Mody Ayompe Lacour

Biography

Dr. Mody Ayompe Lacour is an Associate Specialist in the Department of Earth System Science at the University of California, Irvine. He received a Ph.D. in Engineering from the Dublin Institute of Technology in 2011, where his dissertation examined the performance and policy evaluation of solar energy technologies for domestic application in Ireland. His research focuses on sustainable agriculture, food-water-energy nexus issues, and the impacts of agricultural commodity trade on biodiversity and ecosystem services, with particular emphasis on smallholder farming systems in sub-Saharan Africa.

Dr. Lacour has authored 28 peer-reviewed papers in energy and sustainability journals, with over 2,700 citations. His work spans renewable energy systems, climate change impacts, and sustainable palm oil production. He has conducted extensive field research on the socio-economic and environmental impacts of agricultural commodity trade in the Congo Basin, examining how smallholder farmers can achieve sustainable production while addressing poverty alleviation and biodiversity conservation. His research has been published in journals including Journal of Cleaner Production, Energy Policy, and Environmental Research Letters.

Before joining UC Irvine, Dr. Lacour served as a Visiting Scientist at the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture in Cameroon and held postdoctoral and research positions at the Dublin Institute of Technology and the International Energy Research Centre in Ireland. He is co-founder of the Sustainable Energy Technologies Center for Africa in Cameroon, which provides certified training programs for solar installers and entrepreneurs. Dr. Lacour is a Certified Measurement and Verification Professional and holds BPI Energy Auditor and Building Analyst Professional certification.

Education

• Ph.D. in Engineering, Dublin Institute of Technology, 2011
• M.Sc. in Computer-Aided Mechanical and Manufacturing Technology, Dublin City University, 2007
• M.Eng. in Energy and Power Technology, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 1998
• B.Eng. in Mechanical Engineering, University of Nigeria, Nsukka, 1995