Our Story
Our Story
SINCE OUR FOUNDING IN 2016, CURRENT HAS PUT WATER INNOVATION FRONT AND CENTER AS AN ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY AND SOLUTION TO A DEEPENING CLIMATE CRISIS.
We’ve helped raise more than $45M dollars to support water innovation and inclusive economic development; launched 10+ technology pilots; supported the commercialization of technology at 30+ water tech companies; and educated more than 30,000 people through our events and convenings.
Chicago is our sweet, freshwater home, but our partnerships stretch across Illinois, the Great Lakes region, and the world.
“Everywhere you turn right now, there’s a drought. China’s got a massive drought. Europe’s got a massive drought. The West has a massive drought. And Chicago has an abundance of water. That has a value when you’re thinking long term.”
— Rahm Emanuel, former mayor of Chicago
Our Strategy
Simply put, our strategy is to convene the right players, not for talk, but for action. Together, we win funding for water innovation work and then quarterback the execution.
Why Water? We will feel climate change most acutely when our water dries up. And if things don’t change quickly, it will.
Companies on the forefront of preventing water crises will win. Our job is to ensure that the Great Lakes region becomes a global leader in protecting our scarce water resources from both pollution and misuse.
Key
Strategic
Wins
We are leading Great Lakes ReNEW, one of 10 awardees nationwide in a first-ever National Science Foundation competition for up to $160 million in funding.
We won funding from the U.S. Department of Commerce for Upstream Illinois, the nation’s first inclusive blue economy strategy.
We also secured funding for a water-tech accelerator from the U.S. Department of Commerce. It will launch in 2024.
Our Partners
Our Team
Venkat Atluri
Board Chairman – Senior Partner, McKinsey & Company
Richard Assmus
Board Secretary – Partner, Mayer Brown LLP
MarySue Barrett
Nonresident Senior Fellow, Brookings Institution
Randy Conner
Ex Officio – Commissioner, Chicago Department of Water Management
Michael Fassnacht
President & Chief Growth Officer, ClayCo
Dr. Joanna Groden
Vice Chancellor for Research, University of Illinois Chicago
Paul K. Kearns
Director, U.S. Department of Energy’s Argonne National Laboratory
Dr. Steven Kloos
Partner, Burnt Island Ventures
Andy Martin
Senior Vice President & Managing Director, Technical Services & Innovation Center, Greeley and Hansen
Dr. Susan Martinis
Vice Chancellor for Research & Innovation, University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
Dr. Nadya Mason
Dean, University of Chicago Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering
Brian Perkovich
Ex Officio – Executive Director, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District of Greater Chicago
Dr. Eric Perreault
Vice President for Research, Northwestern University
Thru Shivakumar
Board Treasurer - CEO, cohesionIB
Dr. Jay Walsh
Interim Vice President for Economic Development and Innovation, University of Illinois
Sunny Elebua
Chief Strategy & Sustainability Officer, Exelon
Dr. Steven Kloos
John Robinson
Dr. Lindsay Birt
Mark Bertler
Michael Reardon
Dr. Terry Mah
Dr. May Wu
Todd Fein
Chris Sosnowski
Dr. Dev Gavaskar
Dr. Rafael Simon
Pierre Côté, Ph.D.
Dr. Kam Law
Alaina Harkness
Chief Executive Officer
Kalindi Parikh
Strategy Director
Brian Spangle
Operations Director
Dr. Melissa Pierce
Technical Program Director
Alexis Levato
Senior Grant Compliance Manager
Aamer Ahmed
Field Program Manager
Haylee Gemeiner
Communications Manager
Jonathan Goodell
Commercialization & Partnerships Manager
Hannah Henderson
Program Manager
Alek Jaunzemis
Community Sampling Coordinator
Dale Landmann
Community Sampling Coordinator
John Leavell
Community Sampling Coordinator
Careers
Joining our team is an exciting opportunity to be part of a dynamic and collaborative environment where innovation and creativity thrive. We value diversity, teamwork, and a shared commitment to excellence. See openings below.
Workforce Development Director
Current is seeking an innovative leader dedicated to equity and inclusion to enhance our workforce development and educational initiatives. As the technology and economic landscapes evolve, we need someone who understands the complexities of creating and implementing effective workforce programs and is committed to overcoming challenges through creative partnerships and innovative solutions.
In this vital role, you will shape the long-term vision for initiatives such as our NSF-funded Great Lakes ReNEW engine, promoting collaboration across workforce development, STEM education, higher education, and entrepreneurship. You will lead various coalitions and programs aimed at establishing connected blue job pathways for underrepresented individuals in the blue economy. This role specifically focuses on developing strategies to tackle significant equity gaps in the Great Lakes Region and building partnerships to deliver workforce programs at scale.
Commercialization Director
Current is seeking an entrepreneurial leader with a passion for innovative technology and commercialization to spearhead advancements in the water and climate sectors. In this role, you will navigate the complexities of deploying and scaling effective water solutions, working to identify and eliminate barriers through cutting-edge programs and initiatives.
As a vital contributor to the strategy for key initiatives like our Great Lakes ReNEW engine and our water technology accelerators, you will collaborate across various technical fields and sectors. Your focus will be on leading a suite of programs designed to accelerate the development, adoption, commercialization, and scaling of technologies that tackle pressing water and climate challenges. This position entails identifying the most promising technologies, including those developed within Current’s partner consortia, and systematically supporting their growth through pilot projects, demonstration partnerships, and commercial scaling opportunities.
Technical Program Manager
Are you passionate about advancing science and innovation in the water sector? Current is looking for a dedicated leader who understands the technical and commercial challenges in deploying and scaling innovative water solutions—and is committed to overcoming those barriers.
In this role, you’ll be instrumental in designing, implementing, and managing technical programs focused on fostering breakthroughs in water technology. You’ll also lead efforts within Great Lakes ReNEW to collaborate with diverse stakeholders to tackle pressing water challenges and promote sustainable solutions.
Postdoctoral fellowships
The Great Lakes Water Innovation Engine, Great Lakes ReNEW, is hiring nine postdoctoral research fellows interested in working on the selective separation of nutrients, critical minerals, and energy from wastewater. This includes sensors and sensor networks for detection of these targets and testbeds for the validation of technologies developed.
Applications are closed.
Internships
Current’s Summer 2024 internship applications are closed.
Thank you to everyone who submitted an application for a summer internship at Current. Applications are now closed, but stay tuned for updates on Fall/Winter internships later this year!
