Schneider Sustainable Energy Fellowships
Through the Schneider Fellows program, Stanford students work at leading U.S. nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in the sustainable energy field. 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 plus additional funding of up to $1500 for fellowship-related travel. The summer program is co-sponsored by the Haas Center for Public Service and the Precourt Institute of Energy.
Fellowship History
The program is named in honor of Stephen H. Schneider (1945-2010), an internationally renowned expert on climate science and a leader in promoting solutions to address climate change. Stephen Schneider pioneered interdisciplinary research and policy analysis that underpinned many influential climate science publications, including the first four annual reports of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. For 18 years he served as a professor at Stanford University, where he had a lasting impact on countless students and alumni.
Eligibility
The Schneider Fellows program is open to currently enrolled undergraduate and graduate students. Fellows commit to working 12 weeks for the summer program or one year at their host NGO. Generally, summer fellowships begin in June and the one-year fellowships begin in September.
The NGOs will receive and screen candidate applications. There are no limits to the number of fellowships to which applicants may apply.
Information Sessions
Past Session Recordings:
- Recording from Information Session with representatives from Environmental Defense Fund and the U.S. Green Building Council, held on Thursday, December 4, 2025
- Recording of remarks from representatives from Natural Resources Defense Council from info session held on November 12, 2025
Summer 2027 Fellowship Opportunities will be announced in November 2026
Summer 2026 Fellowship Opportunities
California Forward - 2 positions
- Fellowship 1: Industrial (R)Evolution Fellow
- Fellowship 2: Carbon Accounting Fellow
Climate Cabinet Education - 2 positions
- Fellowship 1: Data Center Fellowship
- Fellowship 2: Transportation Fellowship
Environmental Defense Fund - 9 positions
Applicants can rank up to three positions on the EDF Schneider application:
- Fellowship 1: Methane Activity Data
- Fellowship 2: Livestock Methane Reduction
- Fellowship 3: Mesopelagic Fisheries Ecology
- Fellowship 4: Community Air Monitoring
- Fellowship 5: Climate Science & Communication
- Fellowship 6: Voluntary Carbon Pricing
- Fellowship 7: Economics Research
- Fellowship 8: Agriculture & Water Communications
- Fellowship 9: Japan Fisheries & Oceans
Natural Resources Defense Council - 7 positions
Applicants can rank up to three positions on the NRDC Schneider application:
- Fellowship 1: Equitable Climate Action in Colorado
- Fellowship 2: Power Sector Policy Analysis
- Fellowship 3: Innovation in Decarbonizing Industrial Technologies
- Fellowship 4: Chemicals Industry Advocacy
- Fellowship 5: State Industrial Decarbonization Policy
- Fellowship 6: State Building Electrification Analysis
- Fellowship 7: Data Centers and Equity & Community Partnerships
Rewiring America - 1 position
RMI - 2 positions
Students can choose to apply to up to two focus areas at RMI:
- Finance / Accounting
- Policy Innovation and Impact
- Sustainable Buildings and Design
- Urban and Community Engagement
- Sector Research and Insights
- Data Analytics and Visualization
- Technology Systems and Solutions
- Project and Operations Management
- Media Relations and Communications
Union of Concerned Scientists - 2 positions
- Ensuring a Just and Equitable Transition to Clean Energy in the United States (2 Fellows)
U.S. Climate Alliance - 2 positions
- Fellowship 1: Research and Analysis Fellow
- Fellowship 2: Climate Policy Fellow
U.S. Green Building Council - 3 positions
- Fellowship 1: Technical Development Fellow
- Fellowship 2: Product Management Fellow
- Fellowship 3: Public Policy Fellow
Meet the Schneider Fellows
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I apply for more than one Schneider Fellowship opportunity?
Yes! You can apply to any of the opportunities that interest you and seem like a potential fit. If you apply to opportunities at multiple organizations, you will need to submit application materials for each opportunity. Review the application requirements and process for each opportunity as they may vary.
Can I apply if I previously received a Schneider Fellowship?
If you have already engaged in a summer Schneider Fellowship experience you will have lower priority for the current summer program.
Who should be my reference or write my recommendation letter?
Recommendation letters are NOT required, but you may be asked to provide the name and contact information of one reference. References will only be contacted if the host organizations require additional information about your application. References can include Stanford faculty, staff, lecturers, graduate teaching assistants (for undergraduates), residence fellows as well as former employers or internship supervisors.
Peers should not serve as references or recommenders. Best advice is to select someone who knows you best and can speak to your candidacy for the fellowship opportunity. Be sure to ask them early and give them plenty of time to submit your recommendation letter by the deadline.
How are Schneider Fellows selected?
All submitted applications that are fully completed will be sent directly to our partner organizations just after the application deadline. Each fellowship supervisor will review all applications and determine interviews and final selections.
When will Schneider Fellows be selected and notified?
Fellowship supervisors will evaluate the submitted applications and conduct interviews for selected applicants in February. Final selections will be made and students are notified by March.
How competitive are the Schneider Fellowships?
Application numbers for each fellowship opportunity do vary from year to year, but overall it is a popular program since all degree levels can apply. We do encourage all interested students to apply and to submit thoughtful application materials. Since the number of fellows selected each year is limited, we encourage students to consider applying to other related campus opportunities as well. Other opportunities to consider include:
Graduate & Undergraduate summer opportunities:
- Shultz Energy Fellowships (Precourt, Bill Lane Center, Stanford in Government)
- energyStartup Internships & Energy Impact Fellowship (TomKat Center for Sustainable Energy)
- Partnerships for Climate Justice in the Bay Area (PCJ in the Bay) Summer Fellowships (Haas Center)
Undergraduate summer opportunities:
- Environment & Policy Internships (EPIC) (Woods Institute, SIG)
- Earth Systems Public Service Fellowship (Haas Center)
- Bill Lane Internship (Bill Lane Center for the American West)
- Public Service Projects Fellowship (Haas Center)
Opportunities for graduating students:
- Community Impact Fellowship (Haas Center)
- John Gardner Public Service Fellowship (Haas Center)
To explore additional energy-related opportunities visit Explore Energy.
What are the tax implications of the Schneider summer fellowship stipend?
Fellows do not receive tax forms from Stanford for their summer stipends and are responsible for paying and filing for all applicable taxes. Financial Aid's tax information page and the Mind Over Money program may be helpful resources. Graduate students can review these FAQs for Grad Students with funding. If you are an international graduate student, your Schneider summer stipend may be subject to tax withholding.
