Jud Virden

Biography

 Dr. Virden is Associate Laboratory Director for the Energy and Environment Directorate (EED) at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL). He leads a team of 1,000 staff in delivering science and technology solutions for energy and environmental challenges. These challenges include increasing our nation’s energy capacity; reducing dependence on imported oil; and detecting, mitigating and preventing the environmental impacts of legacy waste and energy generation and use. In fiscal year 2012, EED’s research sales to government and industry clients totaled $210 million. Dr. Virden joined PNNL in 1991 as a researcher, working in non-thermal plasma and Hanford Tank Waste Processing programs. During his two decades at the Laboratory, he has served in many key roles in organizations within PNNL, including technical group manager, program manager, deputy associate laboratory director, director of business operations, and director of energy market sectors. Most recently he was EED's chief science and technology officer, managing the directorate’s science and technology capabilities to ensure they impact important energy and environment challenges. In 2007, the Department of Energy (DOE) tapped him to serve on the Laboratory Working Group, which examined DOE’s science and applied missions.

Research Interest

 Chemical Engineering