Sarah Ryker
About Sarah Ryker
Sarah Ryker serves as the Associate Director for Energy & Minerals at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), a position she has held since 2019. With a career spanning over three decades in various roles related to energy, minerals, and environmental policy, she has contributed significantly to the field through her work at multiple government agencies and research institutions.
Work at U.S. Geological Survey
Sarah Ryker has held multiple positions at the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) since 1989. She currently serves as the Associate Director for Energy & Minerals, a role she has occupied since 2019. Prior to this, she was the Acting Associate Director for Climate and Land Use Change in 2014. Ryker has also worked as the Deputy Associate Director for Climate and Land Use Change from 2011 to 2016. Her extensive tenure at USGS spans over three decades, contributing to various initiatives in energy, minerals, and climate science.
Previous Roles in Government
Before her current role at USGS, Sarah Ryker worked at the U.S. Department of the Interior as the Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Water & Science and Acting Counselor for Water & Science from 2016 to 2017. Additionally, she served as a Science & Technology Policy Fellow at the National Academy of Sciences in 2008. Her experience in government positions highlights her involvement in water and science policy at a national level.
Education and Expertise
Sarah Ryker holds a PhD in Engineering and Public Policy from Carnegie Mellon University. She also studied at the University of Washington and Smith College. Her educational background provides a strong foundation in both engineering principles and public policy, which informs her work in energy, minerals, and environmental science.
Career in Science and Technology Policy
Ryker's career includes significant experience in science and technology policy. She worked as a Science & Technology Policy Analyst at the Science and Technology Policy Institute from 2009 to 2011. This role, along with her fellowship at the National Academy of Sciences, underscores her commitment to integrating scientific research with policy development.