Dr. Jennifer Baka

Biography

Jennifer Baka is an energy geographer whose work explores the interconnections between material and political environmental processes, particularly within the contexts of energy development. Her research focuses on unconventional renewable energy systems in both domestic and international settings, employing the theoretical framework of political-industrial ecology. This emerging subfield within geography seeks to embed resource flows within broader historical, economic, and political contexts, aiming to develop strategies for reducing environmental inequities in energy systems. Baka is involved in several key research projects, including an evaluation of the political-industrial ecology in the emerging petrochemical corridor of the Ohio River Valley, funded by the NSF CAREER grant. She also examines community perceptions of potential water contamination from unconventional energy development in southwestern Pennsylvania, funded by HEI-Energy, and studies pathways for policy mechanisms related to energy transitions, supported by the Sloan Foundation. Prior to her role at Penn State, Baka served as an Assistant Professor in Geography and the Environment at the London School of Economics from 2013 to 2016. She holds a PhD in Environmental Studies from Yale University, a Master’s in Public Policy from UC Berkeley, and a Bachelor’s in Economics from George Washington University. Baka has a background in the energy industry as an economic consultant and has worked with the United Nations Environment Programme in Paris, France. She is committed to recruiting graduate students interested in these topics at Penn State.

Research Interests

Experience