19/08/2024 | Press release | Distributed by Public on 19/08/2024 17:29
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Science Foundation (NSF) today announced the second cohort of geothermal interns in the NSF INTERN program. Through this collaboration-the second activity coordinated under the NSF-DOE Memorandum of Understanding-a diverse group of 24 students will work with geothermal companies, national laboratories, or state agencies on projects that advance geothermal technologies. Work conducted under this internship program will support the goals of DOE's Enhanced Geothermal Shotâ„¢, which aims to bring enhanced geothermal systems (EGS) to Americans nationwide and reduce the cost of EGS by 90% by 2035 and will also advance low-temperature geothermal applications like district-scale heating and cooling.
"Geothermal offers enormous potential to transform our energy landscape, so we are excited to support these students as they explore careers in this growing industry that will need their skills and expertise," said Jeff Marootian, principal deputy assistant secretary for energy efficiency and renewable energy at DOE. "Partnering with the National Science Foundation to prepare the next generation of geothermal scientists and engineers is a smart and valuable investment in our nation that will yield meaningful returns for decades to come."
"The NSF INTERN program offers invaluable on-the-job training and professional development for science and engineering graduate students, and, through this partnership with DOE, more U.S. students will be prepared to advance geothermal technologies and our clean energy future," said Dr. Susan Margulies, NSF assistant director for engineering.
The students selected for this second Geothermal INTERN cohort represent 17 colleges and universities nationwide, including two Hispanic-Serving Institutions and four affiliated with NSF's Established Program to Stimulate Competitive Research (EPSCoR) program, as well as an array of ethnic or cultural backgrounds and academic disciplines. INTERN participants are supported through supplements to current NSF awards.
Established in 2017, the NSF INTERN program provides non-academic research internships for close to 300 graduate students per year. These internships can be up to six-months long and provide graduate students with the opportunity to acquire core professional competencies and skills in a wide range of sectors in the U.S. economy. The NSF INTERN program encourages the participation of graduate students from groups that are underrepresented in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics. With joint support from DOE and NSF, the Geothermal INTERN opportunity is expected to support additional students in fiscal year 2025.
The awarded institutions and participants' host organizations and projects are:
More information about the Geothermal INTERN opportunity is available on GTO's INTERN webpage and on NSF's website.