still all these concerns about whether we could conduct our research in safe conditions.
The isolation of the pandemic also exacerbated a big internal obstacle: my own self-doubt. I think isolation makes self-doubt worse because when you're stuck by yourself, in your own head, it can make whatever you’re dealing with feel 10 times harder.
What helped the most was continuing to build a network of support with my fellow grad students, both in my program and across other programs at Northwestern. In fact, the effects of the pandemic galvanized our unionization efforts. Reconnecting with friends outside of grad school, even those in completely different fields, was also really grounding.
Now that you’re working with AMMTO, what’s most exciting about your work?
I’m deciding what my portfolio of work will include. The possibilities are endless, which is exciting, but this also means I have to be careful not to overload my plate.
In particular, I’m realizing how timely and relevant this work is. One major thing I’m supporting right now is the EES2 initiative. Now through December 16, we’re seeking input from industry, academia, research laboratories, government agencies, and other stakeholders on issues related to energy efficiency in the semiconductor industry, particularly for computing applications—so if you’re one of those stakeholders and you have feedback, please share it!
It seems every week there’s a new story about energy demands, especially with hyperscale data centers for artificial intelligence and cloud computing. I keep seeing relevant news stories connected to the work I’m doing, and it’s amazing to be part of something so current.
I can’t think of another time in my career where it’s felt quite like this, except during my higher ed unionization work. Unionization was happening across the country and it felt like I was part of a national movement. Working with energy efficiency and data centers feels similar—like it’s part of a larger phenomenon.
Though I’m still learning, I can already connect with friends and family about this topic. It’s a subject that we’re all connected to, whether or not we’re consciously aware of it. Every time I upload an album of cat photos to share with my family or use an online streaming service, it’s mediated through “the cloud.” The data centers that compose the cloud’s physical infrastructure can be found across the nation, using the same electrical grid we all use.
What does the AAAS fellowship allow you to do that you wouldn’t otherwise be able to?
The fellowship has allowed me to build connections I wouldn’t have otherwise made. I've had conversations with people outside my usual circles, and each discussion has led to more helpful contacts. This network-building has been invaluable, and I don’t think I could have gained it elsewhere.
It has also shifted my perspective on government work. While I initially saw the government as bureaucratic and slow-moving, I now realize how collaborative it is. All those forms, approvals, and procedures create built-in opportunities for interaction, helping us achieve shared goals. Considering that the toughest moments in my career were when I felt isolated, I’ll never be upset about opportunities to connect with other people when solving a problem.
Before the fellowship, my understanding of the federal government’s role in research and development was limited, especially about its interactions with industry and national labs. The fellowship has given me a deeper understanding of how government functions, down to the intricacies of funding processes and the rules involved. It’s far more complex than I expected, and I've gained a much greater appreciation for the work that goes into supporting research and innovation.
Speaking of innovation, what changes or advancements would you like to see happen as a result of your work?
I want my work to help ensure that more people have a voice in guiding the clean energy transition. Given my background in labor, I believe it’s important to include not just the top levels of industry but also the people working on the ground—those in manufacturing facilities, for example. These workers often have significant expertise, but we don’t always value them as much as the scientists who develop technologies or the businesspeople who commercialize them. That hands-on perspective is incredibly valuable, and I want to create spaces where that perspective is valued.
On a related note, I want to help shift the culture in science to understand that engaging in activities beyond technical work doesn’t make someone less of a scholar or less serious about their work. Most people have other skill sets, interests, or expertise that they might not always feel comfortable sharing. I want to be part of changing that culture so that individuals feel free to be their full selves in science. Embracing diverse backgrounds can enrich our collective efforts. After all, someone’s previous experience in a different career can provide valuable insights into current issues, but people won’t know about that expertise unless they share it.
What advice do you have for people who want to pursue work similar to yours?
Don’t overthink it. Just go for it.
What will often set you apart is the thing that doesn’t fit neatly into the box of what a scientist is "supposed" to be. In my case, I want to show that a scientist can also care about labor, and that caring about labor doesn’t make me any less of a scholar. I also play rugby and Dungeons & Dragons. It can feel scary to lead with something unconventional, but it expands the idea of what it means to be a scientist, and it opens the door for others after you to bring their whole selves to the field, too.
As for advice for someone who wants to do work similar to mine, I’ve felt best in my career when I make choices that bring me joy and feed my passion. I try to pay attention to what excites me the most, what I’m eager to share with friends, family, or people who really know me. I lean into those areas that spark my enthusiasm.
I also encourage people to resist the allure of prestige or the idea that there's a "right" path. It’s rare that doing something simply because it’s what you’re "supposed to do" leads to a place where you’re truly happy.
Lastly, relationships are important. When you work with people you trust and who trust you, even the toughest challenges become easier to navigate.
