Lorenzo Rosa is a Principal Investigator at Carnegie Institution for Science in the Biosphere Sciences and Engineering Division. Lorenzo is also an Assistant Professor (by courtesy) in the Doerr School of Sustainability at Stanford University. Prior to joining Carnegie, he was a Postdoctoral Fellow in the Institute of Energy and Process Engineering at ETH Zurich. He holds a Ph.D. in Hydrology and Water Resources from University of California Berkeley, and a B.S. and M.S. in Environmental Engineering from Politecnico di Milano, Italy. 

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Dr. Lorenzo Rosa is an engineer and hydrologist whose research addresses the interconnected challenges of water, energy, and food security in a changing climate. He studies the techno-economic and environmental feasibility of emerging technologies aimed at enhancing the resilience and sustainability of agricultural systems. As a hydrologist, he investigates how shifts in water availability—driven by climate change and human use—affect food production, energy generation, and the deployment of climate solutions. His work focuses on identifying sustainable strategies to reduce agriculture’s environmental footprint while ensuring efficient resource use and long-term resilience. By evaluating the trade-offs and synergies among water, energy, and food systems, Dr. Rosa’s research informs policy, investment, and innovation to support sustainable development and global resource security.

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​Dr. Rosa’s contributions to science and society have been recognized through multiple awards, including the 2019 American Geophysical Union (AGU) Hydrology Research Grant and the 2021 AGU Science for Solutions Award. The latter award is given “for significant contributions in the application and use of the Earth and space sciences to solve societal problems”. In Dr. Rosa’s case recognized his contributions to understanding global water-energy-food linkages and solutions to benefit humanity and nature. The AGU is the primary professional society in Dr. Rosa’s field, and these awards are extremely selective and highly prestigious. In addition to these awards, he was also listed among the most influential young leaders in Science and Technology for the year 2020 by Forbes 30 Under 30.

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​Dr. Rosa is an avid sportsman, when he is not at his desk, you can find him running, cycling, swimming, and skiing. In his career as an athlete, he won the Regional and Italian Championships in mountain running.