Research Team

LBJ School Policy Research Project 2026

The research team

Five graduate students at the Lyndon B. Johnson School of Public Affairs. Over nine months, the team conducted a multi-sector benchmarking research for X-energy to identify which state policy levers have potential to accelerated deployment in advanced nuclear energy.

Aria Stiefelmaier
Aria Stiefelmaier
Federal and Regulatory Affairs Lead
Master Global Policy Studies

Aria brings experience in federal government affairs, national security, and legislative research. She most recently supported Cheniere Energy’s Government Relations team in Washington, D.C., analyzing legislative and geopolitical developments affecting U.S. energy policy. At the LBJ School, her work centers on the intersection of national security, energy geopolitics, and counterterrorism strategy.

Briggs Jackson
Briggs Jackson
Economic and Market Development Lead
Master of Public Affairs

Briggs brings years of experience in campaign management and legislative affairs. He worked on a broad range of policy issues in the Idaho Senate before transitioning to the tech sector, where he helped financial executives and managing attorneys overcome challenges to growth. At LBJ, he focuses on how economic development and social impact intersect with innovation ecosystems.

Shane Birdwell
Shane Birdwell
State Government Lead
Master of Public Affairs

Shane has worked in the Texas Legislature since 2017 and is currently the Chief of Staff for a State Senator. In his role as the Chief of Staff, Shane serves as the office advisor to the Senate Committee on Business & Commerce, which oversees nuclear energy policy and operations in the State of Texas.

Staci Rende
Staci Rende
Energy Policy Research Lead
Master of Global Policy Studies

Staci is passionate about environmental and energy policy, with experience researching the proliferation of data centers in the United States and methods to secure a sustainable development pathway. Currently, she is working on a new research proposal focusing on best practices for data centers, including energy recovery and location, in the United States.

Suzi Blake
Suzi Blake
Technical and Research Synthesis Lead
Master of Global Policy Studies

Suzi focused on the financial-incentive architecture that states use to attract capital-intensive energy projects. She analyzed tax abatements, loan guarantees, and state investment vehicles across the five comparison sectors. She holds a Master’s of Global Policy Studies from The University of Texas at Austin, with a focus on security, law, and diplomacy, and a B.S. in Biology from Texas State University.

Faculty & Client. This research was conducted under the supervision of LBJ School faculty and in direct engagement with the X-energy government affairs team.