Kristen Brown
Why did you choose Northwestern?
Northwestern was my dream graduate school! I was excited to go to a graduate program of a high intellectual caliber but was also highly applied. Northwestern Chemistry had a great reputation for energy materials, grounded in fundamental science, but geared towards solving real problems.
How would you describe your research and/or work to a non-academic audience? What was it then and/or what it is now?
Describing my past research has changed so much over the years! I started saying I researched the way molecules moved and worked together in response to light from the sun, in order to increase the efficiency of solar materials. Now, I just say I did "early-stage research in solar energy." Unless someone was a photophysicist in another life, they glaze over.
Tell us who or what inspired your research and/or work.
My research in energy material ended up having very little to do with my current work designing new energy markets. But one thing remained a common driver and inspiration: the need to completely change our energy systems. I've always been inspired to think in systems, and our energy systems are evolving to require more complexity. Working with and finding inspiration from other systems, whether chemical, environmental, or sociological, has been a huge driver for my career.
What are you most proud of in your career to date?
I'm proud of the breadth and depth I've been able to gain, the foundation in academic thought I can maintain, and the people I've been able to surround myself with. I'm part of an extremely passionate ecosystem of energy enthusiasts, academics, entrepreneurs, evangelists, you name it. Being able to find a community of people I can work with and alongside is the most exciting part.
Tell us about a current achievement or something you're working on that excites you.
I'm Head of Product for a start-up that's trying to completely change the way we operate electricity networks and think about value creation. We just launched our market platform, so testing that with partners and evangelizing for a new way of running the electric grid to facilitate renewable integration and enable customer choice is extremely energizing.
What advice would you give your younger self or someone considering a similar path?
What do they say? 'Chance only favors the prepared mind?' I didn't have a linear path, and I still don't think I will. To calm the career anxiety in my younger self, I'd say: set yourself up for success by following your interests, building a network, and trusting your gut. You know what you can do best, so don't try and follow someone else's path or fit into some else's model. But make sure you know your stuff.