David Reed, Ph.D., is a Senior Scientist in the Bioenergy Feedstock Technologies Department at the Idaho National Laboratory. He is the Professional Lead of the Materials Recycling & Recovery Group. He holds degrees in Zoology, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, and Biochemistry from Brigham Young University and University of Idaho. He has over 30 years’ experience characterizing and developing extremophilic microorganisms and enzymes for energy related applications for which he has received the INL Lifetime Achievement Award for Inventorship, three times. He has spent the past decade developing biological processes for recovery of minerals, including rare earth elements, from recyclable waste materials that are critical for modern electronics and energy security and conservation. The critical minerals work has resulted in a score of high-quality peer-reviewed publications. David has regularly mentored interns, students, and postdocs, most of whom have gone into successful STEM careers.

Understanding the physiological activities of microorganisms from extreme environments important for solving energy and environmental challenges.