Maria Kanwal is a Fulbright scholar from Pakistan. Her previous work experience and exposure in the solar energy industry sparked her interest in the social, techno-economic and policy related issues regarding the renewable energy sector and led to her pursuing her PhD in Energy Systems at UC Davis. She is working with the Energy Conservation Office on electrification of heating and cooling on the UC Davis campus, which is a part of the "Fossil Free" initiative. Maria hopes to pursue a career in energy efficiency, decarbonization via electrification and sustainable communities in the context of developing countries.