Robert Kleinberg

Robert Kleinberg

Adjunct Senior Research Scholar of International and Public Affairs


Personal Details

Focus areas: energy technology, energy economics,  environmental issues connected with oil and gas production

Robert L. Kleinberg is an Adjunct Senior Research Scholar at the Center on Global Energy Policy of the Columbia University School of International and Public Affairs.  From 1980 to 2018 he was employed by Schlumberger, attaining the rank of Schlumberger Fellow, one of about a dozen who hold this rank in a workforce of 100,000. He has served on or advised numerous government and academic committees on energy policy, and is a coauthor with Harvard faculty of a textbook on energy technology, in preparation. Dr. Kleinberg was educated at the University of California, Berkeley (B.S. Chemistry, 1971) and the University of California, San Diego (Ph.D. Physics, 1978). From 1978 to 1980 he was a post-doctoral fellow at the Exxon Corporate Research Laboratory in Linden, NJ. His work at Schlumberger focused on geophysical measurements and the characterization and delineation of unconventional fossil fuel resources. His current interests include energy technology and economics, and environmental issues connected with oil and gas production. Dr. Kleinberg has authored more than 100 academic and professional papers, holds 38 U.S. patents, and is the inventor of several geophysical instruments that have been commercialized on a worldwide basis. He is a member of the National Academy of Engineering.

Education

  • PhD, Physics, University of California, San Diego
  • BS, Chemistry, University of California, Berkeley

Honors and Awards

  • National Academy of Engineering

In The Media

“EPA methane data is meticulously curated but inaccurate,” Robert Kleinberg of Columbia's Center on Global Energy Policy joins the discussion as the House Science Committee says information will help the U.S. meet its Global Methane Pledge.

Dec 02 2021
The Washington Post

“To be able to fly over them, at much lower expense, looking for just the big stuff — that’s the way to go.” Robert Kleinberg explains how the type of technology used in detecting methane could have a far-reaching effect.

Nov 02 2021
E&E News