Equitable Community Solar and Energy Assistance Fellowship - Application Deadline

Are you a student pursuing or have completed requirements for a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD? Interested in solar energy research?

The Department of Energy’s Solar Energy Technologies Office (SETO) is now accepting applications for the Equitable Community Solar and Energy Assistance Fellowship

The Equitable Community Solar and Energy Assistance Fellowship (ECSEAF) offers fellows the opportunity to learn and collaborate with state organizations on the pilot test of the Clean Energy Connector. This online tool, developed by the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), and National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), aims to make community solar subscriptions that include verified savings and strong consumer protections more accessible to households participating in government-run low-income support programs, beginning with the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). The fellowship will enable talented candidates from diverse backgrounds to spend up to two years embedded within host organizations in participating pilot regions for an immersive learning opportunity.  Under the guidance of a mentor, fellows will learn and engage with community solar and LIHEAP program offices on the pilot phase of the Connector, which may include: (1) Liaising between the community solar and LIHEAP programs to increase state capacity, collaboration, and coordination in order to pilot the Connector; (2) learning to create and provide education and outreach materials for income-verified household enrollment in low-income community solar subscriptions, (3) learning to engage with community solar subscription managers to encourage their participation on the Connector, and (4) participating in the growth and expansion of the Connector as opportunities arise.

Available Host Institutions

In the application, you will indicate your preferred host institution from the list below. You must be willing to relocate to the host facility's area, if selected:

• Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources – https://www.mass.gov/orgs/massachusetts-department-of-energy-resources (Boston, MA)
• Maryland Public Service Commission – https://www.psc.state.md.us/ (Baltimore, MD)
• New Mexico Public Regulation Commission – https://www.nm-prc.org/ (Santa Fe, NM)
• Rhode Island Office of Energy Resources – https://energy.ri.gov/ (Providence, RI)

What are the benefits?

• For Massachusetts, stipends begin at $56,000 for a bachelors degree and $68,000 for a masters degree
• For Maryland, stipends begin at $56,000 for a bachelors degree and $68,000 for a masters degree
• For New Mexico, stipends begin at $50,000 for a bachelors degree and $61,000 for a masters degree
• For Rhode Island, stipends begin at $56,000 for a bachelors degree and $68,000 for a masters degree

• For those with significant academic background and/or professional experience following their degree, stipends will be determined on an individual basis

Who is eligible to apply?

• Be a U.S. Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident
• Be currently pursuing or have completed requirements for a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or PhD within the last 5 years, or complete all the requirements for the degree by the anticipated start date of the appointment
• Applicants with education or professional experience in project or program management, with experience in community solar or LIHEAP are particularly encouraged to apply

Need help with your application? Reach out to an Undergraduate Research Ambassador (URA) on how to craft a competitive application to this program by emailing undergradresearch@arizona.edu or making a 1:1 appointment with an URA.

Ready to apply? Apply here. The application deadline is Monday, December 30^th, 2024 at 3PM AZ time!

Questions? Please email your inquiries to DOE-RPP@orise.orau.gov.  Please list the reference code [DOE-EERE-SETO-CSEAF-2025] for this opportunity in the subject line of your email