Jamie Pero Parker

Jamie Pero Parker is a member of the RTI Innovation Advisors with an academic background in chemistry. Her work in technology commercialization draws on a deep understanding of the innovation ecosystems methodology. She is an engaging and passionate teacher who speaks English and Spanish. Recently, she has been involved in RTI’s efforts to address the COVID-19 pandemic, find sustainable solutions for plastic waste, and understand the effects of PFAS chemicals.

When the pandemic led to a national shortage of personal protective equipment (PPE), Dr. Parker led an effort to find novel materials for masks and help strengthen the supply chain.

Several of Dr. Parker’s projects center on plastic recycling. She co-led an effort to help use RTI's Innovation Ecosystems methodology to help build a plastic recycling industry cluster in the Ohio River Valley. She has also helped corporate clients plan for future use of recycled PET plastic, and identify advanced recycling technologies that can process complex, multilayer food packaging. She has worked internationally, leading a national innovation plan for Guatemala that aimed to help build the nation's capabilities in science and technology.

Dr. Parker joined RTI in 2008. Previously, she was a scientist at The Clorox Company, where she developed new consumer products, collaborated with outside scientists on published studies, and created intellectual property, including filed and potential patents. Her published works include From waste to value: Business opportunities in solid waste management; Defining sustainability and how it changes the innovation process, in Sustainability and eco-responsibility: Advances in the cosmetic industry; A maturity model for sustainability in new product development; How Sustainability Changes the Innovation Process; and Practical Insights into Open Innovation for Sustainability.