The Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Science, Technology and Policy (STP) Program serves as a next step in the educational and professional development of recent graduates by providing opportunities to participate in policy-related projects at DOE's Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy in Washington, D.C. Participants will collaborate with and learn from government scientists, engineers, program managers, and policymakers to gain experience learning about projects that support DOE’s mission to combat the climate crisis, create good clean energy jobs, and promote energy justice.
ORISE is continuing normal program operations during the COVID-19 pandemic. This opportunity will be offered as long as the Department of Energy Headquarters is able to complete the onboarding process and ensure a meaningful experience to participants. We encourage you to apply and submit your application as soon as possible. Updates to this opportunity will be provided on this page as needed.
This fellowship opportunity is in the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Building Technologies Office (BTO). EERE’s mission is to create and sustain American leadership in the transition to a global clean energy economy. BTO supports that mission by conducting research and implementing programs to support efficient decarbonization of more than 125 million homes and buildings throughout the United States.
Within the Building Technologies Office, the Residential Buildings Integration (RBI) team is seeking a Fellow to engage with its dynamic work to enable better housing through widespread access to energy efficiency technologies and resources. The United States has over 118 million housing units split between rented and owner-occupied single-family homes, manufactured homes, and apartment units. These housing units consume about 22% of total US energy and cost households $220 billion in energy bills each year. Energy efficient features like insulation, heat pumps, LEDs, and ENERGY STAR® equipment can help households reduce their energy bills, increase comfort, and reduce pollution. BTO’s residential buildings team supports analysis, data tools, and efficiency programs to increase access to these technologies nationwide.
As a Fellow embedded within the residential buildings team, you will gain an understanding of how to:
Participate in technical reviews/assessments of proposed research and development plans, conduct technical and economic feasibility analysis, and evaluate at a deep technical level the progress and ongoing viability and success potential of projects toward meeting the BTO energy efficiency goals. This includes periodic technical reviews and providing rigorous technical feedback for funded R&D projects and assisting in the negotiation of statements of work and project management plans for new awards.
Collaborate in the assessment of state-of-the-art scientific literature and practice in relevant technologies and assess new opportunities for further advancement in the field and the industry. This includes contributing to completion of BTO strategy and complementary roadmaps on decarbonization, reaching affordable housing, workforce development, efficiency financing, and/or housing health impacts.
Collaborate with BTO federal employees, contractors, laboratory staff, and other fellows on technical and techno-economic analyses and develop short-term and long-term quantitative goals for BTO.
Fellowship learning and professional development opportunities include:
Stakeholder Engagement. Engage with DOE staff to build and maintain relationships with strategic partners working on new efficiency technologies, energy efficiency programs, and other housing priorities.
Technical Expertise. Engage with DOE staff to provide feedback and/or recommendations on strategic progress or course correction for a variety of projects related to home energy efficiency products, technologies, and solutions.
Creative Vision. Engage in strategic planning for technology research and development, reviewing, recommending, and implementing projects that advance the BTO and RBI mission, resulting in measurable energy savings and other benefits to homeowners and residents.
Communication. Engage with DOE staff to prepare and present written and oral briefings and reports to senior program staff, DOE leadership, external partners, and industry stakeholders.
Applicants will be evaluated based on their professional and academic record, experience in the field and potential for making contributions on residential efficiency topics. Degrees in various fields will be considered for participation if the participant application demonstrates interest and experience in clean energy technology, clean energy policies and programs, decarbonization, housing, affordable housing, public health, environmental protection, equitable programming, market research, data analysis, and/or project coordination. Fellows will be interested to participate in a fast-paced environment where decisions are being made about how to integrate priorities for climate mitigation, good jobs, and environmental justice in U.S. housing.
The review process will include phone and/or in-person interviews with potential candidates.
Participant Benefits:
Selected participants will receive a stipend as support for their living and other expenses during this appointment, including health insurance. Stipend rates are determined by EERE officials and are based on the candidate’s academic and professional background. Relocation expenses, not to exceed $5,000, incurred in relocating from the participant's current address to Washington, D.C. (if more than 50 miles from the address shown on the application), may be reimbursed. Participants will receive a travel allowance of $10,000 per appointment year to cover travel-related expenses to scientific and professional development activities.
This opportunity is available to U.S. citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR).
For more information about the EERE Science, Technology and Policy Program, please visit https://www.energy.gov/eere/education/energy-efficiency-and-renewable-energy-science-technology-and-policy-program
Appointment Location:
Washington, DC
Nature of Appointment:
The participant will not enter an employee/employer relationship with ORISE, ORAU, DOE, or any other office or agency. Instead, the participant will be affiliated with ORISE for the administration of the appointment through the ORISE letter of appointment and Terms of Appointment.
Qualifications
Program eligibility requirements can be found at: visit https://www.energy.gov/eere/education/energy-efficiency-and-renewable-energy-science-technology-and-policy-program.
Successful candidates will:
Have a passion for buildings, energy efficiency, technology research, development, and deployment (RD&D), housing, decarbonization, affordable housing, and/or housing justice.
Have interest and experience in working in a multi-disciplinary, metrics-oriented, fast-paced, collaborative environment.
Be an excellent writer and researcher and have strong skills in analyzing and summarizing complex topics in the context of technology and policy strategy.
Have academic and/or professional experience in basic research, report writing, and self-directed time and project management.
Preferred skills:
Experience working with or analyzing residential energy efficiency programs.
Knowledge of strategies to identify, evaluate and prioritize cost-effective energy savings measures in new and existing homes and buildings.
Experience with successful market transformation programs, policy, and regulatory interventions, and/or public-private partnerships.
Experience in researching or developing voluntary energy efficiency policies or programs for residential buildings, such as strategies designed to overcome specific technical and structural barriers and/or the evaluating of program effectiveness.
Knowledge of real estate, including understanding of home ownership structures, lease types, and mortgage financing structures common for US homes.
How to Apply:
A complete application consists of:
Application
Transcript(s): For this opportunity, an unofficial transcript or copy of the student academic records printed by the applicant or by academic advisors from internal institution systems may be submitted. Selected candidate may be required to provide proof of completion of the degree before the appointment can start.
A current resume/curriculum vitae (CV)
One Cover letter
One letter of reference: References are asked to describe applicant’s Scientific Capabilities and Personal Characteristics and must specify how they know the applicant.
The resume/CV must include the following:
Basic Applicant Information: Name, address, phone, email, and other contact information.
Work & Research Experience: List all work and research experiences beginning with current or most recent. Include the name of the employer, location, position held, and time period.
Leadership Experience: List experiences (e.g., work, civic, volunteer, research) that demonstrate your leadership skills. Detail your role, type of experience, organization, location, and duration.
Educational History: List all institutions from which you received or expect to receive a degree, beginning with current or most recent institution. Include the name of the academic institution, degree awarded or date of expected degree, and academic discipline.
Honors & Awards: List in chronological order (most recent first) any awards or public recognitions. Include the name of awarding institution, title of the award or honor, and date of award or honor.
If you have questions, please send an email to DOE-RPP@orise.orau.gov. Please list the reference code for this opportunity in the subject line of your email.
Eligibility Requirements
Citizenship: LPR or U.S. Citizen
Degree: Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, or Doctoral Degree.
Discipline(s):
Business (11 )
Communications and Graphics Design (3 )
Computer, Information, and Data Sciences (4 )
Earth and Geosciences (1 )
Engineering (27 )
Environmental and Marine Sciences (3 )
Life Health and Medical Sciences (3 )
Mathematics and Statistics (11 )
Other Non-S&E (7 )
Physics (16 )
Social and Behavioral Sciences (28 )
Age: Must be 18 years of age