March 4, 2025 USCIS Attn: I-140 P.O. Box 660128 Dallas, TX 75266-0128 Re: EB-2 Immigrant Petition for Permanent Residency with Request for a National Interest Waiver Petitioner/Beneficiary: Dr. Maria Rodriguez Nature of Submission: ORIGINAL SUBMISSION Type of Petition: I-140, EB-2 National Interest Waiver Classification Sought: Immigration and Nationality Act 203(b)(2)(B) Dear USCIS Officer: This letter is respectfully submitted in support of my Immigrant Petition for Alien Worker (I-140) filed by me, Dr. Maria Rodriguez, as a self-petitioner/beneficiary. I respectfully request that USCIS approve my petition based on my qualifications for EB-2 classification and grant a waiver of the labor certification requirement in the national interest. I am eligible for EB-2 classification as a member of the professions holding an advanced degree pursuant to section 203(b)(2) of the Immigration and Nationality Act, 8 U.S.C. §1153(b)(2). I hold a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and am currently employed as a Senior Research Scientist at Tesla Energy, where I develop next-generation battery technologies for grid-scale energy storage systems. See Chapter 1 (pages 3-8). I further submit evidence and documentation to demonstrate that a waiver of the labor certification requirement in my specific case is in the national interest pursuant to Matter of Dhanasar, 26 I&N Dec. 884 (AAO 2016). (1) My proposed endeavor has both substantial merit and national importance. I propose to advance renewable energy storage technology by developing breakthrough solid-state battery chemistries and grid-scale storage solutions that address critical national challenges in clean energy transition. This research directly supports the U.S. goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050, enhances energy independence by reducing reliance on foreign critical minerals, and strengthens national security through resilient energy infrastructure. The global battery market is projected to reach $279 billion by 2030, with grid storage representing the fastest-growing segment essential for renewable energy integration. See Chapter 2 (pages 9-25). (2) I am well positioned to advance the proposed endeavor. I possess exceptional qualifications spanning advanced materials science, electrochemical engineering, and large-scale system implementation, with a Ph.D. in Materials Science and Engineering from MIT and over 7 years of combined experience at Tesla Energy and Stanford Research Lab. My academic contributions include 12 peer-reviewed publications with 180+ citations and an H-index of 8, while my industry achievements include leading development of Tesla's next-generation lithium-metal battery technology and grid-scale storage systems deployed across multiple states. My interdisciplinary expertise uniquely positions me to bridge fundamental research with practical applications that serve critical national clean energy infrastructure needs. See Chapter 3 (pages 26-45).