Biography

John M. DeCicco, Ph.D., is an Associate Director and Research Professor at the University of Michigan Energy Institute. He assists the director with internal management of the institute, including administrative functions and support of program and proposal development. His own research addresses global energy and environmental challenges through an interdisciplinary approach anchored in physical science while drawing insights from economics, other social sciences and public policy.

As a nationally recognized leader on energy issues, Prof. DeCicco’s recent work has focused on transportation sector energy use and CO₂ emissions, including vehicle efficiency, petroleum use, biofuels, electrification and consumer issues as well as the role of atmospheric CO₂ removal in offsetting the CO₂ released from the combustion of liquid fuels.  His past studies were influential in the development of automotive fuel economy and GHG emissions standards and his current work addresses methodological problems related to biofuels and atmospheric CO₂ levels.

Over the years he has analyzed many other energy and environmental topics, including energy use in buildings, energy-related consumer behavior and the impacts of electricity generation. He directed the University of Michigan Energy Survey from Fall 2013 through Winter 2019; co-chairs the university’s annual conference on Transportation, Economics, Energy and the Environment (TE³); and serves as a lecturer and speaker for both academic and general audiences.

Before returning to academia in 2009, he spent over twenty years working on energy and environmental policy at nonprofit organizations, including positions as a senior fellow at the Environmental Defense Fund, transportation director for the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy and staff scientist at the National Audubon Society. He has testified numerous times before Congress and has over 150 published papers, reports and formal public comments to his credit. He holds a Ph.D. in mechanical engineering from Princeton University, where he conducted his doctoral research at the Center for Energy and Environmental Studies.

Link to a copy of John’s resume here.

Publications

• Back and forth on biofuels and climate (Climatic Change, 2017)
• Carbon balance effects of U.S. biofuel production and use (Climatic Change, 2016)
• Fuel cell vehicles (Encyclopedia of Energy, 2016)