Jobs

Technology-to-Market Scholar – Renewable Fuels Adoption Pathways (Summer 2021)

Posted on: December 2, 2020 Apply Now
Internship Expires February 1, 2021

Renewable Fuels Adoption Pathways
Background

The Advanced Research Projects Agency-Energy (ARPA-E) is an agency within the U.S. Department of Energy that funds creative, out-of-the-box, transformational energy technologies that are too early stage for private investment. ARPA-E programs provide top energy researchers with funding, technical assistance, and tech-to-market guidance to radically improve U.S. energy security, energy efficiency, and environmental well-being. The driving question behind all ARPA-E programs is “If it works, will it matter?”

ARPA-E recruits scholars who have a unique combination of technical and business skills to assist in defining commercialization pathways for high-impact technology development programs. This internship opportunity offers experience in advancing the transition of cutting-edge energy technologies to market applications in a fast-paced environment.

Opportunity

A market analysis of renewable fuels. What industries might be first adopters of renewable fuels (freight transportation is a super interesting one, both ground and sea, as well as air travel)? Analysis of prices required given different potential regulatory environments for ammonia, hydrogen, ethanol or something else.

Pressure from customers, investors, regulators, municipalities, and other key stakeholders are driving fuel consumers to increasingly aggressive decarbonization objectives. In order to meet these objectives, new fuels, renewable fuels, are likely to be required. All fuel consumers, however, do not make decisions in the same way or face the same problems or have the same incentives.

Their motivations and actions are shaped by a range of factors including ownership structure, regulatory regime, and resource availability, just to name a few.

ARPA-E is seeking a scholar to research how different types of fuel users have adopted new technologies in the past and evaluate the implications for new technologies coming out of ARPA-E. We are particularly interested in understanding what factors make a fuel user likely to be an early adopter of a technology, and which users are likely to adopt renewable fuels.

The ARPA-E’s Scholars Program is designed to prepare ARPA-E-funded technologies to achieve maximum impact and return on investment for ARPA-E project teams, stakeholders, and our Nation’s taxpayers. This internship provides a unique opportunity to work under and interface with the ARPA-E Technology-to-Market team, ARPA-E Program Directors, and ARPA-E Fellows. We are seeking graduate students interested in conducting the following work:

  • Studying the literature for examples renewable fuel adoption
  • Conducting market interviews to gather first-hand accounts of renewable fuel adoption (or non-adoption)
  • Developing case studies on renewable fuel adoption
  • Performing market segmentation analysis on renewable fuels
  • Identifying promising early adopters of renewable fuels

The ideal candidate(s) will have a bachelor’s degree in a relevant field (e.g. engineering, computer science, economics, etc), be in the midst of completing a graduate level degree, preferably M.S. or MBA, and have relevant work experience to include:

  • Experience with market research
  • Familiarity with renewable fuels
  • General energy trends in the electricity, transportation, or industrial sectors

Applicants should be prepared for deep immersion into the project and must be comfortable working independently. Job requirements include strong analytical, written and oral communication abilities.

Each selected Scholar will be paid a weekly stipend and travel costs; length of stay can be negotiated, but typically ranges from 8-12 weeks. All positions will be based at ARPA-E’s headquarters in Washington, DC. This opportunity is available only to U.S. citizens.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability or veteran status.

Highly motivated candidates should submit a CV, a cover letter, a writing sample, and two references at

https://arpa-e.energy.gov/career/job-opportunities. Questions can be directed via email to ARPA-E-jobs@hq.doe.gov with the words “Energy Scholars” in the subject heading.

Applications are due no later than Sunday, January 31, 2021, and will be processed on a rolling schedule. Interested parties are encouraged to apply early.

Apply Now