Graduate Student Energy Fellows

Chevron Energy Fellowship at Rice

We are forging pivotal opportunities by partnering with sustainability leaders like Chevron through initiatives such as the Chevron Energy Fellowship. This collaboration propels innovative solutions and cultivates the next generation of leaders in sustainable energy.

What is the Chevron Clean Energy Fellowship?

The Chevron Clean Energy Fellowship is a program that supports PhD students who research scalable innovation in energy solutions that reduce carbon intensity. The fellowship is funded by Chevron and includes mentoring from faculty experts and opportunities to meet with subject matter experts at Chevron.

RSI & Chevron Fellows

The Rice Sustainability Institute is partnering with Chevron to establish the Rice Chevron Energy Graduate Fellows program. This graduate fellowship will provide 10 fellows with approximately $10,000 for the academic year FY25. Graduate students from any School at Rice University are eligible to apply.

Who are the Chevron Clean Energy Fellows at Rice?

Coming Soon! The fellows will be announced at the end of summer 2024 for academic year FY25.

When are the Application Deadlines?

Deadlines

Applications open: March 1, 2023 Applications due: April 15, 2023 11:59pm CT Approximate offer date: June 24, 2023

Application

Applicants must provide a research statement (not to exceed 2 pages), a resume and a letter of recommendation from their advisor. The application package should be submitted to si@rice.edu

What are the Research Topics?

Our climate and sustainability challenges continue to hinge on how we harvest and use energy. The Rice Chevron Energy Graduate Fellowship Awards intend to reward applicants researching any topics related to scalable innovations in energy that lead to emission reductions across energy value chains, including process intensification of current energy systems, acceleration of technologies related to lower-carbon-intensity energy molecules, and development of scalable future energy systems.

Research could be in all aspects of research and innovation towards impact to society (practical scalable energy solutions), policy and regulatory framework, etc. Example areas of interest are:

• Research in future energy systems, including heat- and electric power- decarbonization solutions, emerging digital technology solutions enabling energy business efficiency (generative AI, quantum- sensing/algorithms/computing, human-computer interactions), sustainable food-water-energy solutions, advanced mobility, etc.

• Research in technologies related to lower-carbon-intensity energy molecules, including chemical, electrical, biological, and catalytic pathways for carbon dioxide capture and utilization; hydrogen value chain; next-generation renewable fuels, including sustainable aviation fuels; and (nature-based- and engineered-) carbon removal methods

• Research in current energy systems, including lowering the emissions-footprint and increasing safety, reliability, efficiency, and digital transformation of current energy systems

What is the Review Process?

The review process will be led by a Rice Faculty committee with representation from the Wiess School of Natural Sciences and the George R. Brown School of Engineering. Fellowships will be granted by Rice University with input from Chevron.