Knowledgeable in sustainability and environmental health, Susan C. Doll has offered her services as a self-employed expert in the field of human habitation for terrestrial and space environments. As such, Dr. Doll shares her proficiency in sustainable design and life support systems, drawing on decades of experience in academic and industry settings.
Prior to transitioning to self-employment in 2025, Dr. Doll held the position of principal technologist for human spaceflight at Blue Origin for five years. Her responsibilities there focused on building the company’s research and development department, with a particular emphasis on life support systems essential for human space travel. She assembled a multidisciplinary team from the ground up and oversaw the construction of a state-of-the-art testing facility, ensuring that Blue Origin acquired the expertise and technology necessary to safely send humans into space. Before joining Blue Origin, she spent a decade at Appalachian State University, first as an assistant professor of building science and renewable energy and later as an associate professor.
While affiliated with Appalachian State University, Dr. Doll experienced a milestone in her professional life by collaborating with students on a low-income housing project. In relation to these efforts, she secured a three-year, $750,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, enabling her and her students to investigate methods for improving indoor health conditions in low-income residences. Her earlier career highlights include tenures as an instructor at Harvard Extension School, a sustainability consultant, a senior scientist at Environmental Health & Engineering Inc., and an infrastructure coordinator at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) Rwanda. She considers her three years working in Rwanda to be her most life-changing achievement.
Throughout nearly 10 years at The Boeing Company, starting in 1988, Dr. Doll progressed from specialist engineer to principal engineer and senior specialist engineer. During this time, she collaborated with Russian scientists and contributed to the Mir space station and the International Space Station. Before joining The Boeing Company, she gained foundational experience as a system engineer at Bellcore, a student research assistant at the Environmental Research Laboratory, and a laboratory manager at The University of Arizona. Her professional journey began in 1977 as a technician with Michigan State University.
Dr. Doll’s performance in the field has been supported by her extensive academic credentials, beginning with a Bachelor of Science in medical technology from Michigan State University in 1977. A decade later, she obtained a Master of Science in energy systems engineering from The University of Arizona. Subsequently, she earned a Doctor of Science in environmental health sciences from Harvard College’s T.H. Chan School of Public Health in 2002. She also completed a postdoctoral fellowship at The Earth Institute through Columbia University’s Climate School, during which she expanded her research on global environmental health challenges.
Alongside her primary education, Dr. Doll has consistently contributed to academia, including published articles and chapters in Building and Environment, “Water Challenges and Solutions on a Global Scale,” and “Integrating Ecology and Poverty Reduction: Ecological Dimensions.” Her doctoral dissertation, published in 2002, featured research on mold growth and moisture dynamics. She has remained engaged in scholarly work as a manuscript peer reviewer for the Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association and a paper peer reviewer for Building and Environment.
Well regarded for her achievements, Dr. Doll credits her success to passion for the work and an enduring desire for continued learning and meaningful contribution — qualities that have shaped her approach throughout her career. Her entry into her profession stemmed from an early interest in problem-solving while working in a medical laboratory at The University of Arizona, after which she discovered renewable energy engineering as an ideal fit for addressing complex sustainability challenges. Having worked with professionals from more than 35 different nations, Dr. Doll highly values international collaboration. She is committed to fostering innovation by collaborating with others from diverse backgrounds and experiences.
As she looks ahead, Dr. Doll hopes for adjunct teaching opportunities and is open to consulting. She believes strongly that society’s future lies with young people. Moreover, she is dedicated to ongoing learning herself as well as educating others — convictions that continue to guide her professional aspirations as she approaches 50 years in the field.