In 2021, Edgar joined the Energy Sciences and Engineering Department at Stanford University, working as a Research Engineer as part of the Interdisciplinary Energy Systems research group.
Edgar’s solid knowledge base arises from his academic formation. At Duke University, he completed a Ph.D. in Environmental Sciences and Policy (’22) with a Certificate in College Teaching and an M.A. in Environment (Energy and Environment) (’18) with a Geospatial Analysis Certificate. At Universidad de los Andes, he obtained an M.Sc. in Environmental Engineering (’10), a B.Sc. in Chemical Engineering (’09), and a B.Sc. Environmental Engineering (’09). Additionally, Edgar has strengthened his transferable skills by participating in professional certificate programs in Australia, the United States, and Colombia. Acknowledging his academic excellence and research contributions, he has been awarded scholarships and fellowships for more than USD 795,000 from competitive national and international programs sponsored by institutions such as the Sloan Foundation and Procter & Gamble (P&G).
He has participated in nineteen research or consultancy projects with a total budget of USD >25 million, working with organizations such as the U.S. Department of Energy, the World Bank, and the Inter-American Development Bank. Edgar has directed life-cycle assessments and cost-benefit analyses of integrating new fuels into energy markets, designed mitigation strategies for local governments, and performed risk assessments of exposure to air pollutants. He has published 23 research articles in top-tier peer-reviewed journals like Advances in Applied Energy, Applied Energy, Energy Conversion and Management, Energy & Environmental Science, Environmental Science & Technology (ES&T), and One Earth.
Concurrently with his research interests, he is passionate about improving higher education. During the last decade, he has held several higher education administration positions where he has enhanced the units’ academic, administrative, and financial processes by applying optimization and data analytics methods and defined, planned, and executed strategic global research alliances. Based on this experience, he has written multiple opinion editorials and scientific letters advocating for a renewed educational model in high-impact media like Science, Nature Cities, Insider Higher Ed, and Higher Ed Dive.
Edgar has been recognized as a global expert in energy systems, appointed to the Expert Advisory Panel of the Earthshot Prize (led by Prince William of Gales, awarding more than 6.25 million USD annually), as an Expert Reviewer of the Schmidt Sciences Decarbonization and Energy Virtual Institute (DEVI) program (awarding grants up to 10 million USD for five years), as one of the seven inaugural Executive Editorial Board Members of the Environmental Research: Energy journal, and as an Editorial Board Member of the Scientific Reports journal (Nature Portfolio). He also serves as a peer-reviewer for 13 journals, including Applied Energy, Environmental Science & Technology, and Nature Sustainability.
Edgar has developed as a next-generation pedagogue, teaching 16 courses, serving more than 560 students, and achieving high ratings from his students. For his contributions and exemplary promise as a leader in the higher education field, he has received several professional honors (total amount of professional awards USD 33,365). In 2020, he was selected as one of the seven recipients of the K. Patricia Cross Future Leader Award by the Association of American Colleges & Universities (AAC&U), identified as a rising star from a >200 nominees pool from 118 institutions in the United States. In 2022, his research contributions were recognized with the Best Paper Award from the Energy and Environment Group of the American Association of Geographers at the 2022 annual meeting and the U.S. Carbon Program Leadership Award from the Carbon Cycle Science Program & North American Carbon Program.
At Duke, he had a celebrated tenure, receiving several of the most prestigious awards for graduate students, including the 2021 Graduate School Dean’s Award for Excellence in Teaching (<0.1% of doctoral students) and the 2021 Forever Duke Student Leadership Award (<0.5% of graduating students). In 2022, he was selected as a board member (Young Trustee) of Duke University’s highest governing body, the Board of Trustees. Edgar was appointed from 2022 to 2025, recognized as an individual of outstanding character, ability, and vision from the current ~10,000 graduate and professional student body and ~8,000 graduate or professional alums of Duke’s Class of 2021 and 2022.
