Evanston, Ill. – March 10, 2026 – UL Research Institutes (ULRI), a leading authority in advancing public safety through rigorous scientific investigation, has announced a significant leadership advancement with the appointment of Dr. Judy Jeevarajan as vice president and distinguished scientific advisor. This newly established executive position, reporting directly to Chris Cramer, Ph.D., ULRI’s Chief Research Officer, underscores the organization’s commitment to deepening expertise and influence in the domains of battery technology, electrochemical safety, and global standards development. Dr. Jeevarajan’s role will be instrumental in steering ULRI’s scientific vision and legacy, promoting excellence in cutting-edge research, and mentoring emerging experts across the electrochemical safety spectrum.
Dr. Jeevarajan’s appointment coincides with ULRI’s proactive search for a new executive director for its Electrochemical Safety Research Institute (ESRI). While transitioning, she will maintain her dual leadership capacity, ensuring seamless continuity during this phase of organizational evolution. Her extensive experience and leadership acumen position her uniquely to manage this transitional phase while forging long-term strategic initiatives in battery safety research and electrochemical science.
Chris Cramer emphasized Dr. Jeevarajan’s pivotal role at ULRI, highlighting her international reputation in lithium-ion battery safety and electrochemical systems. He praised her exceptional ability to bridge high-level scientific research with tangible safety advancements impacting industries worldwide. As a distinguished scientific advisor, she is set to champion ULRI’s critical research priorities, nurture the professional growth of the next generation of scientists, and amplify the Institute’s global influence, particularly in the sphere of battery safety standards, which are becoming increasingly vital as energy storage technologies grow in complexity and prevalence.
Over her more than three-decade-long career, Dr. Jeevarajan has dedicated herself to the intricate study of battery chemistries, especially lithium-ion technologies that dominate modern energy storage. Her deep technical expertise encompasses battery cell behavior under various scenarios, failure modes leading to thermal runaway, and strategies for enhancing reliability and safety at the system level. Her research contributions have profoundly shaped industry practices and regulatory frameworks, emphasizing safe chemistry formulations, robust system safety designs, and sophisticated testing methodologies.
Dr. Jeevarajan’s impact transcends ULRI. She holds a prestigious position as Chair of the International Electrotechnical Commission’s Technical Committee 21, Subcommittee 21A, driving the development of international standards that regulate battery safety and performance. This leadership role highlights her influence on global consensus-building in safety protocols and her unwavering commitment to harmonizing standards that foster innovation while enhancing protective measures in energy storage systems.
In addition to her contributions within standards organizations, Dr. Jeevarajan’s thought leadership is widely recognized in academia, industry, and government arenas. She has shared her insights through over 250 presentations worldwide, along with authoring multiple influential book chapters on battery safety. Her advocacy stresses the importance of evidence-based approaches in formulating policies that effectively mitigate emerging risks linked to novel battery chemistries, advanced energy storage configurations, and the integration of new energy vectors such as hydrogen.
Her expertise is regularly sought in high-stakes discussions involving legislators and international clean energy summits, where she articulates the complex interface between evolving energy technologies and the paramount need for stringent safety measures. These forums benefit from her comprehensive understanding of both scientific intricacies and the practical ramifications of battery safety, especially as energy storage systems scale rapidly in applications ranging from electric vehicles to grid-level storage.
Within the rapidly evolving landscape of energy storage safety, Dr. Jeevarajan’s advisory capacity will foster strengthened collaboration across a spectrum of standards organizations and industry stakeholders. She will intensify partnerships with UL Standards & Engagement, the International Electrotechnical Commission, SAE International—covering automotive and aerospace sectors—and other pivotal bodies shaping future technology standards. This collaborative approach ensures that emerging battery technologies, including next-generation chemistries and architectures, adhere to rigorous safety benchmarks befitting their critical societal roles.
ULRI’s research under Dr. Jeevarajan’s guidance will continue to focus on developing sophisticated methodologies for battery safety assessment. This encompasses novel fire suppression techniques, preventive strategies, and holistic system-level safety mechanisms designed for electric vehicle and stationary storage applications, where failure consequences can have significant safety and economic impacts. These innovative approaches contribute not only to immediate risk reduction but also to enhancing the overall resilience and reliability of burgeoning energy infrastructures.
The scientific community, industry, and regulators alike will benefit from ULRI’s continued leadership in delineating global policies and best practices for energy storage safety. Dr. Jeevarajan’s direction will promote comprehensive frameworks that integrate scientific discoveries with practical implementation, thereby shaping safer deployment and management of diverse energy storage solutions worldwide. Her work reinforces a critical nexus where science, policy, and technology converge to address the complex challenges presented by modern energy systems.
Dr. Jeevarajan also represents ULRI in international dialogues related to energy storage safety and emerging standards, engaging with influential entities such as the India Energy Storage Alliance and the NetZero Energy Transition Alliance. These platforms facilitate cross-sector knowledge exchange and advocacy for robust standards that align with the global ambition of a sustainable and secure energy future. Her leadership ensures that safety remains a paramount consideration as countries accelerate clean energy adoption in response to urgent climate imperatives.
Her appointment marks a strategic milestone for UL Research Institutes, signaling not just continuity but expansion of its scientific excellence in electrochemical research and battery safety domains. With Dr. Jeevarajan’s technical rigor and global influence, ULRI is exceptionally positioned to advance innovative safety science, contributing substantially to the mission of creating a safer and more resilient world amidst the transformative shifts in energy technology.
About UL Research Institutes
UL Research Institutes is an independent, nonprofit entity committed to enhancing public safety through scientific discovery. Founded in 1894, ULRI has a longstanding tradition of rigorous, unbiased research focused on critical hazards including fire, chemical exposures, digital privacy, and energy storage safety. The organization operates with a global perspective, sharing scientific findings openly to inform standards development, policy formulation, and public awareness. ULRI also invests in cultivating future safety leaders through educational initiatives, thereby ensuring sustained progress in safety science. Despite operating independently from related UL divisions, ULRI aligns with the overarching mission of securing a safer world through scientific rigor and collaborative innovation.
Subject of Research: Battery and energy storage safety, electrochemical science, and global standards development related to lithium-ion and next-generation battery technologies.
Article Title: Judy Jeevarajan Appointed Vice President and Distinguished Scientific Advisor at UL Research Institutes
News Publication Date: March 10, 2026
Web References: https://www.imsearch.com/open-searches/ul-research-institutes/vice-president-and-executive-director-electrochemical-safety
Keywords: Electrochemistry, Energy storage, Battery safety, Lithium-ion battery, Electrochemical safety, Fire suppression, Energy storage safety standards, International Electrotechnical Commission, UL Research Institutes, Battery chemistry, Thermal runaway, Sustainable energy storage
