Amid the hum of milking equipment and the shuffle of cow hooves, PhD student Audrey Parker and her collaborators measure an invisible greenhouse gas drifting through the air. For Parker, a civil and environmental engineering student at MIT, impactful climate solutions aren’t found in labs alone, but also in the everyday operations of dairy farms. Her research focuses on advanced technologies to mitigate methane emissions, a potent greenhouse gas far more effective at trapping heat than carbon dioxide.
Dairy farms are a significant source of methane and Parker’s work centers on quantifying these emissions and developing methods to convert them into less harmful molecules. This research builds on a lifelong connection to the natural world and a dedication to finding practical solutions to environmental challenges. Parker’s journey, from backpacking in Idaho to pursuing a PhD at MIT, highlights the growing need for innovative approaches to address climate change.
From Idaho Roots to Cutting-Edge Research
Parker grew up in Boise, Idaho, spending her childhood immersed in the outdoors. “Growing up, we were always outside,” she said. “I knew how to cast a fly rod before I knew how to ride a bike.” This early connection to nature fueled her desire to pursue studies focused on environmental preservation. She attended Boise State University, studying sustainable materials development under the mentorship of Assistant Dean Paul Davis.
A pivotal experience came during the summer before her senior year when she was accepted into the MIT Summer Research Program (MSRP). MSRP prepares students for graduate school by providing opportunities to conduct research at MIT. It was there she began working with Professor Desirée Plata, MIT’s Distinguished Climate and Energy Professor. “They do a great job bringing in people of different backgrounds,” Parker noted. “It wasn’t until I started working with Desirée that I started applying materials science as a tool to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. That was a profound insight.” Parker graduated from Boise State as a Top Ten Scholar before relocating to Massachusetts to begin her doctoral studies.
Tackling Methane Emissions from Multiple Sources
Parker’s PhD research focuses on methane emissions from two primary sources: vented air from coal mines and dairy farms. These two areas contribute substantially to human-caused methane emissions, but the dilute nature of the gas makes capture and conversion challenging. Her work isn’t solely theoretical; she emphasizes the importance of collaborating with community members to ensure the practicality and scalability of any developed solutions.
“Desirée’s approach is to make sure industry is aware of affordable and sustainable ways to remove methane from their operations, while also incorporating the nuanced expertise stakeholders offer,” Parker explained. “I appreciate that she is focused on not just doing work for the chapter of a PhD thesis, but also making our work lead to real-world change.” Parker’s research explores converting methane into carbon dioxide, which has a significantly lower climate warming potential. Methane naturally converts to carbon dioxide over approximately 12 years, and her work aims to accelerate this process for near-term climate benefits.
Zeolites and the Future of Methane Mitigation
The core of Parker’s technological approach involves a catalyst made from zeolites, an abundant and inexpensive mineral with a honeycomb-like internal structure. She modifies these zeolites with copper and explores methods to apply external heat to facilitate complete methane conversion. Testing the durability and performance of this catalyst under various conditions is crucial, and Parker and her team conduct trials directly on operating dairy farms to replicate real-world conditions.
In a 2025 paper, Parker analyzed the use of thermal energy to sustain methane combustion in catalyst materials, identifying the conditions under which this approach yields net climate benefits. “If your methane concentrations are low and you’re having to provide so much energy into your system, you could become climate-harmful, but there’s also a context where it’s beneficial,” she explained. “Understanding where that trade-off occurs is critical to making sure your mitigation technologies are having the benefits you’re anticipating.” This systems-level thinking is essential for understanding the broader impacts of climate solutions.
Parker’s research has already informed the design of a pilot-scale methane mitigation system in a coal mine, though she has not yet visited the site. Beyond her research, she co-chairs MIT Congressional Visit Days, a program that sends students to Washington D.C. To advocate for science-based policies. “On-the-Hill advocacy teaches you about the policy landscape in unparalleled ways,” Parker said. “Those conversations you have with lawmakers can drive transformational change to bridge the gap between science and policy.” She is also leading a workshop for the MIT Climate and Sustainability Consortium, focusing on financing the voluntary carbon market.
Parker, anticipating the completion of her PhD next year, finds fulfillment in dedicating her research to protecting the environment she cherishes. “For me it’s about preserving the world I grew up in,” she said. “Especially in Idaho, where communities are experiencing more frequent wildfires and more intense droughts. As a child, the natural world provided so much wonder. Today, that same sense of wonder is what drives me to protect it.”
As Parker’s research progresses, the focus will likely shift towards scaling up these methane mitigation technologies and fostering wider adoption within the agricultural and energy sectors. The ongoing development and refinement of zeolite-based catalysts, coupled with informed policy advocacy, represent a crucial step towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating the effects of climate change.
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