DEADLINE EXTENSION TO MARCH 25: New Applicants to the Princeton Energy and Climate Scholars (PECS) Program

Holly P. Welles ・ High Meadows Environmental Institute

PECSThe Faculty Board of Princeton Climate and Energy Scholars (PECS) is seeking applications from talented and highly motivated graduate students throughout the University who are conducting research within the broad area of climate and energy. PECS is designed to enhance the graduate research experience by encouraging students to transcend the boundaries of their fields. PECS fosters a common intellectual adventure.

Since the creation of the group in 2008, PECS has sought a balanced membership across disciplines. However, the social sciences and the humanities have been under-represented. Accordingly, we especially invite students in these areas to apply.

Students nominate themselves. In their self-nominations, applicants should submit two short statements, in at most 250 words each:

  • The applicant should summarize their research topic and its intersections with energy and climate.
  • The applicant should explain how they would contribute to the PECS community, citing any previous extracurricular experiences to demonstrate   leadership and initiative.

Applicants must also provide a letter of recommendation from their primary advisor highlighting their academic qualifications and their capacity for initiative. The selection process is rigorous. Please email your application materials to pecsapp@princeton.edu. Applications are now extended to Friday, March 25, 2016 at 11:59pm.

PECS is largely governed by its student members. Students plan their own meetings. They meet once a month by themselves, over lunch or dinner, to introduce their work to each other. In these informal discussions, they probe topics remote from their own research. The students also have a dinner each month with the PECS Faculty Board where members of the board or visitors to the campus introduce their research.

PECS membership lasts for two years. Students selected in this round will begin their tenure in the late spring of 2016. In the selection process, priority will be given to 2nd and 3rd year Ph.D. students. Generally, first-year applicants are not admitted, although exceptions have been made for outstanding applicants. PECS fellows are eligible to receive up to $1000 to cover approved expenses associated with their graduate research. Funds may be used for a range of purposes, including fieldwork support, travel, conference participation, the purchase of equipment, and costs associated with data analysis and facilities use. In addition, each year PECS scholars undertake a group collaboration.  For example in 2014, PECS scholars selected to conduct a thorough assessment of nuclear fusion and to produce a paper as the final product.

PECS is supported by the Princeton Environmental Institute. For more information on the group, please visit the PECS website. For questions about the application process, please contact Janam Jhaveri or Holly Welles.