David W. Reed, Ph.D., is a scientist at Idaho National Laboratory’s (INL). Dr. Reed obtained bachelor’s and master’s degrees from Brigham Young University and in 1999 graduated with a Ph.D. in Microbiology, Molecular Biology, and Biochemistry from University of Idaho. He then started at INL as a postdoc. He is experienced in the characterization and development of extremophilic microorganisms and enzymes for industrially relevant processes. Currently he leads Department of Energy Critical Materials Institute (CMI) projects for biorecovery of critical minerals, including rare earth elements, from recyclable/waste materials such as phosphogypsum, FCC catalyst, lithium-ion batteries, and magnets. He has mentored undergraduate and graduate students and authored or co-authored over 90 publications, patents, and reports and received the INL Lifetime Achievement Award for Inventorship.