Nikkia M. McDonald

Congratulations to Dr. McDonald who has been selected as a 2019-2020 AAAS S&TP Fellow! This competitive and coveted fellowship will bring Nikkia to the D.C. area working in the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy.

Since 2016, Nikkia has served as an independent consultant, developing, leading and managing technical strategy for small businesses and NGOs in the renewable energy space. This includes identifying emerging technologies and expanding equitable energy access to scale clean energy investments. A materials scientist with experience engineering solutions for advanced ceramic technologies, Dr. McDonald possesses knowledge of materials chemistry to evolve energy conversion and energy storage systems.

Prior to her role as a consultant, Dr. McDonald led projects researching material properties relevant to devices for hydrogen energy applications. Her work supported the use of novel materials for use in hydrocarbon fuel cells and the characterization of microstructure-property relationships to elucidate cell behavior and long-term system stability. With a global perspective toward renewable energy innovation, Nikkia has conducted research in Turkey and Ukraine and facilitated collaborations with scientists in Czech Republic, Russia, Brazil and the UK. Her passion for this work is driven by the need for more sustainable energy practices that mitigate the effects of global warming and her desire to contribute to energy solutions that create socio-economic benefits for communities on a domestic and global scale.

Dr. McDonald is a STEM advocate, committed to broadening the participation and strengthening the success of underrepresented groups in these fields. Nikkia serves on a number of advisory boards, maintains membership in professional societies and mentors students through STEM-based projects to create viable, real-world solutions. The intersection of scientific innovation, community and sustainability brings her career aspirations full circle.