Meet Jessica Brown- Charm's Senior Pyrolysis Engineer

Meet the Charmers is a series spotlighting the talented team at Charm Industrial, the people behind the systems, processes, and operations that make durable carbon removal possible.

Today, we’re excited to introduce Jessica Brown, a Senior Process Engineer on Charm’s pyrolysis team. Jessica brings deep experience in chemical engineering, biomass pyrolysis, and process scale-up, with a background that bridges academic research and real-world deployment. Her work focuses on designing and improving the systems that convert biomass into carbon-rich bio-oil for permanent underground storage.

Tell us about your background.

I earned my bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Iowa State University. During undergrad, an internship at Cargill introduced me to large-scale process engineering and energy efficiency work in renewable fuels production. The summer before my final semester, what I affectionately called my “victory lap,” I joined the Bioeconomy Institute (BEI) at Iowa State as an undergraduate research assistant. The institute is a well-respected hub for biomass pyrolysis research, bridging both academic and industrial applications. The experiences, mentorship, and curiosity for research at the BEI ultimately led me back to Iowa State for graduate school.

During my PhD, I worked on a DARPA-funded project with a pretty unconventional goal: taking plastic waste from military Meals Ready-to-Eat (MREs) and using pyrolysis to convert it into food. The project combined thermochemical conversion with biological processing in a sequential system. Many of the fundamentals from biomass pyrolysis applied directly, and it was an eye-opening way to see just how versatile and challenging pyrolysis products can be.

One thing became very clear during that work: while making pyrolysis products is hard, upgrading them into something usable, scalable, and commercial can be even more challenging. After defending my PhD, I joined Alder Renewables, a startup focused on converting biomass pyrolysis bio-oil into sustainable aviation and marine fuels. There, I worked on upgrading strategies, pilot planning, and techno-economic analysis to help bridge the gap between lab-scale success and real-world deployment.

After about a year, I saw a unique opportunity to bring together pyrolysis reactor design, bio-oil upgrading, scale-up, and strategic systems thinking into one role. That path ultimately led me to Charm, where I work on both the pyrolysis systems and potential pathways for bio-oil and biochar.

What brought you to Charm Industrial?

Charm’s commitment to scaling durable carbon removal and focusing on real, near-term solutions was a big draw for me. In both academia and the renewable fuels space, a lot of work is aimed at technologies that might be deployable five to ten years down the road. What excited me about Charm was the focus on doing meaningful work now, while still investing in next-generation technologies.

I was especially struck by the resilience, transparency, and genuine excitement of the team during an open house at Charm Colorado in February 2025. Seeing that combination of ambition and practicality made it clear that Charm was a place where I could have real impact.

Tell us about your role at Charm.

I’m a Senior Process Engineer on the pyrolysis team, which means my days are a mix of hands-on problem solving and big-picture thinking. I work on designing, testing, and iterating on pyrolysis systems that convert biomass into carbon-rich bio-oil for permanent underground storage. That can look like running tests on new biomass feedstocks, troubleshooting equipment, defining mass and energy balances, or collaborating closely with design engineers, the controls team, and operations to ensure our systems are safe, reliable, and scalable.

A big part of my role involves translating pyrolysis experience and product analysis into practical design decisions, operational strategies, and troubleshooting approaches, making sure what we build in theory works in practice. I usually tell friends and family that I design and optimize a chemical reactor that turns plant waste into a thick, carbon-rich liquid. We then store that liquid underground so the carbon stays out of the atmosphere permanently.

What has been the most rewarding part of your work so far?

Two moments stand out for me. The first was collecting bio-oil and biochar samples from our latest generation pyrolyzer during its very first test. The second was seeing the engineering and operations teams come together to successfully complete a week-long campaign on that same reactor just two months later.

The most rewarding part of my work has been watching ideas move from experimental concepts into real, operating systems that are intuitive and operationally ready. There’s something incredibly motivating about seeing a process you’ve helped design or improve perform in the field and knowing it directly contributes to measurable carbon removal. Being part of a team that values iteration, learning, and continuous improvement makes those milestones even more meaningful.

What do you enjoy doing outside of work?

I’m a big fan of staying active and spending time outdoors, which is one of the best perks of living in Colorado. Since moving here, I’ve really embraced hiking, skiing, and camping, and I still make time to enjoy water-skiing on the lakes of Okoboji in Iowa. I also enjoy homebrewing, biking, walking my dog, and cheering on the Iowa State Cyclones.

Any books, podcasts, or resources you’ve been enjoying lately?

I’m currently reading The Alchemy of Air by Thomas Hager. I tend to rotate between nonfiction and fiction. Before that, I read The God of the Woods by Liz Moore. On my drive to work, NPR’s All Things Considered is usually on, making it my most-played podcast, with Good Hang with Amy Poehler coming in a close second.

Is there anything else you’d like to share?

I genuinely enjoy figuring out how complicated systems work and then figuring out how to make them better. I love asking “why,” sketching ideas on whiteboards, and working with teams that aren’t afraid to test, learn, and iterate. Outside of engineering, I’m fueled by good cold brew, type 2 fun in nature, and books that make me think or occasionally help me turn my brain off. I’m excited to be part of a team that takes its work seriously while still finding joy in building, learning, and solving hard problems together, and celebrating the small wins along the way.