Barbara Burger

Barbara Burger
Alma mater	University of Rochester, University of California, Berkeley, California Institute of Technology
Occupation(s)	Chemist, energy executive
Known for	President of Chevron Technology Ventures

Barbara Burger is an American chemist and energy executive who formerly held the position of President at Chevron Technology Ventures within Chevron Corporation. In 2021, she was honored with the Alumni Award from the California Institute of Technology.

Early life and education

Burger completed her bachelor's degree at the University of Rochester and later earned a business degree from University of California, Berkeley. She achieved her doctorate in chemistry at the California Institute of Technology, where her research concentrated on olefin insertion and β-elimination processes involving permethylniobocene olefin hydride. Under the mentorship of John E. Bercaw, her dissertation was acknowledged by Paul Chirik as a significant contribution to mechanistic organometallic chemistry. During this period, she also co-wrote Vacuum Line Techniques for Handling Air-sensitive Organometallic Compounds, which enhanced methodologies for working with air-sensitive substances.

Research and career

Beginning her career at Chevron in 1987 as a research chemist, Burger advanced to become President of Technology Ventures in 2013. In this capacity, she managed investments in more than 100 startups, emphasizing the development of technologies aimed at optimizing Chevron’s energy delivery systems and supporting decarbonization initiatives.

Burger holds advisory roles with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, the Houston Symphony Society, and her alma mater, the University of Rochester. She contributed $1 million to establish the iZone innovation hub for students at Rochester and has actively backed programs promoting women chemists at Caltech. After retiring from Chevron in 2021, she joined the Board of Directors of renewable energy firm Heliogen in 2022.