Martin Keller

Martin Keller has served as director of NREL and president of the Alliance for Sustainable Energy—the company that operates NREL for the U.S. Department of Energy—since 2015.

Under his leadership, the number of full-time employees at NREL has increased by more than 32%. Keller is a visionary leader who is committed to people, teams, and partnerships. He innovatively and pragmatically applies private sector best practices at NREL to achieve game-changing scientific outcomes.

Working collaboratively with his leadership team, he developed a strategy for NREL focused on three key initiatives: integrated energy pathways, circular economy, and electrons to molecules. This strategy drives advanced scientific research, programs, projects, and partnerships at NREL. For example, NREL’s partnership portfolio—which includes Eaton Corp., Wells Fargo, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority, and more than 900 private and public sector organizations—has generated over $1 billion of research and development for the laboratory.

From 2006 to 2015, Keller led energy, biological, and environmental research programs at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. His efforts culminated in his being promoted to serve as the associate laboratory director for the Energy and Environmental Sciences Directorate during his last 6 years there.

Earlier in his career, Keller’s dedicated work in a variety of research management positions at Diversa Corp. enhanced and developed the microbiology expertise of this biotech company.

Currently, he is a fellow of the American Association for the Advancement Science and recently retired as chair of its Industrial Science and Technology Section. In addition, Keller is a member of the Scientific Advisory Council for Julich Forschungszentrum and serves on numerous scientific advisory boards.

Keller received his doctorate in microbiology from the University of Regensburg, Germany.