Introducing the 2026–2027 Class of Critical Minerals Research Scholars

Date

July 23, 2026

News Type

Press Release

The Critical Minerals Research Lab is excited to welcome its 2026-2027 cohort of research scholars: sixteen PhD students, based at fifteen universities across eight countries, working on some of the most pressing critical minerals challenges facing the energy transition.

Their research includes global dimensions of mineral supply chains-from lithium extraction in Argentina and Zimbabwe to rare earth market dynamics in Europe- and policy-relevant questions related to the clean energy transition, such as battery recycling and post-mining land use.

Through the lab, students have a rare opportunity to connect across disciplines and regions, gain exposure to new methods and data sources, and hone the policy-relevance of their research while receiving feedback from peers and academic and policy experts. Members of the cohort will participate in biweekly meetings, presentations and discussions of policy-relevant topics, and collaborate on interdisciplinary research projects that aim to advance the conversation on critical minerals policy. Resources for the Future (RFF) will host a public workshop for the students to present their research in the summer of 2027.

Below are the members of the new cohort, alongside their affiliations and broad research interests.

• Armstrong Mudzengerere, University of Amsterdam (Netherlands)-Chinese lithium mining investments in Zimbabwe
• Boyu Yao, Johns Hopkins University (United States)-Critical mineral supply chains for planning buildout of the power sector
• Claudia Carpanese, University of Graz (Austria)-Critical minerals governance and mining impacts in Austria
• Domoina Ranjatoelina, University of Lisbon (Portugal)-Sustainable artisanal and small-scale mining, critical mineral value chains
• Finn Dobkin, George Washington University (United States)-Post-mining land use for renewable energy
• Gary Alvarez Mejia, University of Michigan (United States)-Energy transition, supply chains, and governance
• Ghislain Kabumba, Université Officielle de Bukavu (Democratic Republic of the Congo)-Social license and environment, sustainability, and governance (ESG) in mining in the Democratic Republic of the Congo
• Isha Sura, Northwestern University (United States)-Sustainable battery recycling
• Jieyi Lu, Princeton University (United States)-Electric vehicle battery mineral supply bottlenecks
• Lisa Depraiter, University Paris-Saclay (France)-Rare earth market dynamics
• Marilu Nuñez Palomino, University of Texas at Austin (United States)-Critical mineral markets and supply chain security
• Md Muzahid Khan, University of Arizona (United States)-Bioleaching and critical mineral recycling
• Mwalusamba Samson, University of Dar es Salaam (Tanzania)-Transformation of artisanal and small-scale mining and sustainable development in Tanzania
• Rachuán Elías, National University of San Martín (Argentina)-Lithium extraction policy impacts in Argentina
• Tuhin Bagi, University of Michigan (United States)-Electric vehicle adoption and critical mineral sourcing
• Weston Marume, University of Massachusetts Boston (United States)-Socio-environmental consequences of rapid lithium extraction in Zimbabwe

"This cohort reflects exactly why we created the lab: to bring together a diverse and interdisciplinary group of emerging scholars who are asking ambitious, policy-relevant questions about critical minerals," said RFF Fellow Beia Spiller, who is the director of RFF's Transportation Program and started the lab in 2024. "The fact that these scholars come from all over the world speaks to the global relevance of critical mineral research. I look forward to working with them and seeing how they help each other make their research better. Building a collaborative spirit is one of the primary purposes of the lab."

The lab is advised by Spiller, Michael Toman from RFF, Nicole Smith from Colorado School of Mines, and Brandon Marc Finn from the University of Michigan.

For more information on how you can get involved, read Spiller's June 2024 blog post about the lab or reach out to Spiller at [email protected].

Resources for the Future (RFF) is an independent, nonprofit research institution in Washington, DC. Its mission is to improve environmental, energy, and natural resource decisions through impartial economic research and policy engagement. RFF is committed to being the most widely trusted source of research insights and policy solutions leading to a healthy environment and a thriving economy.

Unless otherwise stated, the views expressed here are those of the individual authors and may differ from those of other RFF experts, its officers, or its directors. RFF does not take positions on specific legislative proposals.

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Related People

Beia Spiller

Fellow; Director, Transportation Program

Beia Spiller is a fellow and the director for RFF's Transportation Program. Her recent research has focused around electric vehicles and environmental justice, exploring some of the most pressing issues around electric car, truck and bus adoption.

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