Fueling Aviation Innovation with Dr. Robert Price, CTO of CleanJoule

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Robert Price, Chief Technology Officer of CleanJoule, a full performance sustainable aviation fuel company. Robert breaks down his unconventional educational journey, sharing how he dropped out of high school during his junior year to enroll at the University of Utah, completing his bachelor’s degree in chemistry in just three years. He emphasizes that there isn’t just one path to success in STEM, and sometimes taking risks can lead to unexpected opportunities. Besides hitting certain higher education milestones, Robert emphasizes that success in STEM and entrepreneurship requires total dedication. If you’re looking for a traditional 9-to-5 job, it’s not the field for you. Robert’s advice is to understand the kind of life you want before choosing a specific field. He’s also honest about the limitations that exist in traditional science without a PhD, which is an exciting opportunity to become the world expert on a specific topic, but requires years of hyper-focus and research. Robert encourages students to pursue their passion, but shares that, in his experience, it’s important to be realistic about competitive fields where only the top fraction of people succeed. One of the best things anyone can do before committing to a college major is to talk with people working in that field who can show you what the day-to-day job looks like. It’s even more helpful if you can do a workplace visit or an internship for hands-on experience before choosing a major. Episode Outline (00:21) Robert's background and current role at CleanJoule (02:57) Exposure to defense manufacturing through Boy Scouts and Lockheed Martin (07:46) Robert’s unique college journey (14:17) An overview of Robert’s PhD in pharmaceutical chemistry and research focus (17:45) Transition from academia to biotech entrepreneurship (22:16) Dual-use technology for commercial and defense applications (27:24) Regrets and career reflections (33:28) What to consider for high-level STEM careers (37:47) Misconceptions about entrepreneurship (39:28) Advice for aspiring STEM entrepreneurs Connect with RobertConnect with Robert on LinkedIn Learn more about CleanJouleConnect with AndrewSubscribe to Adding Spice to Career Advice on YouTube, Spotify and Apple Podcasts