The Clean Energy Innovator Fellowship program funds recent graduates and energy professionals to work with critical energy organizations to advance clean energy solutions. The program recruits talent from diverse backgrounds to spend up to two years supporting the work of eligible host organizations, which include electric public utility commissions, municipal and cooperative utilities, and grid operators, such as regional transmission organizations or independent system operators.
Innovator Fellows receive a stipend and an educational allowance to support host institution projects that will help decarbonize the power system, electrify transportation and industry, and make the U.S. power system more equitable and inclusive.
The goal of the program is to increase access to clean energy career opportunities across the country and accelerate the national transition to resilient and affordable clean energy.
How Does it Work?
Host institutions and fellowship candidates must each apply separately to participate in the program. DOE will facilitate the process of matching host institutions and fellows.
1. Applications
- Prospective host institutions apply to the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) with a specific project scope. The staff member of an eligible institution who will mentor the Fellow and supervise their work on the project should submit the application and participate in the matching process. Only one application may be submitted per host institution.
- Fellowship candidates apply to DOE describing their interest in the opportunity and their relevant skills and experience.
2. Merit Review
- DOE selects host institutions and projects that fit the program criteria and budget.
- DOE selects finalist candidates according to program criteria and the number of selected hosts. Candidates may be invited to an interview with DOE.
3. Interviews
- Hosts and finalist candidates conduct interviews. DOE will assign an initial set of interviews based on information submitted in the applications. Finalists and hosts may arrange additional interviews during this time.
4. Matches
- Hosts and finalist candidates submit their pairing preferences to DOE.
- DOE makes final matching decisions. Hosts and finalist candidates are not guaranteed a match until offers are made and agreed to by both the host and the finalist candidate.
Types of Projects
Projects may address a wide range of topics, including, but not limited to, grid modernization, equitable and affordable access to clean energy and energy efficiency, integration of electric vehicles and building electrification, resilience planning, interconnection, and rate design.
Projects are defined up front, but they have the flexibility to evolve over the fellowship period.
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