
NERS Group Looking for Undergraduate Researchers
Through the SURE program, one NERS group is looking for undergraduate researchers for six different projects from different disciplinary backgrounds. Detailed information can be found here and interested students can contact Professor Aditi Verma directly ([email protected]). The projects for which they are recruiting more students include: NERS Project #8: Energy System and Fuel Cycle Modeling for Rural and Tribal Communities, NERS Project #9: AI-Driven Analysis of Public Feedback on Nuclear Waste Facility Siting, NERS Project #10: Examining the connections between reactor design choices and cost outcomes, NERS Project #11: Public perspectives on the design of microreactors, NERS Project #12: Assessing the potential for using generative AI in prototyping energy system designs, and NERS Project #13: A framework for responsible AI integration in the nuclear sector.
IES is Hiring!
IES Research Specialist
IES is hiring a Research Specialist – https://careers.umich.edu/job_detail/255695/institute-energy-solutions-research-specialist
The IES Research Specialist will have the exciting role of leading, contributing to, and supporting funding efforts through ideation, grant writing, team coordination, and project management. These efforts will leverage University of Michigan expertise in energy systems, spanning all colleges, schools, and disciplines. The Research Specialist will work with the Institute Director, Associate Director, Program Manager, and Steering Committee to create new opportunities that synergize the U-M community energy assets, amplifying positive change to energy systems. Individuals are expected to leverage their research expertise and expand their research leadership through new activities.
This position requires a doctoral degree in an energy-focused STEM discipline, as well as prior experience in grant writing and interdisciplinary collaborations.
This application window is closed as we review potential candidate applications. Please stay tuned, should we choose to re-open the application.
IES Administrative Assistant
IES is pleased to announce the open position of IES Administrative Assistant. The administrative assistant will contribute to and support IES activities, including event planning, logistics administration, and information dissemination. This part-time position will be remote-work flexible with approximately 20 hours per week. If you know a potential candidate for this position, please stay tuned here for the application posting link.
University of Michigan Dearborn Alum and student led GRID Alternatives Students for Sustainable Energy
Two students at the University of Michigan Dearborn campus, Christian Cannon and Alexis Thompson, saw an opportunity to develop more hands-on experience for installing solar energy systems by bringing GRID Alternatives to U-M Dearborn. Cannon, who is now a 2024 environmental science graduate working as an intern at Walker-Miller Energy Services in Detroit, and Thompson, who is completing a degree in mathematics, initiated the student chapter for GRID alternatives shortly after connecting with the founders of GRID alternatives in 2017. Students participating take part in an immersive experience called solar spring break and students also volunteer to install panels in low-income neighborhoods. Over the course of three solar spring breaks, the group installed more than 40 kW of capacity and they enjoyed the opportunity to learn about how their hands-on engineering skills can improve others’ lives. They are now looking for more opportunities for leading solar and sustainability-focused projects. Read more about their efforts here.
University of Michigan to begin installing Solar Power Sites on Campus
The much anticipated solar installations on U-M campuses are closer to becoming a reality. New installations distributed across U-M Ann Arbor, U-M Flint, and U-M Dearborn will have a total capacity of 25 MW after the installation process is complete. Electricity generated is dedicated to U-M buildings, rather than feeding back into the grid, helping towards university goals regarding scope 2 emissions. Between the installations and renewable-power purchase agreements, U-M is expected to achieve Scope 2 Emission goals within 2 years. The first installations in Ann Arbor in 2025 are expected to bring 10 MW online by the end of the first year. Read further about the upcoming installations here.
A Michigan city’s ‘sustainable energy utility’ got the green light from voters. What now?
SmartCitiesDive dove into Ann Arbor’s recently passed proposal for a sustainable energy utility (SEU). This supplemental utility will focus on rooftop solar and battery storage and then eventually focus on microgrids, adding to the robustness of the existing grid in the city. The proposal for this duplicative grid structure passed with 79% of votes on November 5th and the SEU will have a 2 year ramp up to improve electricity resiliency and reliability. The SEU will pay the initial install cost and recover investment over time through charging customers for the energy the rooftop panels generate. Read more about the SEU and plans for the city here.
Notable Funding Opportunities
Now available: Funding Opportunity webpage! The funding opportunities IES publishes through email and newsletters are included in a funding opportunities page. See this page!
The Institute for Energy Solutions Announces our 2025 IES Graduate and Postdoctoral Fellow Cohort
The IES is thrilled to announce our upcoming cohort of our IES fellows. This incoming cohort brings in fellows from 2 schools/colleges and 9 departments within engineering. We have three postdocs and eleven PhD candidates joining this year to convene, share research, and participate in IES led events this coming year. Please join us in welcoming the new cohort!.
Save the Date: IES Fellows Symposium for 2024 Cohort
IES is excited to announce our symposium this winter to celebrate the 2024 cohort of IES Graduate Fellows. The Fellows will present on their projects they completed this year and we will also introduce the next cohort of IES fellows. IES welcomes the greater energy community to join if you are interested and available on January 31st, 2025. Stay tuned for invitations coming soon.
Charging the Future: U-M Researchers Spark Innovation in EV Batteries
Researchers Jeff Sakamoto and Neil Dasgupta, backed by an $11 million US DOE EFRC grant, are partnering with Oak Ridge National Lab and others to improve battery fuel cell development and manufacturing. The team looks towards the future of Li-Ion and the future beyond Li-Ion, largely looking towards solid state batteries with fast ion conducting ceramic. The project team, MUSIC, embraces their partnerships and opportunities for cutting edge research in energy storage. Watch the video on their efforts here.
Institute for Energy Solutions Newsletter
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See the IES Newsletter Archive to see published newsletters with highlights in research, funding, and events in energy at the University of Michigan.
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