Calvin Spanbauer

Position
STEP PhD Student
Role
School of Public and International Affairs
Office
310 Robertson Hall
Adviser
Bio/Description

Calvin is a Ph.D. candidate in the Science, Technology, and Environmental Policy (STEP) program at Princeton University’s School of Public and International Affairs. He is a member of the Behavioral Science and Policy Lab and is advised by Dr. Elke Weber.

Calvin's research examines energy transitions from a social science perspective, with a focus on how the demand side of the energy system —particularly residential electric vehicle (EV) charging— can be mobilized as a flexible grid resource. He analyzes the design of demand flexibility policies, their implementation by utilities and other organizations, the technologies that enable them, and the beliefs and behaviors of residential customers who engage with these initiatives. By tracing demand flexibility from policy design to household participation, his work highlights both the synergies and frictions that arise in efforts to enable demand flexibility. Building on this, Calvin identifies opportunities for behavioral science-informed interventions to strengthen the effectiveness and impact of demand flexibility.

Calvin is currently an affiliate of the Energy Technologies Area at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL). He previously worked as a power market reform intern at RMI, an energy and environmental policy intern at China Policy, and a transportation system analyst at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL). He holds a Master’s in China Studies from Peking University and a B.S. in Business Administration from the Ohio State University.