The International Conference on Thermochemical Conversion Science:
Biomass and Waste to Fuels and Chemicals

August 25–27, 2026 | Historic Brown Palace Hotel & Spa | Denver, Colorado

Don Klass Award for Excellence in Thermochemical Conversion Science

The award was established in memory of Donald L. Klass, whose distinguished career includes management of biomass, natural gas, and petroleum research and educational programs for the Institute of Gas Technology (now GTI Energy) and the petroleum industry.

2026 Recipients

Jennifer Holmgren 400px

Dr. Jennifer Holmgren Chairman & CEO of LanzaTech

Under Jennifer’s guidance, LanzaTech is developing a variety of platform chemicals and fuels, including the world’s first alternative jet fuel derived from industrial waste gases. She is also the Director and Chair of the LanzaJet Board of Directors. Prior to LanzaTech, Jennifer was the founding VP and General Manager of the Renewable Energy and Chemicals business unit at UOP LLC, a Honeywell Company. While there, she was a key driver of their leadership in low carbon aviation biofuels.

Jennifer has authored or co-authored 50 U.S. patents and more than 30 scientific publications and is a member of the National Academy of Engineering (NAE). In 2023, she was named to the Time Magazine Climate 100 list of Most Influential Leaders. Jennifer also sits on the Advisory Council for the Andlinger Center for Energy and the Environment at Princeton University, the National Academies' Board on Energy and Environmental Systems (BEES), the Advisory Council for the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL), the Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS International Advisory Council, and the Founder Advisory for The Engine, a venture capital fund built by MIT that invests in early-stage science and engineering companies.

Jennifer holds a B.Sc. degree from Harvey Mudd College, a Ph.D. from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, a MBA from the University of Chicago, and Honorary Doctorates from the Delft University of Technology (TU Delft) and St. Mary's College, Notre Dame.

Thomas Kolb 400px

Dr. Thomas Kolb Chair of Fuel Process Engineering, KIT
Head of Engler-Bunte-Institut, Fuel Technology
Head of Department “Gasification Technology”
Institute for Technical Chemistry

Prof. Dr.-Ing. Thomas Kolb is a chemical engineer and researcher specializing in fuel process engineering, gasification technology, and renewable gas systems at the Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT). His work focuses on high-temperature process engineering, thermochemical conversion, and the development of sustainable energy pathways for the circular economy. Over his career, he has held leadership roles in academia and industry, including at BASF and KIT, and has contributed to major research initiatives such as the bioliq® process.

Past Recipients

Ingvar Landalv

2017
Ingvar Landälv

Doug Elliot 400px

2019
Doug Elliott

GTI Terry Marke 400pxr

2022
Terry Marker

Dr Robert Graham

2024
Dr. Robert G. Graham

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