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The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Critical Minerals and Energy Innovation (CMEI) Science, Technology, and Policy Program (STP) Fellowship offers an opportunity for highly talented scientists, engineers, and technical professionals to participate in activities related to program development and implementation at CMEI offices in Washington, D.C. Fellows will gain insight into the federal government's role in supporting the research and development of energy technologies and apply their scientific and technical knowledge to research solutions for energy challenges.

This posting is for a fellowship opportunity with the CMEI Integrated Energy Systems Office (IESO), which joins into one office the former wind energy, solar energy, and grid integration programs. IESO drives strategic research and development of energy solutions that enhance grid reliability and resilience, foster U.S. technological leadership, and reduce the cost of energy for Americans. IESO designs and implements national competitive funding opportunities for innovative energy integration research and development. IESO does not set policy, nor does it influence policymaking decisions.

Applicants selected to participate with the IESO team will engage in activities related to the office's mission. The application deadline for this opportunity is July 31, 2026 at 11:59 PM E.T. All recommendations must be received by 11:59 PM E.T. on August 5, 2026. The application review process may take approximately 3-4 months. This fellowship is offered as an initial, one-year appointment, with an opportunity to extend the appointment for a second year contingent on an annual review. There is potential to extend the appointment for additional years at the discretion of the sponsoring office and program funding. With guidance from your mentor, your learning opportunities may include:

• Seek to understand active project management of IESO awards
• Engaging with stakeholders across industry, national labs, universities, and more
• Participating in strategic planning for IESO and other DOE initiatives
• Researching and writing reports on current topics within the industry
• Generating new ideas for office programming and strategic direction

These activities may be carried out in collaboration with teams of multi-level federal employees,  support service contractors, and experts from national laboratories.

IESO is seeking fellows with backgrounds or interests in the following areas, but may consider additional relevant backgrounds:

• Advanced solar photovoltaic technologies
• Wind energy technologies
• Solar heat for industrial processes
• Thermal energy systems
• Grid integration technologies
• Distributed energy technologies
• Interconnection innovation
• Permitting and environmental impact reduction
• Cross-cutting analysis and program impact evaluation
• Energy materials and recycling
• Manufacturing and technology transfer
• Communications, graphic design, and stakeholder engagement

Fellowship Provisions

IESO offers a stipend for participation in this program. Exact stipends will vary based on academic and professional background. IESO anticipates candidates will start their fellowship at the following stipend rates:

• Bachelor's degree-holders at $70,000;
• Master's degree-holders at $77,000;
• Ph.D. degree-holders at $102,000.

Stipends are determined on an individual basis. The program office will evaluate academic background and/or professional experience to determine stipends for each selected candidate.  

This fellowship offers a range of additional provisions, including medical, dental, and vision insurance, a local transportation stipend, and holidays. A one-time allowance of $5,000 may be issued to offset expenses at the beginning of a candidate’s appointment if the address shown on the application is more than 50 miles away from Washington, D.C. Participants will receive a travel and research allowance of $10,000 per appointment year to cover expenses for scientific and professional development activities.

Fellows may be offered a second-year extension with an increase in stipend and cost-of-living adjustment. Past fellows have gone on to take a wide range of permanent positions in industry, academia, and government.

For more information about STP fellowships with IESO, please visit https://www.energy.gov/cmei/systems/fellowships-and-research-opportunities.

Appointment Location

This program is based in Washington, D.C. Fellows are strongly encouraged to adhere to IESO’s hybrid in-office schedule. Fully remote appointments may be considered for candidates on a case-by-case basis. This schedule is subject to change at any time.

Nature of Appointment

The STP Fellowship is administered by Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE). The participant will not enter into an employee/employer relationship with ORISE, the Oak Ridge Associated Universities, 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 initial appointment period will be for one year, with the possibility to extend the appointment for additional years at the discretion of the mentor and sponsoring office.

Qualifications

• Be enrolled as a student currently pursuing an Associate's, Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctoral Degree (note that you must have completed your degree by your chosen start date), or have completed an Associate's, Bachelor's, Master's, or Doctoral Degree within the last 5 years. If it has been more than 5 years since the degree was conferred, to be considered, the applicant must have an academic background and experience in a relevant field and must be seeking to gain new knowledge/experience to expand career opportunities or to advance professionally.

• You must be a U.S. Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR).

Direct background in solar, wind, or other energy resources is not required for this opportunity, but strong candidates will have skill sets that align well with those research areas at IESO. IESO is interested in applicants with backgrounds including but not limited to physical and natural sciences, social sciences, engineering, public administration, entrepreneurship, and community and sustainability.

How to Apply

A complete application consists of:

• A Zintellect profile and responses to opportunity-specific questions
  • Note: Applicants must submit a personal statement detailing their interests and qualifications. The statement should be original; use AI tools only for grammar or basic feedback.
• Academic Records/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 candidates may be required to provide proof of completion of the degree before the appointment can start.
• A current resume/curriculum vitae (CV)
• One Recommendation - Applicants are required to provide contact information for one recommender to submit the application. You are encouraged to request a recommendation from professionals who can speak to your abilities and potential for success, as well as your scientific capabilities and personal characteristics. Recommenders will be asked to complete a recommendation in Zintellect. Recommendation requests must be sent through the Zintellect application system. Letters of recommendation submitted via email will not be accepted.

The resume/CV must include the following:

• Basic applicant Information: Name, address, phone, email, and other contact information.
• Work and Research Experience: List all relevant work and research experiences beginning with current or most recent. Include the name of the employer, location, position held, and time period involved.
• 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 expected, date of awarded or 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.

All documents must be submitted via Zintellect in order to be considered and must be in English or include an official English translation. Submitted documents must have all social security numbers, student identification numbers, and/or date of birth removed/redacted prior to uploading to the application system.

If you have questions, please send an email to DOE-RPP@orise.orau.gov and list the reference code [DOE-STP-CMEI-IESO-2026] in the subject line of your email.

• Citizenship: LPR or U.S. Citizen
• Degree: Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, or Doctoral Degree.
• Discipline(s):
  • Business (11 )
  • Chemistry and Materials Sciences (12 )
  • Computer, Information, and Data Sciences (17 )
  • Earth and Geosciences (21 )
  • Engineering (29 )
  • Environmental and Marine Sciences (14 )
  • Life Health and Medical Sciences (51 )
  • Mathematics and Statistics (11 )
  • Other Non-Science & Engineering (13 )
  • Physics (16 )
  • Science & Engineering-related (2 )
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences (30 )
• Age: Must be 18 years of age