Post-Doctoral Research Fellow in the Climate Decision Making Center at Carnegie Mellon University
Greater Pittsburgh Area
- Current
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- Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Climate Decision Making Center at Carnegie Mellon University
- Green Practices Energy Subcomittee Member at Carnegie Mellon University
- Teaching Assistant at Carnegie Mellon University
- Past
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- Ph.D. Candidate and Energy and Climate Research Assistant at Carnegie Mellon University
- Civil Engineer and Sustainable Design Manager at Parsons Brinckerhoff
- Research Analyst, Project in Applied Economic and Policy Research at New York University
- Geotechnical and Environmental Engineering Summer Intern at Giles Engineering Associates
- Transportation Planning and Zoning Summer Intern at City of Annapolis
- Contract Environmental Engineering Summer Intern at U.S. Department of the Navy, Taylor Research Laboratory
- Education
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- Carnegie Mellon University
- New York University
- Bucknell University
- Recommended
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1 person has recommended Costa - Connections
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214
connections
- Industry
- Renewables & Environment
- Websites
Costa Samaras’s Summary
Constantine Samaras (Costa) is an engineer, policy analyst, and LEED AP with experience as an industry professional and an academic researcher. Research and professional areas include: Energy and climate change policy, public and private investment decision making for energy and infrastructure systems under carbon constraints, life cycle assessment, renewable energy technology and policy, greenhouse gas inventories, carbon risk assessment, green design, transportation and infrastructure policy, plug-in hybrids, finance and economics, sustainable infrastructure, sustainability in the corporate/government/non-profit sectors
Current research includes:
-Technology, policy, infrastructure, and climate issues regarding transitioning to a plug-in hybrid vehicle fleet
-Analyzing capital investments and energy policies required for a transition to a low-carbon electricity system
-Conducting research into innovation, R&D, policies, and investment decision making regarding emerging technologies that will play a role in a low-carbon future.
Costa Samaras’s Specialties:
Energy, infrastructure, & transportation planning, economics, policy, & engineering; green design; life cycle assessment; carbon footprint/sustainability assessment; project management; renewable energy evaluation; climate & R&D policy; energy systems modeling; equity & debt analysis; quantitative policy and benefit/cost analysis, public & non-profit management & finance; public outreach & communication; inter-agency coordination & collaboration. Certified as a LEED Accredited Professional.
Costa Samaras’s Experience
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Post-Doctoral Research Fellow, Climate Decision Making Center
Carnegie Mellon University
(Educational Institution; 1001-5000 employees; Higher Education industry)
August 2008 — Present (1 year 4 months)
I research the intersection of energy, transportation and infrastructure systems and their evolution under carbon, economic, and resource constraints. I also analyze the life cycle impacts of policy and technology decisions on greenhouse gas emissions and climate change, capital and innovation systems, and the triple bottom line. Current publications are listed on my website.
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Green Practices Energy Subcomittee Member
Carnegie Mellon University
(Educational Institution; 1001-5000 employees; Higher Education industry)
September 2005 — Present (4 years 3 months)
As the sole graduate student voting member of this professional committee comprised of faculty and staff, I assisted with drafting an Energy Services Company (ESCO) request for qualifications (RFQ) and proposals (RFP) for an $8 million energy savings performance contract for Carnegie Mellon University; evaluated responses and provided contract recommendations to the University Board. Also provided input into the low-carbon investment decisions regarding the University's local generation assets, University green energy purchasing policies, and University carbon footprint reduction policies.
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Teaching Assistant
Carnegie Mellon University
(Educational Institution; 1001-5000 employees; Higher Education industry)
August 2004 — Present (5 years 4 months)
Teaching assistant for the following courses:
Introduction to Civil and Environmental Engineering, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering
Public Expenditures Analysis (Cost-Benefit Analysis), The H. John Heinz III School of Public Policy and Management
Introduction to Engineering and Public Policy, Department of Engineering and Public Policy -
Ph.D. Candidate and Energy and Climate Research Assistant
Carnegie Mellon University
(Educational Institution; 1001-5000 employees; Higher Education industry)
September 2004 — August 2008 (4 years )
Ph.D. Candidate in Dept. of Engineering and Public Policy and in the Dept. of Civil of Environmental Engineering (Dual-degree). Research assistant in the Climate Decision Making Center at Carnegie Mellon, which is my primary source of tuition and stipend support under NSF SES-034578. Thesis committee members are Professors M. Granger Morgan (chair), H. Scott Matthews, Chris Hendrickson, and Lester Lave.
Dissertation Title: A life-cycle approach to technology, infrastructure, and climate policy decision making: Transitioning to plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and low-carbon electricity -
Civil Engineer and Sustainable Design Manager
Parsons Brinckerhoff
(Privately Held; 5001-10,000 employees; Civil Engineering industry)
July 1999 — September 2004 (5 years 3 months)
Out of PB's global headquarters in New York, I provided project management, infrastructure, engineering, planning, and sustainability consulting services to public and private clients on diverse and high-profile projects, both nationally and internationally, with fees ranging from $50,000 to $42 Million on projects with values from $1 Million to more than $2 Billion.
Major projects:
Sustainable design manager for the New York No. 7 Line Subway Extension and Far West Midtown Rezoning, with a capital cost of more than $2 Billion
Access to the Region’s Core Transportation Multi-Agency Major Investment Study of a new multi-billion dollar trans-Hudson rail tunnel and capacity expansion at Penn Station
Reconstruction of World Trade Center transit infrastructure and restoration of the New York No. 1/9 Subway service to Lower Manhattan After 9/11
Tracked a multi-million dollar global R&D budget at the project level -
Research Analyst, Project in Applied Economic and Policy Research
New York University
(Educational Institution; 10,001 or more employees; Higher Education industry)
September 2003 — May 2004 (9 months)
Served on a five-member team of NYU Wagner MPA candidates to evaluate the impact of evolving vehicle fleets on traffic fatalities
Analyzed panel data and conducted multiple regression analysis on the influence of vehicle mix, state fuel economy, gasoline usage and vehicle miles traveled, per capita income, DUI laws and arrests, and seat belt laws on state multi-vehicle accident fatality rates.
Produced a detailed research report and presentation of findings and policy recommendations -
Geotechnical and Environmental Engineering Summer Intern
Giles Engineering Associates
(Civil Engineering industry)
May 1998 — August 1998 (4 months)
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Transportation Planning and Zoning Summer Intern
City of Annapolis
(Government Agency; 201-500 employees; Government Administration industry)
May 1997 — August 1997 (4 months)
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Contract Environmental Engineering Summer Intern
U.S. Department of the Navy, Taylor Research Laboratory
(Government Administration industry)
May 1996 — August 1996 (4 months)
Costa Samaras’s Education
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Carnegie Mellon University
Ph.D. , Engineering and Public Policy and Civil and Environmental Engineering , 2004 — 2008
Dissertation Title: A life-cycle approach to technology, infrastructure, and climate policy decision making: Transitioning to plug-in hybrid electric vehicles and low-carbon electricity
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New York University
MPA , Finance and Policy Analysis , 2001 — 2004
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service
Masters of Public Administration, Public and Nonprofit Management and Policy
Degree completed while working full-time.
Additional Studies: Graduate Corporate Finance Coursework at NYU Stern School of Business -
Bucknell University
BSCE , Civil Engineering , August 1995 — May 1999
Additional Information
Costa Samaras’s Websites:
Costa Samaras’s Groups:
U.S. Green Building Council, American Society of Civil Engineers, International Association for Energy Economics, IEEE Society on Social Implications of Technology, International Society for Industrial Ecology, TMP Graduate Consortium, Propel Pittsburgh Commission
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Carnegie Mellon Alumni -
NYU Alumni -
Energy Priorities "Thought Leaders" -
Technology, Management and Policy Graduate Consortium -
NYU Wagner -
LEED Accredited Professional -
CleanTech Network -
Professional Public Service: MPA-MPP Degrees -
GreenBiz.com -- Green Business Professionals -
International Society for Industrial Ecology (ISIE) -
EPP - Carnegie Mellon University
Costa Samaras’s Honors:
2007 Teresa Heinz Scholar for Environmental Research Award
Second Place, Student Poster Competition, Gordon Research Conference on Industrial Ecology: Transforming the use of energy, materials, water and waste. Colby-Sawyer College, New London, NH, 2008.
First place award in Johnson Controls Tomorrow's Energy Ambassadors, Managers, and Scholars (TEAMS) competition, open letter to Presidential candidates on energy and sustainability issues published as full page ad in USA Today, November 2007
Best paper, honorable mention, at the 6th Annual Meeting of the Technology, Management, and Policy Graduate Consortium, 2007, for "Plug-in hybrids in a carbon constrained world".
Appointed as a Commissioner on the City of Pittsburgh Propel Pittsburgh Commission
Public Service Scholarship, Wagner Graduate School of Public Service, New York University, 2002-2004
