Schneider Summer Fellowships: Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) - Summer 2026
Through the Schneider Fellows program, Stanford students work at leading U.S. nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in the sustainable energy field. Schneider Summer Fellows spend a summer quarter tackling the world’s economic, environmental, social, and technical challenges associated with harnessing energy resources to deliver energy services.
Fellows receive a stipend of $11,500 for a 12-week summer fellowship. Additional funding of up to $1500 is available for fellowship-related travel.
Description of Organization
The Union of Concerned Scientists (UCS) is a national nonprofit organization founded more than 50 years ago by scientists and students at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Our mission is to put rigorous, independent science into action, developing solutions and advocating for a health, safe, and just future. Today, we are a group of nearly 250 scientists, analysts, policy experts, organizers, and communicators dedicated to that purpose.
Our work in the electricity sector is aimed at bringing about a just and equitable transition to clean energy across the economy. The US electricity landscape is rapidly transforming, fueled by the low costs of solar, wind, and battery storage, and the eroding economics of fossil fuels. That transformation offers tremendous opportunities to create jobs and improve public health, environmental quality, and energy affordability and reliability. We work to maximize the benefits to people, workers, and communities most affected by disproportionate impacts from our energy system; address legacy technologies like coal and gas; and counter the efforts of opponents of the transition who aim to sow doubt and obstruct progress.
Description of Summer Fellowship Projects (Two Fellowship Positions Available)
UCS Schneider Clean Energy Fellows work directly with UCS Climate & Energy program staff on just and equitable transition issues, particularly in the context of the deep reductions in heat-trapping emissions necessary to avoid the worst impacts of climate change. Representative fellowship projects include:
- Supporting research and analysis on fossil fuel infrastructure issues, and on technologies and fuels such as carbon capture and storage, carbon dioxide removal, and hydrogen
- Analyzing multi-year data on extreme weather and large-scale power outages to underscore the importance of incorporating climate change in electric grid planning
- Researching energy affordability and analyzing the effects of potential cost increases on energy burdens, including disproportionate impacts in historically marginalized communities
- Analyzing the potential contributions of offshore wind and solar to winter reliability in the US Northeast
- Improving the accessibility and impact of UCS analyses through the development of dashboards for fast, accessible display of results from power-sector modeling
- Researching and countering disinformation on clean energy, gas, and climate change, using best practices to reduce the impact of that disinformation
- Supporting science communication around clean energy and the transition, to publicize and promote the technologies, issues, and components of a just transition
Desired skills, experience, and qualities of the fellow
We are looking for candidates with a strong demonstrated interest in climate change, the electricity sector, and environmental justice. Ideal candidates will have solid research skills, and a willingness to take on new challenges and work both independently and in a team setting. While the position can adjust based on particular qualifications, we’re looking for graduate-level or other advanced experience in energy systems, science, engineering, public policy, economics, sociology, psychology, law, or communications. Strong analytic or writing skills would be a definite plus, as would experience with mapping/GIS, Tableau, or programming for one of the fellowships.
First-year students (frosh) are not eligible for this summer fellowship position.
Work Arrangement and Location
Hybrid Work (2-3 days in the office). Office is located in Cambridge, MA.
Fellowship Start Date
June 15 or June 22, 2026
Eligibility:
For complete eligibility requirements, please review our program policies in its entirety.
Applicants must be:
- enrolled at Stanford for the winter and spring quarters of this academic year (2025-26); and
- be in good academic standing and not on suspension
Undergraduates and graduate students from all academic disciplines are encouraged to apply, and applicants may vary in academic interests, public service involvement, and experience. Priority will be given to students who have completed fewer than two previous Cardinal Quarter opportunities.
First year students (frosh) are not eligible for this summer fellowship opportunity.
Requirements:
Selected Fellows are expected to begin service by June 22, 2026 for this summer fellowship. All fellows are required to work with their community partners full-time (35-40 hours) for twelve consecutive weeks at their placements. Other commitments include the following:
Quarter before fellowship
- Complete an online program orientation.
- Complete the Engaging in Ethical and Effective Service workshop or worksheet.
- Attend Schneider Fellows cohort session(s)
- Identify and meet with an on-campus mentor at least once.
- Design a personal learning plan and share the learning plan with site supervisor and on-campus mentor.
- Complete all required pre-orientation forms.
During fellowship
- Submit a brief preliminary report.
- Submit a final report, complete a program evaluation, and correspond with fellowship donor(s) as requested by fellowships program staff.
Quarter after fellowship
- Meet with on-campus mentor at least once.
- Participate in outreach activities to share the experience and help publicize the program.
Selection Process:
For those who seek assistance, advising is available at the Haas Center to help students develop their applications.
This fellowship is intended for individuals whose application, references, and interview demonstrate
- an integration of the fellowship experience with applicant’s academic, personal and/or career goals
- prior demonstrated interest or involvement in the subject area, including related coursework
- a compelling match between applicant’s skills and interests and an organization’s work and needs
- strong potential for the fellowship experience to deepen a candidate’s understanding of an identified community issue or challenge
Complete applications are screened, finalists interviewed, and fellows selected by our partner organizations with the intention to award fellowships within six weeks of the application deadline. Applicants are responsible for checking their Stanford email (including Spam folders) and responding promptly to interview invitations. Failure to respond to an interview invitation will result in withdrawal of the application.
Applicants should respond promptly (within 48 hours) via email to a fellowship offer, or the offer will be rescinded. Once an applicant accepts a fellowship offer, the student should promptly notify all other Stanford and non-Stanford programs to which they have applied that they have accepted another offer and to withdraw their candidacy.
