A complete application consists of:

• An 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/CV
• A cover letter (Please attach cover letter as part of your resume/CV file)

All documents must be in English or include an official English translation.

If you have questions, please send an email to DOE-RPP@orau.org. Please list the reference code for this opportunity in the subject line of your email.

The Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Research Participation Program is designed to support EERE's mission in energy efficiency and renewable energy by offering postgraduates, students, faculty and other established scientists the opportunity to participate in programs, projects, and activities at approved laboratories, university research centers, DOE headquarters, or other approved facilities.

The Department of Energy seeks Postgraduate candidates to develop skills in core market transformation activities under the High Impact Technology Catalyst and in close collaboration with the Department of Energy’s Better Buildings Initiative Technology Solutions Teams. For this opportunity, the participant will engage with the EERE Building Technologies Office (BTO) staff to develop skills in utility efficiency programs. Such programs include technology demonstrations that produce significant energy savings in the commercial real estate market. During their appointment, participants will undergo a full immersion experience in Commercial Buildings Integration’s (CBI) deployment efforts, acquiring knowledge from experts in academia, industry and the national labs. Participants may also engage with other programs at the Department of Energy (DOE) and across the Federal government.  

Training and research of this opportunity include:

• Stakeholder Engagement: Engage DOE staff to build and maintain relationships with strategic utility partners working on emerging tech, technology demonstrations and energy efficiency programs.
• Technical Expertise: Engage DOE staff to provide feedback and/or recommendations on strategic progress or course correction for a variety of technical projects relating market transformation of commercial building energy efficiency products/technologies and solutions.
• Creative Vision: Collaborate in strategic planning for technology deployment, recommending and implementing projects that advance the BTO and CBI mission, resulting in measurable and trackable building energy savings.  
• Communication: Engage and train with DOE staff to prepare and present written and oral briefings and reports to senior program staff, EERE and DOE leadership and external partners and industry stakeholders. 

Applicants will be evaluated on the basis of their professional and academic record, expertise in their field and potential for making contributions in the area of building energy efficiency. Priority for selection will be given to applicants whose resume and skills reflect a background in technology demonstrations, especially those with experience in utility energy efficiency program development. The review process may include phone and/or in-person interviews with potential candidates.

Participant Benefits

Participants will receive a stipend to be determined by EERE. Stipends are typically based on the participant’s academic standing, discipline, experience, and research facility location.  EERE may authorize a stipend increase to help defray the costs of health insurance. Participants are eligible to purchase the family or individual health insurance plan offered through ORISE. A relocation allowance may be provided for participants relocating to the hosting facility.  Participants may receive an allowance for education and/or scientific activities as approved by EERE including but not limited to travel and research supplies.

This opportunity is available to U.S. citizens and Lawful Permanent Residents (LPR).

Nature of Appointment

The participant will not enter into 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.

The ideal candidate will have an Engineering or graduate technical degree, and work background in projects related to energy efficiency in commercial buildings, such as architecture, building science, property management, sustainability, communications or policy/program design.

Preferred skills include:

• Experience working at a utility or consulting on energy efficiency programs for commercial building utility programs
• Experience with data elements required for regulatory approval for technology incentive programs; knowledge of testing and verification methods associated with such approval (e.g. total resource cost test, etc.) 
• Knowledge of strategies to identify, evaluate and prioritize cost-effective energy savings measures in new and existing commercial buildings
• Experience with successful market transformation programs, policy and regulatory interventions, and/or public-private partnerships 
• Understanding of the economics of energy efficiency, including payback, rate of return and net present value.
• Familiarity with key innovations in commercial building efficiency, especially whole building strategies and analytics-based building energy management
• Experience in researching or developing voluntary energy efficiency policies or programs for commercial buildings, such as market transformation strategies designed to overcome specific technology barriers (training, resource development, analytics) and/or the evaluating of program effectiveness 
• Experience with building energy management or analytics platforms 
• Knowledge of commercial real estate, including understanding of ownership structures, lease types and financing structures common in commercial buildings

Successful candidates will:

• Have a passion for buildings, energy efficiency and technology research, development and demostation (RD&D)
• Have interest in working in a multi-disciplinary, metrics-oriented, fast-paced environment
• Have strong organizational, analytical and research skills and a demonstrated capacity for creative thinking

• Citizenship: LPR or U.S. Citizen
• Degree: Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, or Doctoral Degree.
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