{"685724":{"#nid":"685724","#data":{"type":"news","title":"Kristin Janacek Named Associate Director for Interdisciplinary Research Impact at BBISS","body":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EGeorgia Tech\u2019s Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems (BBISS) is welcoming a new leader to drive its mission of fostering interdisciplinary sustainability research that demonstrates a measurable impact. Kristin Janacek, who brings a wealth of experience in sustainability leadership, consulting, and industry collaboration, has been appointed associate director for Interdisciplinary Research Impact.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cMy primary goal is to help drive collaboration and sustainability research on campus as an interdisciplinary grant development professional, seeking out what grants are appropriate for Georgia Tech colleagues to submit proposals for, and helping facilitate interdisciplinary research teams,\u201d says Janacek, who graduated from Tech in 2005 with a master\u2019s degree in aerospace engineering and then spent six years as a research engagement manager for the Daniel Guggenheim School of Aerospace Engineering\u2019s Aerospace Systems Design Laboratory.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EIn this newly created BBISS role, Janacek is eager to amplify the Institute\u2019s interdisciplinary research portfolio and foster stronger relationships between Georgia Tech and its partners. Her primary focus is on interdisciplinary grant development to support innovative research, and secondarily, she will serve as research engagement manager, coordinating collaborative research opportunities with industry partners.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EBefore joining BBISS, Janacek was the North American sustainability lead at Avanade, a joint venture between Accenture and Microsoft, where she helped clients use data for impact-driven sustainability initiatives. Her career also included significant stints at GE, where she led sponsorships for energy-focused student competitions and volunteered with campus initiatives like the Georgia Tech Energy Camp. Janacek also co-founded a consulting firm with former GE colleagues and has worked closely with a range of partners to foster industry engagement. Her track record in marketing, sales, and business development will position her to build teams that can secure funding and deliver measurable results.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cI\u0027m really excited about establishing a way to quantify the outcomes of BBISS\u2019s efforts,\u201d she says. \u201cBy tracking how many grants we\u0027ve identified, applied for, and secured \u2014 and by assessing how the resulting research is driving tangible improvements in our community \u2014 we can clearly demonstrate the value and effectiveness of our work.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EShe also plans to help community and industry partners become more engaged with BBISS\u2019 work, leveraging her broad industry network to secure additional resources \u2014 whether that\u2019s through volunteering, technical support, or real-world impact for community-based organizations.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cCorporate and industry organizations are always looking for a way to better their world around them, and they have mechanisms to help employees volunteer their time and knowledge,\u201d she says.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003ECalling All Innovative Collaborators\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EJanacek welcomes engagement from faculty, researchers, and students who are passionate about making an impact \u2014 particularly those open to interdisciplinary collaboration. \u201cI look forward to having an open dialogue about how we can combine disciplines to have a broader impact,\u201d she says, adding that her ideal Georgia Tech partners are collaborative, open-minded, and forward-thinking in how they seek to advance their research.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EInspired by BBISS\u2019 recent grant-writing workshop, Janacek says,\u0026nbsp; \u201cI have a lot of ideas about how we can reach out to small businesses, community nonprofits, and industry partners.\u201d\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u201cKristin\u2019s combination of strategic skills, teamwork, and holistic vision signals a new chapter of meaningful impact at BBISS \u2014 one poised to benefit not only Georgia Tech, but also the wider communities the Institute serves,\u201d says Ameet Pinto, BBISS\u2019 associate director of Interdisciplinary Research and Collaboration and Carlton S. Wilder Associate Professor in the School of Civil and Environmental Engineering.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cstrong\u003EBeyond the Office: Endurance, Wellness, Balance\u003C\/strong\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003EOutside of work, Janacek is a seasoned triathlon competitor, certified triathlon coach, and avid tennis player. The mom of two sees physical and mental well-being as essential, just as achieving broader sustainability goals within communities and organizations depends on a balance between environmental, social, and economic factors.\u003C\/p\u003E\u003Cp\u003E\u003Cem\u003E\u2014 written by Anne Wainscott-Sargent\u003C\/em\u003E\u003C\/p\u003E","summary":"","format":"limited_html"}],"field_subtitle":[{"value":"The triathlon competitor and coach brings a winning attitude to her alma mater."}],"field_summary":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003EIn this newly created BBISS role, Janacek is eager to amplify the Institute\u2019s interdisciplinary research portfolio and foster stronger relationships between Georgia Tech and its partners.\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"field_summary_sentence":[{"value":"In this newly created BBISS role, Janacek is eager to amplify the Institute\u2019s interdisciplinary research portfolio and foster stronger relationships between Georgia Tech and its partners."}],"uid":"27338","created_gmt":"2025-10-15 19:50:33","changed_gmt":"2025-10-15 19:56:57","author":"Brent Verrill","boilerplate_text":"","field_publication":"","field_article_url":"","location":"Atlanta, GA","dateline":{"date":"2025-10-15T00:00:00-04:00","iso_date":"2025-10-15T00:00:00-04:00","tz":"America\/New_York"},"extras":[],"hg_media":{"678359":{"id":"678359","type":"image","title":"Kristin_Janacek_portrait_square.jpg","body":null,"created":"1760557920","gmt_created":"2025-10-15 19:52:00","changed":"1760557920","gmt_changed":"2025-10-15 19:52:00","alt":"Portrait of Kristin Janacek","file":{"fid":"262377","name":"Kristin_Janacek_portrait_square.jpg","image_path":"\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/10\/15\/Kristin_Janacek_portrait_square.jpg","image_full_path":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/\/sites\/default\/files\/2025\/10\/15\/Kristin_Janacek_portrait_square.jpg","mime":"image\/jpeg","size":685627,"path_740":"http:\/\/hg.gatech.edu\/sites\/default\/files\/styles\/740xx_scale\/public\/2025\/10\/15\/Kristin_Janacek_portrait_square.jpg?itok=gjux9XC-"}}},"media_ids":["678359"],"groups":[{"id":"244191","name":"Brook Byers Institute for Sustainable Systems"}],"categories":[],"keywords":[{"id":"188360","name":"go-bbiss"}],"core_research_areas":[{"id":"194566","name":"Sustainable Systems"}],"news_room_topics":[],"event_categories":[],"invited_audience":[],"affiliations":[],"classification":[],"areas_of_expertise":[],"news_and_recent_appearances":[],"phone":[],"contact":[{"value":"\u003Cp\u003E\u003Ca href=\u0022mailto:brent.verrill@research.gatech.edu\u0022\u003EBrent Verrill\u003C\/a\u003E, Research Communications Program Manager, BBISS\u003C\/p\u003E","format":"limited_html"}],"email":["brent.verrill@research.gatech.edu"],"slides":[],"orientation":[],"userdata":""}}}