Eric Benson

• Providing electrochemical expertise for water electrolysis, water purification, and energy storage clients worldwide.

• Strategic guidance to the DOE’s H2NEW program on research and development priorities for alkaline water electrolysis technologies.

Managed a multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers in the development of a novel alkaline electrolyzer.

• Responsible for the competitive technological analysis of rivals in the hydrogen industry to inform strategic decisions.
• Demonstrated the unprecedented voltage performance capabilities of an alkaline electrolyzer, achieving world-best performance, similar to PEM systems, at half the cost.
• Engaged with executive management and external venture partners in a technical capacity, leading to a successful Series B ($25M) fundraising.
• Active member of company leadership team, contributing to company technical and people strategies.
• Collaborated with team members to co-author numerous internal scientific reports for widespread dissemination within the organization.
• Directed the development, selection, and validation processes for components crucial to the electrochemical stack.

Led a team of scientists to develop long-life sealed alkaline secondary batteries for grid-scale energy storage.

• Developed and demonstrated gas management technology/strategy to enable sealed cell operation.
• Responsible for understanding long term operation and degradation mechanisms as a function of charge and discharge rates and cycles.
• Played a key role in cross-disciplinary projects, collaborating with engineers to enhance both round-trip efficiency and thermal management.
• Contributed to the acquisition process as a technology expert, culminating in the successful sale to Form Energy.

• Fundamental research on the properties (photophysical, electrochemical, etc.) of materials under dynamic strain.
• Responsible for the purchase, installation, training, and use of a tensile stretcher and gas chromatograph.
• Designed and fabricated novel experimental cells for the characterization of materials under tensile strain.
• Gained experience in soft X-ray techniques including X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), ultraviolet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS), tensile testing, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) within the field of materials science.

• Developed a Raman spectroscopy library (~400 chemicals) for identity testing of incoming raw materials and drug product/drug substance.
• Implemented use of Spatially Offset Raman Spectroscopy (SORS) for the rapid testing of raw materials and biopharmaceuticals through native packaging.
• Coordinated sample handling and procurement to ensure robustness of library as well as identifying similar compounds to use as library challenges.
• Used statistical methods such as Pearson correlation, principle component analysis (PCA), etc. to ensure zero false positives and minimize false negatives

• Operated and maintained computer numerical control (CNC) router and laser engraver/cutter for the fabrication of ski cores, molds, and top sheets.
• Developed, tested, and implemented new processes for more efficient manufacturing of essential parts, and increasing total production capabilities by 300%.
• Maintained and operated local area network to support digital workflow of design files.

• Transcribed English as a second language (ESL) scientific manuscripts for publication in English language journals.
• Corrected phrasing, diction, articles, and spelling while maintaining the underlying scientific ideas.

• Investigated intermediates in the electrocatalytic reduction of carbon dioxide.
• Synthesized and characterized novel ligand tripbipy.
• Isolated and characterized ‘active’ catalyst species that binds CO₂.
• Performed X-Ray absorption studies (EXAFS and XANES) of air sensitive compounds at the Stanford Synchrotron Radiation Lightsource (SSRL).
• Assisted with synthesis of ligands for surface tethering of catalysts to p-Si.
• Co-wrote successful grants/proposals from DOE, DARPA, AFOSR, SSRL.
• Assisted startup of the Joint Center for Artificial Photosynthesis (JCAP).
• Experienced with electrochemistry, XAS, XRF, XRD , FTIR, UV-Vis-NIR, GC, GC-MS, EPR, spectroelectrochemistry, inorganic and organic synthesis, the handling of air sensitive materials, and computational chemistry.
• Deposited 19 X-ray crystal structures deposited to the Cambridge Crystallographic Database.
• Experience with budget writing, administration, and reporting3 years of experience managing undergraduate researchers.
• Published many peer reviewed papers containing, including both original research and review articles.
• Presented research at national meetings (ACS, Gordon Conference)Maintained and repaired instruments and lab equipment.
• Installed and maintained lab computers, network, website, and data storage/archival.

• Led discussion sections in general chemistry.
• Led analytical and physical chemistry laboratory sections.

Micro/Nano Fabrication Center

• Maintained Class 100 clean room facilities and equipment.
• Instructed new users on the use of instruments and facilities.
• Repaired and maintained instruments and equipment as well as assisted the installation of a new low pressure chemical vapor deposition (LPCVD) system.
• Gained experienced in photolithography (mask alignment, exposure), planarization (CMP), deposition (thermal, E-Beam), etching (chemical, plasma), and analytical instruments (profilometry, atomic force microscope) used within the facilities.

• Assisted the integration and maintenance team with the integration of the 8.4m Large Binocular Telescope mirror and cell for the Large Binocular Telescope.
• Responsible for the fabrication of boxes for shipping of sensitive materials.
• Trained in MIG welding, forklift operation and HOV certified.