After graduating from Duke’s Nicholas School of the Environment in May 2011, Karina moved to Rio de Janeiro and joined Acesa Bioenergia, a biogas-to-energy start-up that focuses on the treatment of biogas to generate heat, electricity or biomethane.  As a project developer, her role includes negotiating biogas purchasing contracts, design of biogas treatment systems and analysis of electricity PPAs and natural gas contracts to decide on the best commercialization strategy.

Karina is an active member of the Brazilian Biogas and Biomethane Association where she has worked on public policy related to biogas, including collaborating on the technical specification of biomethane for the National Agency of Petroleum, Natural Gas and Biofuels as well as on the development of the Brazilian Biogas and Biomethane Plan.