NREL’s New Laboratory Director and Google’s AI Hackathon—Plus, an Energy Tech Pitch Event

Disclaimer: This episode was produced when the laboratory operated as the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). The laboratory is now the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR).

It’s been a busy summer at NREL. In this episode, you’ll learn about:

1. The appointment of NREL’s incoming laboratory director Dr. Jud Virden, who brings 34 years of national lab experience at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and a background in chemical engineering to his new position.
2. How Google and NREL teamed up to host an AI Hackathon. (Yes, we Googled it: Hackathon is a real word.)
3. This summer’s EnergyTech University Prize 2025 collegiate pitch event with many innovative university students vying for the prize pool of more than $430,000.

This episode was hosted by Kerrin Jeromin and Taylor Mankle, written and produced by Allison Montroy, Hannah Halusker, and Kaitlyn Stottler, and edited by Taylor Mankle, Joe DelNero, and Brittany Falch. Graphics are by Brittnee Gayet. Our title music is written and performed by Ted Vaca and episode music by Chuck Kurnik, Jim Riley, and Mark Sanseverino of Drift BC. Transforming Energy: The NREL Podcast is created by the U.S. Department of Energy’s NREL in Golden, Colorado. Email us at [e-mail]. Follow NREL on X, Instagram, LinkedIn, YouTube, Threads, and Facebook.