About the Position
The Stanford Energy Postdoctoral Fellowship identifies, develops, and connects the next generation of energy leaders spanning science, engineering, policy, and economics. Up to 10 fellows are selected annually for a 3-year interdisciplinary fellowship, each mentored by at least two Stanford faculty from different departments plus SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory and Carnegie Science. Applications open July 1, 2026.
Research Areas
Solar EnergySolar EnergyPhotovoltaic cells, solar thermal systems, and concentrated solar power. Covers cell efficiency improvements, perovskite and tandem architectures, and utility-scale deployment.Wind EnergyWind EnergyOnshore and offshore wind turbine design, aerodynamics, and wind farm optimization. Includes floating offshore platforms and grid-scale variability management.HydrogenHydrogenGreen hydrogen production via electrolysis, storage, transport, and fuel cell applications. Central to decarbonizing heavy industry, shipping, and long-distance transport.Energy Storage & BatteriesEnergy Storage & BatteriesLithium-ion, solid-state, and flow batteries for grid-scale and mobile applications. Critical for smoothing renewable variability and enabling full electrification.Smart GridsSmart GridsDigital infrastructure for intelligent power distribution, demand response, and distributed generation. Includes grid cybersecurity and real-time balancing.Energy EfficiencyEnergy EfficiencyBuilding envelopes, industrial process optimization, heat pumps, and demand-side management. The fastest and cheapest lever for reducing total energy consumption.Carbon CaptureCarbon CaptureCapturing CO₂ from industrial point sources and directly from the atmosphere. Covers DAC, BECCS, geological storage, and utilization pathways.Fusion EnergyFusion EnergyPlasma confinement via tokamak, stellarator, and inertial approaches toward commercial fusion power. Offers the potential for limitless, clean baseload energy.