Dr. James Seaba currently serves as Program Director at the Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E). His focus at ARPA-E is on clean sustainable fuels production, novel energy system designs, energy distribution, and energy storage.

Dr. Seaba has spent over 30 years developing economically driven energy systems that minimize environmental impacts. He has spent his career in academia, the aerospace and automotive industries, as well as the oil & gas sectors. He has focused much of his career in oil and gas, where he developed technologies for both upstream and downstream business units. Recently, Dr. Seaba has focused his efforts on the transition toward a global carbon neutral energy system.

Dr. Seaba founded and led a US-based research center in Ohio known as the Honda Research Institute (HRI). HRI developed cutting edge technology in microreactors, advanced hydrogen storage, and PEM fuel cell system development. At ConocoPhillips, Dr. Seaba developed fuel cell technologies, supported refining processes, hydrogen production, and novel processes for in-situ oil sands extraction. Dr. Seaba leveraged internal research programs with US National laboratories and Universities. He has developed both renewable and nonrenewable technologies that minimize the environmental footprint for a variety of energy processes over the last 30 years. These processes cover a broad industry spectrum that includes the development of novel hydrogen production technology for fuel cells to the reduction of green house gases in oil sands production. Dr. Seaba has successfully developed and executed technology strategies across multiple industries. Consistently recognized for creative problem solving, leading successful cross-functional teams and establishing/executing value-added technology development programs. He has successfully commercialized technology from idea to practice. Dr. Seaba has over 25 US patents and patent applications, and over 30 referred journal publications.

Technical Focus: Efficiency; Fuels; Storage; Industrial Decarbonization; Transportation