The MIT Energy Initiative
The MIT Energy Initiative (MITEI), established in September 2006, is an Institute-wide initiative designed to help transform the global energy system to meet the needs of the future and to help build a bridge to that future by improving today's energy systems.
MITEI's Research Program
The MITEI interdisciplinary research program focuses on the following:
- Transformations: Developing clean alternative energy sources to replace conventional fuels.
- Global Systems: Multi-disciplinary research and analysis of global systems that integrate energy policy design and technology development.
- Innovations: Improving how we produce, distribute, and consume conventional energy sources.
- Tools: Developing fundamental eneaboling or transformational tools and concepts to meet global energy needs.
Through its sponsored research programs, MITEI pairs MIT's world-class research teams with leaders in the energy industry that will be responsible for moving the products of this collaboration into the marketplace at large scale. These collaborations give MITEI a "real-world" interdisciplinary research focus on developing technologies to address multiple energy challenges; delivering energy products that can be deployed at scale; and providing energy products and services in complex political, legal and regulatory environments. More information about MITEI research at: http://web.mit.edu/mitei/.
MITEI UROPs
MITEI UROP funding is available during the summer to support undergraduates in any department who are undertaking energy-relevant research. Energy UROPs are occasionally listed on our website, but most energy UROPs result from students contacting faculty directly. (Visit the research section of the MITEI website for information on current energy research at MIT.) UROP projects are selected for funding through a competitive process. Proposals should identify clear goals, methods, implications, and a work plan, and students must specify the faculty member with whom they will work. Please contact the MITEI Education Office directly with your funding request, or with any other questions you may have.
Proposals for Summer 2011 funding are due on March 11, 2011. MITEI UROP funding is provided by private donors and by members of the MIT Energy Initiative, including Founding Member BP and individual Affiliate Members with a particular interest in support undergraduate research.
MITEI also coordinates two other UROP programs:
- Campus Sustainability UROPs offered in conjunction with the Environmental Programs Office, give undergraduates a chance to be involved in research while also contributing to programs that reduce the energy and resource footprint of the MIT campus. Funding is provided for students to work with both a faculty supervisor and an operations advisor on a project that examines energy use, energy production, water use, resource use, recycling, transportation or any of a variety of campus sustainability topics.
- Martin Family UROPs are sponsored by the Martin Family Foundation in conjunction with the Martin Family Society of Fellows for Sustainability, which supports advanced doctoral students pursuing sustainability research. Martin Family UROPs work with individual Martin Graduate Fellows working on sustainability research. These placements may be in any of a wide variety of science, engineering, social science or humanities fields. For more information on current Martin research areas, review the Martin Fellows profiles at the Martin Fellowship website http://mit.edu/mitei/lfee/fellowships/index.html.
