MIT Graduate students from all disciplines please join us on Tuesday January 17 in E19-319 or Thursday January 19 on Zoom for an information session on the first Energy Systems Team Practicum (ESTP).  This pilot program is organized by the MIT Energy Initiative, MIT’s hub for energy research, education, and outreach. Our mission is to develop low- and no-carbon solutions that will efficiently meet global energy needs while minimizing environmental impacts and mitigating climate change.

The Energy Systems Team Practicum is designed to provide a cross-disciplinary group of students the opportunity to work as an interdisciplinary team at various energy companies, government organizations or nonprofits across the globe in order to help them solve energy systems problems.  Students will gain experience in project valuation, working within time/financial constraints, and stakeholder management while getting exposed to challenges that the particular organization faces as it moves through the Energy Transition.

We are seeking inputs from graduate students about the best format of the ESTP that would fit into their course and research schedules.   Would research credit or a stipend be preferred?  Should the ESTP be during the academic year, IAP or summer?  Should the ESTP be full-time on site for four weeks or involve a one-two week intensive on site followed or preceded by a virtual collaboration?

The first ESTP is planned for Spring-Summer 2023 and will involve the following four projects:

Proposing and analyzing new disruptive opportunities in mobility Siting, planning and evaluating the construction of an offshore wind farm Analyzing and proposing the best transition to 100% renewables for power generation Performing a technoeconomic analysis of modular pyrolysis units to produce synthetic aviation fuel (SAF) or synthetic gasoline/diesel for airport vehicles.

We look forward to discussing the best options for participation by teams of graduate students. 

Refreshments will be served during the in-person meeting on Tuesday January 17 in E19-319.

Please register for January 17 or 19 by filling out the survey below:

https://mit.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_6ncL10cAn4rTsY6