Luke is a Ph.D. student in Planning, Governance, and Globalization at Virginia Tech, specializing in policy solutions for pressing global challenges, including the renewable energy transition and antimicrobial resistance. With an M.S. in Biological Systems Engineering from Virginia Tech and a B.S. in Ecology and Environmental Studies from Iowa State University, his research background and scientific expertise span a diverse array of environmental and energy-related topics ranging from watershed-scale stream restoration and water quality modeling using machine learning techniques, to more recently studying renewable energy development and national strategies for combating antimicrobial resistance.

In 2022, Luke decided to pursue a policy-oriented Ph.D. program to become adept in public policy and governance so he can pursue a career as a scientific advisor to federal or international agencies. He aspires to leverage scientific information and expertise in policy design and political decision-making processes to inform effective policymaking for addressing urgent global challenges such as climate change.