Mariano Gurfinkel - Associate Head, University of Texas Center for Energy Economics

Dr. Gurfinkel possesses expertise in the design, management and execution of multidisciplinary basic and applied research, and technology development, and deployment, with special focus on unconventional or frontier resources. He has led the development, testing and commercial implementation of new technologies for the exploitation and in-situ upgrading of heavy and extra-heavy crude oil. He led the development of the technology strategic plan for the exploitation of the vast unconventional extra-heavy oil resources of Venezuela. 

Currently he is the Associate Head of the Center for Energy Economics at The University of Texas at Austin where he is the team lead for the LNG research/outreach consortium and member of the BEG staff that supports the STARR, the Gulf Coast Carbon Center (GCCC), and the FutureGen Texas (FGT) initiatives and proposals. He currently is actively involved in the evaluation of technological alternatives for the development of low pressure gas resources in the State of Texas, and the development of solvent-based in-situ upgrading of oil sands.

EDUCATION
Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1995.
M.S. Mechanical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, Massachusetts, 1991
B.S. Ingeniero Mecánico, Universidad Simón Bolívar, Caracas, Venezuela, 1987. Cum Laude.

EXPERIENCE
10/2005-          Associate Head and Project Manager, Center for Energy Economics, Bureau of Economic Geology, Jackson School of Geosciences, The University of Texas at Austin
2003–10/2005   Assistant Director, Center for Energy and Technology of the Americas, Florida International University, Miami, Florida
1995–2003       PDVSA-Intevep, Caracas, Venezuela
At PDVSA-Intevep, the research and development division of the national oil company of Venezuela, served in positions of increasing responsibility. Responsibilities spanned leading the development of a novel technology for the in-situ upgrading of extra-heavy crude oil to managing the research unit responsible for the development, scale-up and commercial implementation of an emulsified heavy oil used in power generation. 

You can contact Dr. Gurfinkel at mariano.gurfinkel@beg.utexas.edu