4 minutes with… Thomas D. Foust, Director, Bioenergy, Biofuels and Bioproducts Research Center, NREL

Tell us about your company and it’s role in the Advanced Bioeconomy.

The predominate mission of the Bioenergy, Biofuels and Bioproducts Research Center at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is to develop the underlying science and technology plus supporting economic and environmental analysis to enable the Advanced Bioeconomy.

Tell us about your role and what you are focused on in the next 12 months.

As the Director of the Bioenergy, Biofuels and Bioproducts Research Center I set the strategic direction of the group and at a high level determine the targets and objectives for the research. My objectives for the next 12 months fall into short term and long term goals as follows:

Short Term: We have been focused on developing hydrocarbon biofuels conversions technologies since 2012 and I would like to see these reach the pilot scale demonstration scale.

Long Term: As a national laboratory sometimes we have more freedom to work on far reaching aspirations than our industrial counterparts so I would like to take advantage of this freedom and develop the underpinning science and technology that enables the Advanced Bioeconomy to move into a market pull situation. I would like NREL to explore developing biofuels that act as an enabler for more efficient, lower polluting engines and develop bioproducts that are superior to current petrochemicals.

What do you feel are the most important milestones the industry must achieve in the next 5 years?  

Continued commercial success especially in the second generation biofuels area and the byproducts area.

Continued exciting and promising r&d breakthroughs.

If you could snap your fingers and change one thing about the Advanced Bioeconomy, what would you change? 

.I would probably get in a time machine and tone down some of the initial hype of the Advanced Bioeconomy. Although the Advanced Bioeconomy has accomplished a great deal and has much to be proud of, our detractors love to point out that the Bioeconomy has not lived up to initial expectations which in retrospect were probably not realistic.

Of all the reasons that influenced you to join the Advanced Bioeconomy industry, what single reason stands out for you as still being compelling and important to you?  

.The two big reasons I wanted to join the Advanced Bioeconomy are:

1) I wanted to be one of the good guys. I wanted to work in a field that I felt where I was working to improve society and the human condition.

2) I wanted to work in a field that was interesting, challenging and dynamic and the Advanced Bioeconomy is all three of these.

Where are you from? 

Johnstown Pennsylvania which is Northwest of Pittsburgh. My dad worked in the Steel Industry and we lived in a number of small Western Pennsylvania Towns. I have very fond memories of that area and have family in that area and like to get back there when I can.

What was your undergraduate major in college, and where did you attend? Why did you choose that school and that pathway?

My undergraduate degree is in Mechanical Engineering from the Pennsylvania State University. I have always liked the math aspect of Mechanical Engineering and continued to obtain both my M.S. and PhD degrees also in Mechanical Engineering specializing in applied math.

Who do you consider your mentors – could be personal, business, or just people you have read about and admire. What have you learned from them?

My father – he taught me to never give up and always find a way.

My mother – raised me and taught me to always be happy.

Bob Galbo – my first boss who taught me how to be a professional in the work place.

Kurt Sisson – how to be politically adept.

Art Nadau – the first person to tell me I should pursue grad school.

John Crepeau – my graduate advisor who showed me the ropes of graduate education.

I sure I have missed many but these were the first to come to mind.

What’s the biggest lesson you ever learned during a period of adversity?  

The bad times will end and when it does move on from the period of adversity. If what caused the bad times was self inflicted learn from it, vow to do better don’t get caught up in the adversity and do you best to make things better.

What hobbies do you pursue, away from your work in the industry?

I am an avid snow skier and luckily I live in Colorado where I get to pursue that hobby almost 6 months a year. I also enjoy fishing, running and golf which I would like to get better at.

What are 3 books you’d want to have with you, if you were stranded on a desert island

How to learn Spanish – Always wanted to know Spanish.

Basic Boat Building and Seamanship – Hope is always good plus building a boat would keep me busy.

A textbook of advanced mathematical concepts – what can I say I am a math nerd.

What books or articles are on your reading list right now, or you just completed and really enjoyed?  

Maybe this is somewhat embarrassing but I don’t have a reading list beyond technical papers.

What’s your favorite city or place to visit, for a holiday?

The Mountains – I love the mountains and find them majestic in both winter and summer.