2021 Shultz Energy Fellowships: California Air Resources Board
Regional-, state-, and city-level efforts are essential in our fight against climate change, especially in the field of energy. Stanford University is committed to helping by integrating its students into energy and climate ecosystems in the West through the Shultz Energy Fellowships program (formerly Stanford Energy Internships in California and the West), an energy-related summer fellowship program for undergraduate and graduate students.
Named in honor of former Secretary of State George P. Shultz, one of the most widely admired American public servants of the past half-century, the program offers a suite of paid, energy-related public service fellowships for Stanford students in California, Colorado, Utah, and Hawaii during the summer.
The fellowships run from Monday, June 21, 2021 to Friday, August 27, 2021.
Organization/Agency mission or role in state government
The California Air Resources Board, established in 1967 by action of the California Legislature and the late Governor Ronald Reagan, is the state agency charged with promoting and protecting public health, welfare and ecological resources through the effective and efficient reduction of air and climate pollutants, while recognizing and considering the effects on the state’s economy. Since its formation, CARB has worked with the public, the business sector, and local governments to find solutions to California’s air pollution problems. More recently, CARB is also focusing on climate change and greenhouse gas (GHG) emission reductions. The resulting state air quality and climate actions led by CARB continue to outpace the rest of the nation and lead the world in promoting clean and low-carbon policies.
Potential Areas for Internship Projects
The fellow, depending on qualifications and interests, will have the opportunity to help CARB program staff (most of them scientists and engineers) research, develop, design, analyze, interpret, and report various policies aimed at supporting the transition of the transportation sector in California to clean, low-carbon technologies and fuels—including the electrification of vehicles and promotion renewable electricity and hydrogen. In all cases, the fellows will have a chance to emphasize either the technical or policy aspects of the work based on priorities, interests, and direction from the CARB mentor. The fellows will also contribute to the preparation of official documents for public release, and will be expected to prepare a fellowship report as a final work product and to offer an exit seminar open to all CARB staff.
Potential Projects
Priority Population Zero Emission Vehicle (ZEV) Refueling: Priority populations, such as disadvantaged communities, low income communities, and low income households, are especially vulnerable to the impacts of climate change. A number of California Air Resources Board programs provide funding assistance for lower-income consumers to replace older vehicles with cleaner technology, including ZEVs. In addition to vehicle purchase incentives, state programs and settlement activities have funded significant public charging infrastructure installations in disadvantaged or low income communities. This project will explore hydrogen and electric vehicle fueling station utilization in these locations to better understand community use.
Potential Mentors
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Elise M. Keddie, PhD, Manager, ZEV Market Advancement Section
- Mark Williams, Air Pollution Specialist, ZEV Market Advancement Section
- Andrew Martinez, PhD, Air Pollution Specialist, ZEV Infrastructure Section
2020 Fellow
- Sindhu Sreedhara, PhD Student in Energy Resources Engineering
- Learn more about Sindhu's experience at CARB:
- View Sindhu's final project.
- Basic understanding of California’s efforts for clean air and climate change protection and the role of public policy
- General knowledge of environmental management and of CARB and its function in the context of regulatory policy and setting emission standards for vehicles, engines, and equipment
- Strong communication skills (both written and oral)
- A demonstrated desire to work in a team environment and to learn from seasoned, expert practitioners and creators of internationally-recognized environmental policies for mobile sources
- A major in engineering, the physical sciences, and/or public policy is applicable background for this internship.
All Shultz fellows must be enrolled in the spring quarter before their fellowship.
All Shultz fellows must take a one-unit spring workshop course, 'Energy Policy in California and the West' taught by Bruce Cain and Sally Benson that will provide an in-depth analysis of the role of California state agencies, the Western Interstate Energy Board, and the Western Electricity Coordinating Council in driving energy policy development, technology innovation, and market structures. Course number is CEE 263G / POLISCI 73 / PUBLPOL 73 / ENERGY 73. Schedule: Wednesdays from 10:00 am - 11:00 am (Remote: Synchronous).
Please note that this opportunity is for graduate students. Interested undergraduates can apply via SIG.
