Maria Olczak

Maria is a Research Fellow at the Oxford Institute for Energy Studies, specializing in the Quantification, Measurement, Reporting, and Verification (QMRV) of Greenhouse Gas (GHG) Emissions. She recently earned her PhD (2020-2024) in Chemical Engineering from Queen Mary University of London. Her doctoral research focused on bridging the gap between scientific research, technologies, and policies to monitor and mitigate methane emissions from industrial sites, including biogas plants.

A College of Europe alumna, Maria has a strong academic foundation in European policy and regulation. In 2022, she joined the Environmental Defense Fund as a consultant, where she conducted research on coal mine methane and methane policies within the context of liquefied natural gas (LNG) trading. Prior to this role, she spent five years as a Research Associate at the European University Institute’s Florence School of Regulation Gas Area. During this time, she concentrated on policy and regulatory frameworks aimed at reducing methane emissions, decarbonizing the EU gas market, and advancing the role of low-carbon hydrogen and biogas/biomethane.

Maria began her professional career at the Polish Ministry of the Environment, where she played an active role in the preparations and proceedings of the COP19/CMP9 as a member of the Polish Presidency Team.