Biography

Sally Benson is a ground water hydrologist and reservoir engineer.  She has conducted research to address a range of issues related to energy and the environment. Her research interests include geologic storage of CO2 in deep underground formations, technologies and energy systems for a low-carbon future, influence of climate change on critical habitats, biogeochemistry of the element selenium, and tools for subsurface mapping and monitoring.

Benson earned her PhD in materials science and mineral engineering from the University of California, Berkeley.  Prior to coming to Stanford as the Executive Director of the Global Climate and Energy Project in 2007, Benson was a staff scientist in the Earth Sciences Division at Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory and held many positions including Deputy Director of Operations, Division Director for Earth Sciences, and Associate Laboratory Director for Energy Sciences.