Dr. Thushara De Silva is a researcher at National Renewable Energy Laboratory, Grid Planning Analysis Center. She primarily works with power grid planning models to understand the grid operation with increasing contributions from renewable energy. Some of her research focuses on hydropower operations in high-renewable power grids since water resource planning is associated with several nonpower constraints. She works on several USDOE hydropower-related projects with power producers, power marketing agencies, and tribal communities. In addition, she works with developing countries on power grid planning with a high renewable share. She also engages in mentoring programs for female power sector leaders and workforce development efforts in the US and internationally. Before NREL, she worked for Ceylon Electricity Board, the state-owned power utility in Sri Lanka. She has bachelor’s and master’s degrees in electrical engineering and a PhD in Environmental Engineering.