Ben Savonen, Ph.D.

Ben Savonen, Ph.D. has diverse work experience in various organizations. In 2017, they cofounded Kijenzi, a Kenya-based social venture focused on addressing supply-chain gaps in hospitals, schools, and NGOs. As the CTO, they managed an international team, developed manufacturing solutions, and delivered high-need products to clients in Kenya, Uganda, and Sudan.

In 2022, Ben joined The Global Development Incubator as a Senior Associate for the Strategy and Build Team. Prior to that, from 2021 to 2022, they worked as a Program Analyst at FEMA's Office of Strategy and Innovation, where they coordinated annual planning processes, researched disaster recovery programs, and curated the tech portfolio of the Individual Assistance Division.

From 2016 to 2020, Ben served as a Technical Adviser at Field Ready, providing design and technology expertise for program development in disaster-struck areas. Ben also conducted program assessments and researched the integration of drone technology into the Tanzanian healthcare system.

Ben was a Researcher at Penn State University's Humanitarian Engineering and Social Entrepreneurship Program from 2017 to 2019. Ben researched new technologies, supported tech-focused start-ups, and developed partnerships with East African organizations.

In 2016, Ben worked as a Strategy Business Development Associate at Villgro Africa, conducting market analysis and providing product development support for healthcare-centered start-ups in Nairobi.

Before that, Ben gained research experience as a Research Assistant at Michigan Science Teaching and Assessment Reform in 2015. Ben also served as a STEM Education Volunteer for the Peace Corps in Tanzania from 2012 to 2014, where they taught science classes, developed training materials, and managed a water pipeline project for a rural hospital.

Ben's early career included a brief role as a Mechanical Engineer at Det Norske Veritas in 2011. Overall, their experience spans various sectors, including social entrepreneurship, disaster response, international development, and education.

Ben Savonen, Ph.D. pursued their education in Mechanical Engineering, starting with their Bachelor of Science (B.S.) degree at The Ohio State University from 2007 to 2011. Ben then proceeded to earn their Masters of Science degree in Environmental Engineering from Michigan Technological University between 2011 and 2015. In 2017, Ben began their doctoral studies at Penn State University, where they successfully obtained their Doctor of Philosophy (Ph.D.) degree in Mechanical Engineering in 2019.