Michelle K. Kidder

Distinguished R&D Scientist, Oak Ridge National Laboratory

2019 Research Award Winner

Dr. Michelle Kidder is a Distinguished Research and Development Scientist in the Energy Science and Technology Directorate at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). She serves as ORNL's Program Portfolio Manager for the U.S. Department of Energy's Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office and a lead for the laboratory's strategy for Critical Minerals and Materials Innovation.

Her research focuses on the design and scale-up of advanced materials and process integration for catalysis, thermal reactions, separations, polymers, and critical materials, with applications in sustainable chemicals and fuels from waste-derived feedstocks, high temperature coatings, advanced manufacturing and membranes. By integrating materials science, chemistry, and process engineering, her work advances energy-efficient and environmentally responsible technologies.

Dr. Kidder has authored more than 150 peer-reviewed publications, a book, and seven patents, and received a 2024 R&D 100 Award. She is an American Chemical Society Fellow and a past Chair of the ACS Division of Energy and Fuels. She earned her Ph.D. in Physical Organic Chemistry from South Dakota State University and her B.S. in Chemistry from SUNY Brockport.