Energy, Climate, and Technology Policy

Applications for the 2025-2026 fellowship cycle are closed.

Fellows will contribute to our ongoing research projects on energy policy, climate policy, climate finance, and energy technology innovation. Current topics of interest include policy options to scale emerging clean energy technologies; pathways and policies for deep decarbonization; the interactions between policies and technologies as we move toward a decarbonized energy system; the role of artificial intelligence in next generation energy systems; and the tensions and the development and deployment of biofuels.

Research Areas for 2025-2026:

Energy Innovation and Decarbonization Policy for the United States and China

The project’s broad goal is to understand the interactions between policies and technologies as the world tries to decarbonize the energy system while addressing concerns about security, reliability, equity, and cost. Fellows will conduct research that provides actionable insights to policymakers, companies, investors, and society on how technology and policy innovation can accelerate progress towards a decarbonized energy system. We are interested in proposals exploring large-scale carbon management, decarbonizing transportation, carbon capture and sequestration, renewable hydrogen, other renewables, energy efficiency in buildings, geopolitical considerations, and the operation and modernization of the electricity grid. Fellows will support our research on policy implementation and regulatory options to scale new clean energy technologies in the United States and China; research should focus on technologies that have the potential to make a significant contribution to national efforts to reach a goal of complete decarbonization of the economy by 2050-2060.

Agriculture and Energy Policy

How can government policies overcome the obstacles to greater production of biofuels? What biofuel use cases are most promising? Can biofuels play a greater role in sectors such as shipping, heavy trucking, and aviation? We are seeking proposals that assess the technological and carbon-abatement opportunities for biofuels as well as the impact of greater biofuels production and usage on direct and indirect environmental, agricultural, and social externalities. We will also consider proposals that assess the supportive infrastructure needed to facilitate expanded biofuel usage. Research proposals should address these questions from a US or developing country perspective.

The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Energy and Climate

Although Artificial intelligence (AI) offers novel tools for addressing a wide range of energy and climate topics, it simultaneously presents new challenges concerning its energy and resource usage, data demands,  transparency, and potential energy-security implications. How should stakeholders approach AI in the context of energy and climate policymaking? How are AI’s energy-, land-, and water-resource needs projected to change over the coming decades? To what extent can regulations and algorithmic improvements mitigate these challenges? What does “ethical AI” look like in the context of rapidly evolving climatic and environmental conditions? We are seeking fellows with experience in technology policy, electricity policy, resource policy, and/or engineering to explore the policy considerations surrounding the intersection of AI and climate change.

Private Capital to Climate Finance

We are seeking fellows to join our Climate Finance Research Initiative, a project focused on developing innovative mechanisms to mobilize private capital for climate-related investments in emerging markets and developing economies. The initiative aims to disentangle climate finance from development finance at the project level, creating pathways for private investors to fund climate benefits without compromising local development goals. The central research questions are as follows:

• How can the costs and risks of climate and development benefits be effectively disentangled at the project level?
• What financial structures and mechanisms can be implemented to attract global investors to fund climate benefits while ensuring local development needs are met?
• What role can carbon markets and other global financing mechanisms play in providing returns to global investors for climate benefits in EMDEs?

The project seeks fellows with expertise in infrastructure finance, climate finance, or creating large-scale markets for carbon credits. Ideal candidates will have experience in structuring, negotiating, and executing transactions from a legal, financial, and/or investment banking perspective.

Expectations

Fellows are expected to work in collaboration with each other and with our affiliated faculty and staff. They are also encouraged to engage with associated research teams at other Harvard schools and other institutions.

Stipend

Fellows are provided with a stipend, office space, and some support for research expenses, including travel. Postdoctoral fellows are eligible for Harvard benefits, including health insurance; predoctoral fellows and fellows who received their PhD more than five years ago may receive full or partial reimbursement for health insurance premiums. Interested candidates are encouraged to apply for other sources of funding. All applicants should clearly indicate on their application form whether they are seeking full or partial funding and indicate other potential funding sources.

Application Requirements

• CV/ Resume
• Research statement (3-5 pages) that clearly states:
  • The research question/topic of interest
  • The topic’s relevancy to the current policymaking landscape at a regional, national, and/or international level 
  • Planned outputs (papers, conference presentations, etc.) from the project
  • A project plan that outlines how the work will be completed, required resources, and rough timelines 
• Writing sample (less than 50 pages)
  • Should be one published or unpublished piece written by the applicant (co-authored pieces not accepted) in English that will demonstrate his/her English-language writing ability
  • Can be a journal article, book chapter, dissertation chapter, white paper, etc. you have produced in your field
• Contact information for 3 recommenders submitting letters on your behalf