2026 Critical Minerals Research Lab Conference
An annual, virtual conference featuring industry experts showcasing research on critical mineral policy for the clean energy transition.
Details
The global clean energy transition has led to an increased interest in the study of critical minerals, but its supply chain faces myriad challenges. Approaching research questions from an interdisciplinary perspective will be key to helping develop effective, equitable, and cost-efficient critical mineral policies. Over the academic year of 2025-2026, a group of 16 PhD students studying critical mineral policies for the clean energy transition participated in the second year of RFF’s Critical Minerals Research Lab. This lab provided a space for interdisciplinary examination of research that touched on many issues within the study of critical minerals—including issues around mineral governance, industrial policy, community benefits, battery circularity, and much more.
In this year’s Critical Minerals Research Lab Conference, we will showcase four collaborative research projects that the students have undertaken over the course of the academic year. These projects cover a variety of policy-relevant topics, both within domestic discussions and beyond.
Agenda
June 25, 2026 | 2:00 - 5:00 P.M. ET
Session #1: “Friend-Shoring Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP) Batteries under Material Assistance Cost Ratio (MACR) Rules: Exploring Feasibility Scenarios”
- Madeline Craig-Scheckman, Northeastern University
- Trissanne Keen, University Of Michigan
- Terry Zhang, Cornell University
- Sarasadat Alavi, University of Texas, Arlington
- Discussant: Peter Trousdale, Associate Policy Fellow, Regional Programs, Center for Climate and Energy Solutions
Session #2: “Rethinking Critical Mineral Narratives”
- Jordan Calderon, Colorado School of Mines
- Simon Duex, UC Davis
- Thomas Hale, University of Delaware
- Nate Dolton-Thornton, UC Berkeley
- Discussant: Alissa Kendall, Director, UC Davis Institute of Transportation Studies, Ray B. Krone Endowed Professor of Environmental Engineering, Dept. of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California Davis
Session #3: “Rewriting the Ground Rules: How Countries are Streamlining Mine Development for the Energy Transition”
- Savannah Carr-Wilson, Duke University
- Chrissie Pantoja, Duke University
- Umama Rahman, Oregon State University
- Lorena de la Puente Burlando, UCLA
- Discussant: Aaron Malone, Research Assistant Professor, Colorado School of Mines
Session #4: “Reshoring and Value Capture in Latin America: What’s the Opportunity?”
- America Quinteros Condoretty, LUT University
- Emilia Ravetta, Colorado State University
- Jason Yao, Carnegie Mellon University
- Victor Freret, Federal Rural University of Rio de Janeiro
- Discussant: Thea Riofrancos, Associate Professor of Political Science, Providence College
