Destenie Nock
Assistant Professor, Civil & Environmental Engineering, Engineering and Public Policy
Destenie Nock received her Ph.D. in 2019 from the University of Massachusetts Amherst. There, she performed energy systems modeling in both New England and Sub-Saharan Africa, using multi-criteria decision analysis and applied optimization to better equip policy makers to understand energy planning options. Nock’s broad research interests are focused around using mathematical modeling tools to address societal problems related to sustainability planning, energy policy, and engineering for social good. She has a breadth of professional experience, having worked in industry, national labs, and government settings on issues related to energy systems and equity.
Faculty Insights
Environmental Value of Efficient Power Distribution Systems
Planning an Equitable Energy Future: A Focus on Vulnerable Groups
Equitable Energy Planning in SubSaharan Africa
Energy Solutions for Equity and Resiliency with Destenie Nock and Arnav Gautam
Identifying Hidden Forms of Energy Poverty
Education
2019 Ph.D., University of Massachusetts Amherst
Research Interests
Media mentions
CMU Engineering
Increasing transmission efficiency would cut air pollution
Researchers identify investment in electricity transmission and distribution systems as significant opportunity for reducing air pollution.
CMU Engineering
Equality and air quality: the decarbonization balancing act
Destenie Nock and Teagan Goforth provide a new framework for energy policymakers to model tradeoffs between multiple objectives in the transition to carbon neutrality.
CMU Engineering
A natural gas bridge to net zero?
Destenie Nock explores the future of natural gas-fired power and its potential role in mitigating global greenhouse gas emissions.
the Manufacturing Futures Institute
Guiding the clean energy transition
MFI showcased the future of advanced manufacturing and sustainable practices during the Global Clean Energy Action Forum.
CMU Engineering
Engineering faculty featured in events at GCEAF
Many faculty from across the College of Engineering will be featured at events during this year’s Global Clean Energy Action Forum.
PBS
Nock quoted on Inflation Reduction Act
CEE’s Destenie Nock was interviewed by PBS about the impact of the Inflation Reduction Act on green energy. Nock says that most proposals to encourage green energy attempt to hinder the supply side of the economy, but this bill aims to reduce fossil fuel on the demand side.
The Verge
Nock interviewed on the energy cost of working from home
CEE/EPP’s Destenie Nock was quoted in The Verge about her research on the uneven energy costs of working from home.
CMU Engineering
Hidden energy poverty revealed by energy equity gap
Energy equity gap provides new metric that captures resident behavior to illustrate the divide in safety and comfort from extreme temperatures across income groups.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Nock quoted on equity issues with electricity
EPP’s Destenie Nock was quoted by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on equity issues related to electricity and electric power.
CMU Engineering
Transit inequity increased during pandemic
Preliminary results from study of Allegheny County’s public busses finds transit inequity directly contributes to higher infection rates among members of low income and ethnic minority groups.
NPR
Nock quoted on power grid infrastructure
CEE/EPP’s Destenie Nock was quoted on NPR about keeping infrastructure like power lines working in extreme weather.
The Academic Minute
CMU Engineering week on The Academic Minute
August 16 begins Carnegie Mellon Engineering week on National Public Radio’s (NPR) The Academic Minute. Each day, a different professor will discuss interesting facets of their research. The faculty lineup includes: Daniel Armanios, Amir Barati Farimani, Bin He, Destenie Nock, and Larry Pillegi.