Benjamin Paren

Alumni Research Fellow

Benjamin Paren is a postdoctoral research associate in the Research Laboratory of Electronics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, working with Professor Yang Shao-Horn. Ben’s research involves the development and characterization of polymer electrolytes for the next generation of energy storage technologies, with a particular focus on batteries and hydrogen fuel cells.

He received a Ph.D. in Materials Science & Engineering from the University of Pennsylvania in 2021 (advised by Professor Karen Winey), during which time he was a graduate fellow for both the Vagelos Institute for Energy Science & Technology (VIEST) and the Research and Education in Active Coatings Technologies (REACT) program.

Beyond his research on polymer electrolytes, Ben has co-authored several policy reports and digests with the Kleinman Center on wide range of topics, including electrochemical energy storage, energy efficient strategies, and rare earth materials. He received a B.S. and M.S. in Materials Science & Engineering from Carnegie Mellon University in 2016, with a double major in Engineering & Public Policy.

Benjamin’s Work

October 25, 2021 | Report
Leveraging Clean Energy to Alleviate Regional Water Stress \
May 18, 2021 | Digest
Rare Earth Elements: A Resource Constraint of the Energy Transition \
February 15, 2021 | Report
Balancing Act: Can Petrochemicals Be Both Emissions Free and Zero-Waste? \
July 23, 2020 | Report
The Best Local Response to Climate Change Is a Comprehensive Efficiency Plan
April 21, 2020 | Digest
Feasibility of Seasonal Storage for a Fully Electrified Economy
October 16, 2019 | Report
Preparing PGW for a Low-Carbon Future
April 23, 2018 | Insight
Too Soft on Aviation