Maxwell Pisciotta

Maxwell Pisciotta (they/he) is a PhD Candidate in the Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering department at the University of Pennsylvania whose research focuses on carbon capture and carbon removal. In addition to their PhD work, Max is pursuing the Penn Teaching and Learning Certificate (CTL) and a Certificate in Energy Management and Policy through the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy. Max’s contributions to research has won them the Vagelos Institute for Energy Science and Technology (VIEST) Fellowship for the 2022-2023 academic year. Alongside these pursuits, Max is also a co-founder of the Penn EngiQueers student organization, serves on the Kleinman Center Student Council, and is working with a group of students on the first Carbon Removal Documentary. Since starting at Penn, Max has fulfilled two internships, one with the International Energy Agency (IEA) during the 2021 summer and one with Brimstone Energy, a company whose novel process has the potential to decarbonize the cement industry during the summer of 2022. Max holds a B.S. and M.S. in Mechanical Engineering that they obtained from the Colorado School of Mines. Prior to starting their PhD at Penn, they also briefly worked at Accenture as a Technology Analyst. When Max is not working, they can be found running through Philadelphia training for a half marathon, baking, or reading.