Marine energy research program for graduate students opens in the US

September 14, 2022, by Amir Garanovic

The US Department of Energy’s (DOE) Water Power Technologies Office (WPTO) and the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) have opened applications for the next cohort of students for the Marine Energy Graduate Student Research Program.

Illustration (Courtesy of Curtis Rusch; US Department of Energy)

Previously only open to doctoral students, the program is now accepting applications from all graduate-level (master’s and doctoral) students for the first time, according to US DOE.

Funded by WPTO and administered by ORISE, the program is open to full-time graduate students with a marine energy-focused research thesis and/or dissertation at a US institution.

The program is designed to advance students’ theses by providing access to the expertise, resources, and capabilities available at DOE offices, national laboratories, industry, and other approved facilities where the student will conduct part of their research.

More specifically, the participants in the program will conduct research at both the academic institution and at an external hosting facility carrying out research in marine energy and supporting the research plan submitted at the time of application.

Hosting facility may be a government research facility, industry site (including but not limited to technology developers), universities, or other facility approved by WPTO as a host facility.

Applications for the program are due December 2, 2022, with more details – including application components, proposed research plan requirements, stipend, and benefits – available on the program website.

The US DOE’s Office of Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (EERE) and WPTO conducts early-stage research and development (R&D) to strengthen the body of scientific and engineering knowledge supporting industry efforts to develop new technologies that increase the US hydropower and marine energy.