Announcing the 2022 Cohort of Marine Energy Graduate Student Research Program Fellows:
-
Habilou Ouro-KouraRensselaer Polytechnic Institute
Proposed Research Topic
Develop, in short time, efficient ocean thermal energy harvesters for powering long range and duration UUVs.
Host Facility
Pacific Northwest National Laboratory
-
Claire GonzalesUniversity of California- Santa Barbara
Proposed Research Topic
Identification of social and physical potential and limitations of marine energy and aquaculture co-location in California waters
Host Facility
Bureau of Ocean Energy Management
-
Christopher RuhlLehigh University
Proposed Research Topic
Characterization and comparison of turbulence and turbulent inflow conditions at tidal energy sites around the world.
Host Facility
Sandia National Laboratories
What will I be doing?
As a participant in the Marine Energy Graduate Student Research Program, you will conduct research at both your academic institution and at an external hosting facility carrying out research in marine energy (ME) and supporting the research plan you submit at the time of application. Hosting facility may be a government research facility, industry site (including but not limited to technology developers), or other facility approved by WPTO as a host facility. You will spend a minimum of six months at the host facility.
Learn more about what is required for your proposed research plan in application components.
Why should I apply?
As an intern in the Marine Energy Graduate Student Research Program, you will
- Advance your Master’s or Doctoral thesis.
- Enhance your education and training in water power technologies fields.
- Increase your marketability.
- Gain access to top scientists and state-of-the-art equipment.
- Gain insight into research and career opportunities through your internship experiences.
- Collaborate and learn from experts researching, developing, and testing emerging technologies.
You will enhance your education and training in ME related fields, increase your marketability in these disciplines, and learn about careers in marine energy research. Your mentor may also be a resource for your next career step!
Appointment Details
-
Eligibility
In order to qualify for a Marine Energy Graduate Student Research Program appointment, you must meet all outlined criteria for eligibility. Read more to learn about eligibility requirements.
To be considered you must meet all outlined criteria for eligibility.
- Be a U.S. Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident.
- Be enrolled as a full-time master’s or doctoral graduate student at a qualified program requiring a research thesis/dissertation at an accredited U.S. college or university during the Fall 2022 term.
- Be conducting research in an area aligned with ME priority research areas.
- Have a cumulative graduate GPA of 3.00 or higher on a 4.00 scale.
- Be available to conduct research at the hosting facility for at least six months.
-
Application Selection
Applications will be reviewed for eligibility and compliance before moving forward to the merit review and final selection.
- Application reviews are based on scientific and/or technical merit, relevance to ME Priorities, and support of the hosting facility. Criteria includes:
- Academic performance
- Potential for success in research
- Background, skills and experience to conduct proposed research
- Understanding of scientific and technical challenges in proposed research plan
- Method and approach for proposed research plan
- Potential for significant contribution to thesis research
- Research relevance to ME priorities
- Potential for broadening investigation and innovation in ME problems and solutions
- Eligible applications will receive an external merit review by subject matter experts.
- ME makes final selections based on reviewer results and notifies ORISE.
- ORISE will notify the applicants of the selection decisions.
- Application reviews are based on scientific and/or technical merit, relevance to ME Priorities, and support of the hosting facility. Criteria includes:
-
Timeline
This internship is open for applications during the fall of each year.
2023 Application Year
-
Application Open
September 2022 -
Application Close
December 2, 2022 -
Application Review
December - January 2023 -
Selection Made and Announced
February - March 2023 -
Expected Start Date
May - June 2023
-
-
Appointment Information
Appointments will be administered by ORISE. This section outlines all of the benefits you will receive as part of the Marine Energy Graduate Student Research Program and the conditions of the appointment.
As a participant in the Marine Energy Graduate Student Research Program, you will receive:
- Competitive monthly stipend
- Health Insurance supplement
- Limited reimbursement for transportation expenses for travel to/from the external hosting facility (if eligible)
- Education and Research Support Allowance
- Limited Tuition Reimbursement
- Appointment Period: You will be responsible for coordinating the appointment start and end dates with your hosting facility. Normally, appointment periods will be for 12 months. Appointment periods can be less than twelve months as long as you spend at least six months at your hosting facility.
- Commitment: Appointments may not be deferred. An appointment involves a full-time commitment at the hosting facility, in residence for at least six months. You must also maintain full-time enrollment at your academic institution during the appointment period, including time at the hosting facility.
- Hosting Facility: Appointments are subject to completion of the arrangements with your hosting facility.
- Expectations:
- As a participant in the Marine Energy Graduate Student Research Program, you are expected to
- Conduct research and maintain a full-time schedule away from your academic institution at the WPTO approved facility for at least six months of the appointment. You must avoid obligations that may interrupt your research project during the appointment.
- Adhere to ethical guidelines set forth by DOE.
- Perform professionally, demonstrate integrity and good judgment, and complete all research project deliverables as identified in your research plan and by the hosting facility.
- As a participant in the Marine Energy Graduate Student Research Program, you are expected to
- Deliverables: Participants are required to write a final report about their experience and complete an online feedback form to help assess the effectiveness of the program.
-
Nature of Appointment
This program is administered by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE).
- ORISE is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) institute managed by Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) through a contract between ORAU and DOE.
- You will be considered a program participant and will not enter into an employee/employer relationship with ORISE, ORAU, DOE, or hosting facility.
Application Components
Your application should consist of the following components:
- Complete Zintellect Profile
- Proposed Research Project including Research Plan
- The research plan should be a maximum of four pages, including any citations, and should include the following:
- Summary of your motivation for the research
- Methods that will be employed
- Role of your academic institution and your host facility in furthering your research plan
- Expected outcomes
- Relevance to the WPTO mission and marine energy generation
- Relation of the proposed research to your graduate thesis
- The research plan should be a maximum of four pages, including any citations, and should include the following:
- Contact information for your Advisor at your Academic Institution, including Name, Email, Phone Number, College/University, Department, and Position Title
- Contact information for your proposed Mentor at your External Hosting Facility, including Name, Email, Phone Number, Facility Name, Department/Division, and Position Title. Facility may not be your own academic institution.
- Letter of Support from your proposed mentor
- The letter must demonstrate knowledge of and concurrence with your proposed research plan and agreement to host you at their facility for a minimum of 6 months if you are accepted into the Marine Energy Graduate Student Research Program.
- Records showing enrollment during the 2022 Fall term in a MS or Ph.D. program requiring thesis/dissertation. Proof may include one of the following:
- Letter from authorized academic department official or other document issued/authorized by the academic institution confirming your enrollment. Letter or document must include your name and official university markings such as the registrar’s signature, university logo or stamp, letterhead or watermark, signature of the authorized official, etc.
- Copy of the transcript or academic record issued by the Registrar’s Office including official university markings such as the registrar’s signature, university logo or stamp, letterhead or watermark, etc. Transcript must include courses in progress during the 2022 Fall term.
- Resume (2 page limit)
- One (1) relevant letter of recommendation
- These letters should address your academic record and potential for success in the Marine Energy Graduate Student Research Program, as indicated by demonstrated intellectual merit, communication, and teamwork skills.
- You must provide one letter from your current academic advisor and the other from a person of your choice. The mentor at your proposed external hosting facility may provide a letter of recommendation that is separate from their letter of support.
Frequently Asked Questions
This section includes frequently asked questions about the Marine Energy Graduate Student Research Program.
-
Applications will be accepted between September and December, with application period closing in December. Selections will be made by March, and participants are expected to start their appointment period in June. There are several steps that must be completed before you can receive an appointment letter.
-
You must be a U.S. Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident to participate in the program.
-
You must be enrolled as a full-time doctoral graduate student at a qualified program requiring a research thesis/dissertation at an accredited U.S. college or university. If you are participating in an exchange program and attending a foreign institution, you must provide proof that you are enrolled in an accredited U.S. college or university during the Fall 2022 term.
-
Records are required showing current enrollment in a MS or Ph.D. program requiring thesis/dissertation. Unofficial transcripts or copies of the student academic records provided by the applicant or by academic advisors from internal institutional systems may be submitted. Transcripts or academic records must include courses in progress during the 2022 Fall term. If your transcripts or academic records do not list the thesis/dissertation requirement, then you must provide separate documentation.
Alternatively, a letter from authorized academic department official or other document issued/authorized by the academic institution confirming your enrollment may be submitted. Letter or document must include your name and official university markings such as the registrar’s signature, university logo or stamp, letterhead or watermark, signature of the authorized official, etc. and confirmation that you are enrolled in a MS or Ph.D. program requiring thesis or dissertation.
-
ORISE staff will prescreen applications to ensure that all required materials have been received and that you meet all qualifications for participation in the program. Eligible applications are then reviewed by independent subject matter experts. Results from reviewers are then shared with WPTO, who makes final selections and notifies ORISE. ORISE will notify you if you are selected for the program.
-
The minimum appointment period for this program is six months at the identified hosting facility.
-
It is your responsibility to identify and secure a hosting facility and mentor currently conducting or directing research in an area of importance to WPTO. For more information about WPTO, visit https://www.energy.gov/eere/water/water-power-technologies-office.
-
WPTO is committed to developing and deploying a portfolio of innovative technologies for clean, domestic power generation from resources such as hydropower, waves, and tides. For more information about WPTO priorities, visit https://www.energy.gov/eere/water/about-water-power-technologies-office-WPTO.
-
Please ensure that all of the necessary application materials have been received and that you have the necessary educational qualifications. Successful applicants will have a research plan that is well thought out and clearly aligns with WPTO areas of importance as well as a strong commitment from their mentor and hosting institution.
-
You, along with your mentor at the hosting institution, will be responsible for any changes made to the research plan. Changes to your research plan should be approved by the hosting institution mentor and should not fall outside areas of importance to WPTO. Final approval and acceptance of the change in research plan must come from WPTO.
-
Two recommendations are required. At least one recommendation must be from your Academic Advisor at your home institution. You should obtain your other recommendation from a person who is familiar with your educational and professional qualifications.
-
No. you must be enrolled as a full-time Master’s or Doctoral graduate student at an accredited U.S. college or university.
-
If your address is outside a radius of 50 miles one way from your appointment location, you will be reimbursed for limited inbound transportation expenses.
-
Reasonable accommodations can be made if you intend to travel prior to the start of your appointment. These are handled on a case by case basis.
-
We do not advise you to do this. Doing so may result in non-reimbursable expenses. Your appointment is not official until you formally accept the appointment offer.
-
You may apply for and be eligible to participate in different ORISE programs during your graduate studies.
-
Participants will receive a stipend payment once a month in the amount of $2,950.00.
To be on appointment, participants are required to have continuous coverage under a health insurance plan and provide proof of coverage to ORISE. A stipend supplement will be provided to offset the cost of a health insurance plan up to $1,737.94/month. This stipend supplement will be based on monthly out-of-pocket health insurance premium expenses up to the approved amount upon receipt of the appropriate documentation.