Morgan Bazilian

Morgan D. Bazilian is the Director of the Payne Institute for Public Policy and a Professor of Public Policy at the Colorado School of Mines.

He is a leading global expert in energy policy, international affairs, and critical minerals, with more than two decades of experience across academia, government, and international institutions. 

Prior to joining Mines, Dr. Bazilian served as the Lead Energy Specialist at the World Bank, where he focused on energy access and development. He has also held senior roles as a diplomat at the United Nations and as Deputy Director at the U.S. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). Earlier in his career, he advised the Irish Government on energy policy, serving as Principal Advisor to the Energy Minister and as Deputy CEO of Ireland’s national energy agency.

Dr. Bazilian’s research spans energy security, mineral supply chains, infrastructure investment, and the intersection of energy with national security and geopolitics. He has published extensively in leading journals such as Nature and Science, as well as in major policy outlets including Foreign Affairs and Foreign Policy.

A Fulbright Fellow, Dr. Bazilian holds a Ph.D. in energy systems and has contributed to numerous global initiatives, including advisory roles with the World Economic Forum and participation in United Nations climate negotiations as a lead EU negotiator on technology.