Sam Dotson is an energy modeler for the Union of Concerned Scientists' Climate & Energy Program, where he analyzes and models energy systems at scales ranging from local to national levels. He incorporates energy justice concepts into his modeling practice to advance equitable outcomes in the clean energy transition.
Dr. Dotson holds a PhD in nuclear, plasma, and radiological engineering from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where he also earned an MS in nuclear engineering and a BS in physics. His dissertation examined the integration of energy modeling and energy justice.
Before joining UCS, Dr. Dotson interned at Argonne National Laboratory, where he used agent-based modeling to analyze bidding behavior in electricity markets. Dr. Dotson's expertise extends to the growing energy demands of emerging technologies. He writes and speaks on the intersection of artificial intelligence and energy systems, including the rapid expansion of data centers and its implications for grid planning, emissions, and energy justice.