Dr. Marissa Morales-Rodriguez is a scientist, native to Puerto Rico, currently working as a systems integration technology manager for the U.S. Department of Energy Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO). Marissa joined SETO in 2021 as a contractor, where she managed a project portfolio supporting the research and development of high-impact technologies and solutions to enable the reliable, resilient, and secure integration of solar energy into the nation's electric grid.
Prior to this role, she served as a principal investigator and project manager at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) for over 11 years. At ORNL, her research focused on the development of advanced cyber-physical sensors, communications, data analytics, and controls to enhance the security, reliability, and resilience of the power grid and energy systems.
Marissa received her B.S. and M.S. degrees in chemistry from the University of Puerto Rico at Mayagüez, where she focused on semiconductor research and remote sensing technologies. She earned her Ph.D. in energy science and engineering from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Marissa is the author or coauthor of numerous peer-reviewed publications, a recipient of U.S. patents for her inventions, and a winner of a 2019 R&D 100 Award.