Interdisciplinary NRT
Graduate Training Opportunity:
Obtain PhD/MS/MA in Stakeholder Engaged, Equitable, Decarbonized energy futures (SEED-EF)
What is SEED-EF’s goal?
The transition to a low-carbon economy requires a new generation of leaders trained to decarbonize the energy sector and increase equitable access to it. SEED-EF wants to train these leaders so that they are able to advance decarbonization at the intersection of engineering, policy, economics, data science, and population health, with the ability to problem-solve and communicate with stakeholders, communities, and government and nongovernmental (NGO) agencies. Funded by the National Science Foundation's National Research Traineeship (NRT) Program, SEED-EF offers novel cross-cutting training to PhD and Masters students so that they can embrace multi-stakeholder perspectives and advance skills to plan, execute, and communicate interdisciplinary research on equitable decarbonization.
What does this program offer?
PhD: Dual mentorship (faculty and stakeholder partners). Courses in policy, ethics, and communication. Internships with industry, government, policy groups, or NGOs. Thematic and real-world connections with decarbonization. Support for publishing and conferences. Funding from the university and faculty.
MS/MA: Parallel tracks in Environmental Policy and Energy Engineering. Courses in environmental justice, policy design, environmental, social and governance (ESG) aspects, health data, smart grids, and renewable energy. Both tracks explore stakeholder engagement, ethics and equity, and multimodal interdisciplinary research.
What are the Program highlights?
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Strong cohort with collaborative focus
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Emphasis on stakeholder engagement and creating equity
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Paid internships during Year 2 of graduate study
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Meaningful real-world research outcomes via active learning
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Laptop for each student
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Team mentor support, tailored to each student
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Professional development opportunities and leadership seminars
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Financial support through the first two years
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Best practices for trainees in impact-driven research teams
What are the current research thrusts?
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Solar warehouse roofs for energy sheds
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Zero-emissions transit fleets
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Energy-water microgrids for coastal islanded communities
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Resilient societies
Who is qualified?
U.S. citizens or permanent residents with an interest in pursuing a degree via a multidisciplinary approach focused on the energy sector, decarbonization, and policy.
Contact us
For more information, contact the program directors:
Arindam Banerjee (arb612@lehigh.edu)
Shalinee Kishore (shk2@lehigh.edu)