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The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Fellowships are designed to establish and nurture critical links between federal decision-makers and scientific professionals to support the creation of beneficial public policy. In particular, the fellowships are intended to create more policy-savvy scientists by:

  • Educating scientists and engineers on the intricacies of federal policymaking
  • Providing scientific and technical knowledge to support the development of well-informed policies
  • Fostering positive exchange between scientists and policymakers
  • Empowering scientists and engineers to engage in policy-relevant research
  • Increasing the involvement and visibility of scientists and engineers in the public policy realm.

For complete details about AAAS Fellowships, visit the AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowships Web site.

The Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy supports cutting-edge scientific research, technology development and demonstration, and creation of programs and policies that facilitate the deployment of advanced clean energy technologies and practices. This work is essential to strengthen the United States' energy security, environmental quality, and economic vitality.

As a hosting organization, EERE offers opportunities for upcoming Fellows to work with key stakeholders to transform our energy future.

EERE's portfolio is organized around eleven energy programs and leads the growth in Administration efforts to invest in clean energy research, reduce dependence on oil and other volatile foreign energy sources, and transform how the U.S. powers the economy by focusing on scientific discovery, job creation, energy transformation, and climate change impacts. In managing its research, development and demonstration projects, EERE affects the formation and adaptation of national energy policy. 

EERE offers opportunities for a wide range of AAAS Fellows. Learn more by browsing opportunities offered by EERE's programs by area of interest:

The Advanced Manufacturing Office (AMO) supports early-stage research to advance innovation in U.S. manufacturing and promotes American economic growth and energy security. It is the only federal technology development office dedicated to improving the energy and material efficiency, productivity, and competitiveness of manufacturers across the industrial sector.

AMO supports EERE’s strategic goal to promote American energy through affordable and reliable energy production and use to advance economic growth and energy security. AMO brings together manufacturers, not-for-profit entities, research organizations, and academic institutions to identify challenges, catalyze innovations, and develop cutting-edge technologies for an efficient and competitive domestic manufacturing sector.

By targeting efficient manufacturing technologies, AMO drives energy productivity improvements in the U.S. manufacturing sector, efficiently uses abundant and available domestic energy resources, and supports the manufacture of clean energy products with benefits extending across the economy.

AMO pursues its goals through three subprogram approaches: individual Advanced Manufacturing Applied Research and Development (R&D) Projects, pre-commercial Advanced Manufacturing R&D Consortia, and Technology Partnerships. Given the diversity of the manufacturing sector, the Office uses a cross-cutting approach. AMO activities are designed to help bridge the gap from discovery to manufacturing so innovations important to sustained competitiveness make it into the market.

Bioenergy Technologies Office focuses on early-stage applied research and development (R&D) of transformative, sustainable bioenergy technologies that can support a growing bioeconomy and contribute to U.S. energy security, economic productivity, and overall competitiveness. The U.S. Department of Energy is investing in cutting-edge technologies to produce biofuels and co-products from non-food sources of biomass―such as wastes and agricultural residues―and from energy crops, like switchgrass and algae.

The program’s primary focus is on R&D to produce “drop-in” biofuels that are compatible with existing fueling infrastructure and vehicles across a range of transportation modes, including renewable gasoline, diesel, and jet fuels. The program also supports early-stage R&D focused on converting biomass into high-value chemicals and products, which can enhance the economics of biofuel production and enable market competitiveness for the U.S. biofuel industry.

The Building Technologies Office (BTO) supports research opportunities to transform the energy efficiency technologies that impact the largest energy system users within buildings: lighting, space conditioning and refrigeration, water heating, appliances, and miscellaneous electric loads (as well as the building envelopes themselves). BTO’s early stage R&D on advanced and trans-active controls enables industry to develop and deploy truly “smart” buildings that connect with the power grid in new and increasingly adaptive manners to help with overall electric system efficiency, resiliency and efficient energy prices across the grid.

BTO conducts building systems research that results in new knowledge and understanding of physical phenomena that occur not only at a component level but at the system and whole building levels. Through collaboration with industry, academia, and other leaders across the building sector, BTO conducts field validation and verification of solutions that help building owners and homeowners reduce energy waste.

The Fuel Cell Technologies Office is part of a broad portfolio of EERE activities. Recent industry estimates say the global market potential of fuel cell and hydrogen technologies can generate $2.5 trillion and 30 million jobs worldwide by 2050.

The  Office focuses on early-stage innovative research and development for hydrogen and fuel cell technologies to enable stationary power, residential combined-heat-and-power systems, auxiliary power units, portable power, and mainstream transportation applications. Early-stage research includes cutting edge materials for research and discovery, including materials for advanced water splitting technologies, material-based hydrogen storage, and platinum group metal free catalysts for fuel cell stacks. The program is also researching and developing innovative hydrogen infrastructure technologies through its H2@scale initiative. During fiscal year 2018, fellows will focus on one  area:

 

  1. Hydrogen Infrastructure to move hydrogen from production to use in automotive fuel cell applications
  2. Hydrogen Fuel R&D to identify innovative materials and pathways for hydrogen production and develop materials based hydrogen storage systems
  3. Fuel Cell R&D to reduce cost and improve durability through platinum group metal free catalysts and innovative electrode and membranes

The Geothermal Technologies Office (GTO) focuses on harnessing geothermal energy to generate electricity and direct-use heating and cooling. GTO accelerates hydrothermal and low-temperature adoption and boldly pursues EGS as a transformative player by creating a commercial pathway to large-scale, reproducible systems. By developing and demonstrating innovative technologies, GTO’s efforts help stimulate the growth of the geothermal industry within the renewable energy sector and encourage quick adoption of technologies by the public and private sectors.

GTO works in partnership with industry, academia, and DOE's national laboratories on research and development activities focused on these areas:

  • Enhanced geothermal systems
  • Hydrothermal resources
  • Low temperature and co-produced technologies
  • Systems analysis

The Solar Energy Technologies Office  supports early-stage research and development to improve the reliability and performance of solar technologies. The office invests in innovative research efforts to securely integrate more solar energy into the grid, enhance the use and storage of solar energy, and lower solar electricity costs. 

 

The Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO) funds early-stage, high-risk research on innovative vehicle and transportation technologies to strengthen national security, enable future economic growth, and increase transportation energy efficiency. VTO leverages the unique capabilities and world-class expertise of the national laboratory system to develop innovations in electrification, advanced combustion engines and fuels, advanced materials, and energy efficient mobility systems.

 

VTO is uniquely positioned to address early-stage challenges due to strategic public-private research partnerships with industry (e.g. U.S. DRIVE, 21st Century Truck Partnership). These partnerships leverage relevant expertise to prevent duplication of effort, focus DOE research on critical R&D barriers, and accelerate progress. VTO focuses on research that industry does not have the technical capability to undertake on its own, usually due to a high degree of scientific or technical uncertainty, or it is too far from market realization to merit industry resources. VTO’s research generates knowledge that industry can advance to deploy innovative energy technologies to support affordable, secure, and efficient transportation systems across America.

Water power technologies provide dependable, renewable electricity to support domestic economic growth and energy security while ensuring the power grid reliability. The Energy Department’s Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO) works with national laboratories, industry, academia, and other federal agencies to conduct research and development  into novel technologies for both hydropower and marine and hydrokinetic (MHK) energy. 

Hydropower, while the oldest and largest renewable energy resource in the U.S., can also be dispatched quickly and flexibly while supplying a full range of ancillary services that are increasingly important for reliability as the power grid continues to change and evolve. WPTO’s hydropower portfolio primarily focuses on investing in research to reduce technology costs and unlock new resources, improving the flexibility of existing and new systems, developing efficiency-boosting design and operations tools, and supplying analysis to inform permitting processes.

WPTO also investigates relatively new and cutting-edge MHK technologies, which convert the energy of waves, tides, and river and ocean currents into electricity. As an emerging technology, MHK represents a vast resource that is predictable, forecastable, and complimentary to other renewable energy sources such as wind and solar. The Office also supports the development of important testing infrastructure for these new technologies within the U.S., and works with stakeholders and other federal and state agencies to provide new science and data to improve permitting process efficiencies.

AAAS FELLOWSHIP SELECTION AND APPLICATION PROCESS

The AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellows are chosen through a formal, three-tier merit review and selection process. The reviewers and Selection Committee members identify the best scientists and engineers from the applicant pool who they believe will benefit most from the opportunities that a AAAS Fellowship provides, and who will offer significant expertise, skills, effort and new perspectives to hosting offices.

Applicants are evaluated based on five categories:

  • Scientific/Technical Background and Professional Accomplishment
  • Leadership and Potential
  • Problem-Solving Abilities
  • Communication, Interpersonal and Outreach Skills
  • Commitment to AAAS Fellowship Objectives and Opportunities

For complete details surrounding the eligibility requirements and selection process visit the "Become a Fellow" section at the AAAS Fellowship Web site.

HOW TO APPLY

AAAS only accepts online application submissions. The online application system opens in early to mid-September every year with an application deadline of early December. Applicants who make it through the selection process and successfully interview with a hosting agency begin their fellowship in September.

Other important dates, including the actual application deadline for the upcoming year, may be found under the "Fellowship Schedule" section of
the AAAS Fellowship Application System.

QUESTIONS

Questions regarding EERE's AAAS Fellowship activities and process may be addressed to Todd Allen:

Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy
Email: todd.allen@ee.doe.gov
Telephone: 720-356-1634
Address: Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy, Mail Stop RSF, Department of Energy, Golden, CO 80401
Website: http://www.eere.energy.gov

Visit the AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowships Web site at http://fellowships.aaas.org for complete details about fellowship opportunities.  Questions for AAAS may be addressed to fellowships@aaas.org.

AAAS Science & Technology Policy Fellowships
Telephone: 202-326-6700
Address: 1200 New York Avenue, NW Washington, D.C. 20005