Steve Eglash is Director of the Applied Energy Division at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. The Applied Energy Division conducts research in areas such as the electric grid, batteries, photovoltaics, and advanced manufacturing. The emphasis is on translating fundamental research into practical solutions, often in partnership with the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL) and the Materials Science Division (SIMES). The Applied Energy Division is part of the Energy Sciences Directorate, which conducts research in chemistry, materials, computer science, and applied energy. SLAC is operated by Stanford University for the U.S. Department of Energy’s Office of Science.
Previously, Steve developed and managed research programs at Stanford University in artificial intelligence, computer science, energy, and sustainability, bridging research and industry, working to enhance the impact and relevance of academic research at Stanford. Steve helped to create several new programs at Stanford including the Institute for Human-Centered Artificial Intelligence, SAIL-Toyota Center for AI Research, Stanford Data Science Initiative, Bay Area Photovoltaic Consortium, and Energy and Environment Affiliates Program.
Prior to joining Stanford, Steve was president and CEO of the solar energy company Cyrium Technologies, consultant for the National Renewable Energy Laboratory and the US Department of Energy, venture capitalist at Worldview Technology Partners, vice president at SDL (JDSU), and member of the technical staff at MIT Lincoln Laboratory. As vice president at semiconductor laser company SDL Inc., Steve was part of the management team that grew the company to $1 billion in annual revenue and engineered one of the largest high-tech acquisitions in history. He has published more than forty papers in peer-reviewed journals and has four patents. In December 2017 Steve testified at a US Congressional Hearing on federal funding for energy research.
Steve received a PhD and MS from Stanford University, and a BS from the University of California at Berkeley, all in Electrical Engineering. He is a Fellow of the SPIE, a former Board member of the MRS, and a member of ACM, IEEE, MRS, OSA, and SPIE. Steve is a member and former chair of the Santa Clara University College of Arts & Sciences Leadership Board. He is a former Utilities Commissioner for the City of Palo Alto. Steve has been involved in humanitarian projects such as the Tech Museum Awards for Technology Benefiting Humanity.