Biography

John M. DeCicco is a research professor at the University of Michigan Energy Institute (UMEI) where he addresses energy and environmental challenges through an interdisciplinary approach anchored in physical science and synthesizing insights from economics, other social sciences and public policy.

Over the years Prof. DeCicco has addressed a wide range of energy-related topics. His research has involved an increasing focus on the transportation sector and its unique climate mitigation challenges, as seen in his work on the Transportation Energy and Climate Analysis project. His earlier studies of vehicle efficiency were instrumental in the development of automotive GHG emissions and fuel economy standards. His most recent research includes pioneering methodological work on CO2 mitigation for liquid fuels, the issues surrounding biofuels and the role of accelerating atmospheric CO2 removal for addressing the dispersed nature of mobile source emissions. Prof. DeCicco also performs applied research on energy-related consumer perceptions and behavior. He directs the University of Michigan Energy Survey; co-founded the Beyond Carbon Neutral research initiative; serves on the management committee for the university’s Mcity research center on connected and automated vehicles; and co-chairs the annual Transportation, Economics, Energy and the Environment (TE3) conference.

Before returning to academia in 2009, he spent over twenty years working on energy policy at nonprofit organizations, including positions as senior fellow for automotive strategies at the Environmental Defense Fund (EDF, 2001-2009) and transportation director at the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy (ACEEE, 1990-2000). He has testified multiple times before Congress and has more than 150 published papers, reports and formal public comments to his credit. Prof. DeCicco holds a doctorate in mechanical engineering from Princeton University where he conducted research at its Center for Energy and Environmental Studies.

Link to a copy of Professor DeCicco’s CV (resume) here.

View short summaries of his work on the Cars and Climate research blog and the U-M Energy Survey website.

Publications

Publications

• 3rd Annual Conference on Transportation, Economics, Energy, and the Environment
• The liquid carbon challenge: (WIREs Energy & Environ, 2015)
• The University of Michigan Energy Survey: Year One Report