RCEI Clean Energy Fellowship Program
2025 Application Window:
June 2nd, 2025 through July 18, 2025 by 5:00pm EDT
Application instructions are below.
The RCEI Clean Energy Fellowship Program is a prestigious, paid opportunity offered in collaboration with the New Jersey Board of Public Utilities (NJBPU) and Rutgers Office of Climate Action. This fellowship is designed to provide current Rutgers graduate students (see eligibility requirements below) specialized, hands-on experience within the clean energy sector.
Fellowship Descriptions
Fellows will be placed in one of two NJBPU Programs: the Division of Clean Energy or the Office of Federal and Regional Policy.
Division of Clean Energy (DCE)
Office of Federal and Regional Policy (OFRP)
Fellowship Benefits
Eligibility Requirements & Fellowship Responsibilities
Eligibility
To be eligible for the RCEI Clean Energy Fellowship Program, applicants must:
- Be currently enrolled in a Rutgers University graduate program (Master’s or Ph.D.)
- Be pursuing a graduate degree related to one of the following disciplines:
- Applied Energy Economics
- Energy-based Engineering
- Energy Public Policy
- Have a strong academic record and relevant course work
- Have strong communication, research, and organizational skills, and the ability to work effectively both individually and in a team environment
- Be a U.S. citizen OR have appropriate documentation to work in the U.S.
Fellowship Responsibilities
Participants in the fellowship program will:
- Engage actively in NJBPU clean energy initiatives
- Collaborate closely with NJBPU professionals and industry leaders
- Apply academic learning to help develop solutions to practical challenges
- Participate in networking and professional development activities
- Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0 throughout the Fellowship
How to Apply
Submitting your application involves three steps:
- Complete and attach your CV/resume, unofficial academic transcripts, and a personal statement to the online application form.
- Submit the completed online application form, see here for list of all information requested.
- Arrange for three (3) recommenders to email their letters of recommendation directly to cleanenergy@rcei.rutgers.edu.
Applicants will receive an email confirmation once their application packet has been processed. Confirmation of recommendation letters received will be sent via email to applicants and recommenders.
Personal Statement
In 300-500 words, clearly address the following:
- Your motivation for applying to the fellowship
- How your graduate course of study relates to at least one of the following disciplines:
- i) Applied Energy Economics
- ii) Energy-based Engineering, or
- iii) Energy Public Policy
- Your career goals
- How the fellowship aligns with and supports these goals
- Your strengths and qualifications as a candidate
Submit your personal statement (as either a Microsoft Word document or Adobe PDF) attached to your online application.
Letters of Recommendation
Three (3) letters of recommendation are required. Your recommenders should be individuals who can speak directly about your academic qualifications and/or relevant experience for the RCEI Fellowship Program. At least one recommender should be a faculty member, preferably from Rutgers. New or transfer graduate students may use professors from their previous institution.
Letters must be addressed to the "Clean Energy Fellowship Selection Committee" and emailed directly by the recommender (as either a Microsoft Word document or Adobe PDF) to cleanenergy@rcei.rutgers.edu. Recommendation letters submitted by applicants or sent in paper form will not be accepted. Recommendation letters remain confidential between recommenders and the RCEI selection committee.
All recommendation letters must be received by July 18, 2025, at 5:00 pm EDT to be considered. Applicants and recommenders will receive email confirmation once letters are received and processed by RCEI.
Selection Criteria, Timeline, and Compensation
Selection Criteria
Successful candidates will be selected based on:
- Academic performance and relevant coursework (Note: While there is no minimum GPA requirement to apply, selected Fellows usually have a cumulative GPA of 3.2 or higher)
- Demonstrated interest in clean energy topics
- Professional and/or academic recommendations
- Quality and clarity of the personal statement
- Demonstration of strong communication, research, and organizational skills including the ability to excel in self-directed and teamwork.
Application Timeline and Process
- Applications Open: June 2, 2025
- Application Deadline: July 18, 2025, 5:00 pm EDT
- Video interviews: Late July to late August 2025 (selected applicants)
- Selection Notification: Early September 2025
- Fellowship Duration: 13 weeks, starting mid-September 2025
Applicants will receive confirmation emails upon processing their application and receipt of recommendation letters. Recommendation letters remain confidential between recommenders and the RCEI selection committee and cannot be viewed by applicants.
Selected candidates will be contacted via email for an initial video interview. Candidates who successfully complete the first interview will be invited for a second video interview with NJBPU.
Compensation
Participants will receive compensation at an hourly rate of $20 for the fellowship hours completed.
Contact Information
For further inquiries or additional details regarding the RCEI Clean Energy Fellowship Program, please contact cleanenergy@rcei.rutgers.edu.
Fellowship FAQ
