Peter Emerson Carpenter | Student Spotlight
Peter Emerson Carpenter
BS in Materials Science and Engineering, 2025
MS Candidate in Management Science and Engineering
"I believe climate change to be the most pressing challenge my generation will face, and I seek to actively contribute solutions that will enable an equitable, reliable and decarbonized energy system."
At Stanford, I’ve centered my studies around understanding the scientific and engineering innovation that will enable a transition towards clean, sustainable sources of energy. I believe climate change to be the most pressing challenge my generation will face, and I seek to actively contribute solutions that will enable an equitable, reliable and decarbonized energy system.
My first introduction to Materials Science and Engineering (MSE) came in the summer after my freshman year, where I participated in the Department’s Research Experience for Undergraduates (REU) program under Professors Alberto Salleo, Tiziana Vanorio and Matteo Cargnello. Following an innovative approach that paired inspiration from the study of ancient Roman concrete with modern materials science, we sought to develop a novel sustainable cement mixture that could replace modern, carbon-intensive cement. It was here that I fell in love with materials science, as I found ways to combine my personal and academic passion for sustainability with opportunities to grow in a learning-by-doing environment.
Throughout my four years as an undergraduate, I’ve increasingly come to appreciate the central role that science, and MSE in particular, will play in facilitating this transition. Not simply about the product of research (though innovation and discovery are, of course, crucial), my time as an MSE major has shown me the value of approaching complex challenges through the lens of a scientist. I now see that many of my core philosophies in learning and research —close collaboration, constant curiosity and effective communication of ideas— have been strongly influenced by the MSE department’s emphasis on rigorous scientific principles and a collaborative approach to problem solving. I now feel more equipped to systematically address the multifaceted problems I face in my work.
As I transition towards my coterminal studies in Management Science and Engineering, I’ve begun work with STEER, a Stanford interdisciplinary research initiative designed to bridge the gap between academic innovation and the at-scale deployment of clean energy technology. Using a strong foundation in materials science, I have contributed to the deep engineering and economic analysis of novel clean energy technologies, ultimately seeking to determine how, when and where they might be best suited to support a clean energy transition.
