Dr. Ramanan Krishnamoorti is the chief energy officer at the University of Houston. Prior to his current position, Dr. Krishnamoorti served as interim vice president for research and technology transfer for UH and the UH System. During his tenure at the university, he has served as chair of the UH Cullen College of Engineering’s chemical and biomolecular engineering department, associate dean of research for engineering, professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering with affiliated appointments as professor of petroleum engineering and professor of chemistry. Dr. Krishnamoorti obtained his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from the Indian Institute of Technology Madras and doctoral degree in chemical engineering from Princeton University in 1994.

Julia Badger is a project manager for Robonaut and Autonomous Spacecraft Management Projects at NASA-Johnson Space Center in Houston. She is responsible for research and development of humanoid robotic and autonomous system capabilities, both on earth and on the International Space Station, including dexterous manipulation, autonomous spacecraft control and caretaking, and human-robot interfaces.

Badger earned a bachelor of science degree from Purdue University and a Master of Science and Ph.D. from the California Institute of Technology, all in mechanical engineering.

She has received a NASA Group Achievement Award for the Robonaut 2 Mobility System, the NASA Johnson Space Center Software of the Year award for the Robonaut Mobility Control and Safety System, and a NASA Space Technology Mission Directorate Early Career Award.

Michael (Mickey) Frish is a manager of industrial sensors at Physical Sciences Inc., with a broad interdisciplinary background in research, development, commercialization and marketing of photonics instrumentation. Early in his career with Physical Sciences Inc., he led the development and introduction of the first industrial quality gas analyzer and long-path leak detector products using Tunable Diode Laser Absorption Spectroscopy.

He subsequently led the evolution of these products into the Remote Methane Leak Detector (RMLD), now a common tool used for natural gas leak detection with more than 3,000 units manufactured by Heath Consultants deployed worldwide. He currently works to miniaturize TDLAS sensors to reduce costs quantify leak rates.

Frish earned bachelor of science, master of science and Ph.D. degrees in applied and engineering physics at Cornell University. He has been awarded eight patents and is the author or co-author of over 80 technical reports and publications.

Rashed Haq is global head of AI, Robotics & Data Engineering at Sapient Consulting. Over the last 20 years, he has helped companies change and create sustained competitive advantage through innovative applications of artificial intelligence, dynamic optimization, advanced analytics and data engineering.

Prior to joining Sapient, Haq worked in theoretical physics at the Los Alamos National Laboratory and in Silicon Valley. He has a bachelor of science degree in physics from Rochester University and master of science degrees in physics and mathematics from the University of Oregon.

David Reid is chief marketing officer of National Oilwell Varco, where he is focused upon the global market and strategic corporate engine. Reid joined Varco International in 1992 and has lived in Scotland, California and Houston, handling roles in service, operations, design, business and product development, leadership and management and management for the company, which merged with National Oilwell in 2005 to become National Oilwell Varco.

He serves on the NOV and Schlumberger IntelliServ Joint Venture Board and in leadership positions for the International Association of Drilling Contractors and the Society of Petroleum Engineers. Reid is acknowledged for his influence of modern rig and equipment design and for pioneering drilling automation and oilfield digitization. Reid studied construction management and design at Northumbria College.