Overview
Personal Profile
Lis Blanco conducts qualitative research to support the development of energy policies and decision-making processes. As an anthropologist, she applies place-based analysis and qualitative methods to examine how social, economic, and institutional factors influence energy use and technology adoption. Her work focuses on lowering energy costs for households and small businesses, creating healthier communities, and building a more reliable, resilient, and secure energy system. Blanco collaborates with residents, policymakers, and industry stakeholders to ensure that research aligns with real-world challenges and priorities, drawing from experience in nonprofit work and consulting for public- and private-sector clients.
Research Interests
Energy system planning
Applied energy research
Applied social sciences
Program evaluation and impact assessment
Place-based technical assistance
Stakeholder engagement
Professional Experience
Post-doctorate Fellow, NLR (2023–2024)
Assistant Professor, University of Goiás (2021–2022)
Research Coordinator, Franciscan Center of Solidarity (2021–2022)
Researcher, London School of Economics (2020–2021)
Coordinator of Social Projects, Ambiente Total Institute (2012–2018)
Director of Environmental Education Projects, Teia Comércio e Serviços de Produtos Educacionais (2014–2018)
Consultant, Idea Couture (2014–2017)
Social Projects Coordinator, Minha Casa, Minha Vida Project (2014)
Social Sciences Researcher, Pedreira Affordable Housing Plan (2013)
Community Mapping and Environmental Project Coordinator, Ambiente Total Institute (2011)
Education/Academic Qualification
PhD, Social-cultural Anthropology, State University of Campinas
Master, Social-cultural Anthropology, State University of Campinas
Bachelor, Social Sciences and Education, State University of Campinas
Teaching License, State University of Campinas
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Collaborations and Top Research Areas From the Past 5 Years
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Applying Social Science Methods to Assess and Improve Program Outcomes: A Case Study on the Gap Region Outreach Project
Blanco, L., Anderson, S. & Reichelt, L., 2025, 23 p.Research output: NLR › Technical Report
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Siting bioenergy facilities in the United States: Measuring Participation in Decisions and Distribution of Effects: Article No. 104166
Efroymson, R., Romero-Lankao, P., Parish, E., Kline, K., Bryan, W., Effross, D., Herbert, B., Gaither, C., Peterson, S., Blanco, L., Rosner, N., Farber, B., Bailey, A. & Grant, J., 2025, In: Energy Research and Social Science. 127, 14 p.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review
1 Scopus Citations -
Clean Energy to Communities: Gap Region Outreach Project
Anderson, S., Blanco, L. & Reichelt, L., 2024, 6 p. National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL).Research output: NLR › Fact Sheet
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Community Engagement Planning: Key Concepts and Methods for Developing and Implementing a Collaborative Engagement Plan
Rosner, N. & Blanco, L., 2024, 33 p.Research output: NLR › Presentation
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Equity and Energy Justice-Related Metric Development for Evaluation of State- Level Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure Programs
Wei, M., Campbell, N., Blanco, L., Downs Dybas, N., Nobler, E., Lechtenberg-Kasten, S., Jenn, A. & Shah, M., 2024, 49 p.Research output: NLR › Technical Report
Awards and Honors
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National Geographic COVID-19 Emergency Fund for Journalists
Blanco, L. (Recipient), 2020
Prize: Honorary award
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Social Science Research Council Just Tech COVID-19 Rapid-Response Grants
Blanco, L. (Recipient), 2020
Prize: Honorary award
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University of Chicago Provost's Global Faculty Awards: Latin America
Blanco, L. (Recipient), 2020
Prize: Honorary award