Graduation Date: September 2007
Degree(s): Ph.D. Materials Science and Engineering (solar cells); M.S. Management Science and Engineering;
B.Tech Materials and Metallurgical Engineering (Indian Institute of Technology Madras)
Vignesh completed his Ph.D. from Stanford under Prof. Mike McGehee. His thesis focused on next-generation polymer-based solar cells, and the use of nanostructures to enhance their efficiency. He concomitantly pursued his M.S. in Management Science and Engineering, with a particular emphasis on the economics and strategies for making renewable energy more viable. While having been interested in the environment for a long time (starting from his years at an environmentally-conscious residential school in India), Vignesh formalized this interest at Stanford. Upon graduation from Stanford, Vignesh worked at McKinsey & Company as a strategy and management consultant for two years. Since mid-2009, pursuing their love for travel, Vignesh and his wife have lived in Melbourne, Australia, experiencing life down under. While in Australia, Vignesh worked as a Senior Policy Adviser to the Premier (Head) of the State of Victoria, on climate change adaptation and mitigation policy. Vignesh is returning to New York to join NRDC as a MAP Sustainable Energy Fellow, with a focus on renewable energy, energy efficiency, and innovation. In his free time, Vignesh enjoys traveling, playing soccer and trying out new restaurants.