This summer, thirty-four University of Chicago students gained first-hand experience in climate careers through the Institute’s Polsky Research Fellowship and Polsky Policy Fellowship programs. Sponsored by the Polsky Energy Transition Leadership Academy, the competitive programs provide full-time, paid opportunities conducting research alongside UChicago faculty or interning with climate policy organizations.
Gaining hands-on research experience
This year’s twenty-four Polsky Research Fellows worked alongside UChicago faculty on research projects investigating today’s greatest climate and energy challenges through a broad range of disciplines — computer science, geophysical sciences, economics, and law, to name a few. Working full-time at labs on campus or remotely, students learned about the realities of a research career and made real progress in cutting-edge projects.
“The opportunity to work with solid-state lithium-ion batteries helped shape my climate career by revealing exactly where my experience can make the most impact,” said Melissa Marquez, a Polsky Research Fellow working with Chibueze Amanchukwu, Neubauer Family Assistant Professor in the Pritzker School of Molecular Engineering. “Recent conversations allowed me to explore how my skills can bridge different areas, whether that is pursuing advanced research in batteries and polymers or pivoting into climate policy. Ultimately, I am confident in my ability to drive meaningful change, regardless of the direction my career takes.”
Engaging in the making of policy
Our first cohort of ten Polsky Policy Fellows, a new program launched in partnership with the Institute of Politics, pursued internships at prestigious climate policy organizations. Working in the federal government, state government, non-profits, and industry, the Fellows gained priceless career experience and saw the inner workings of how policy is made.
“I got to attend an open meeting at FERC, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, which was a really cool experience,” said Sadie Darbro, a Polsky Policy Fellow interning with the Senate Committee on Energy and Natural Resources. “I got to watch the Commissioners discuss issues in real time which brought more context to the regulatory process than just reading about it. Afterward, I also got the chance to meet a few of the Commissioners in person, which was definitely a highlight. It was a great opportunity to see how a federal regulatory agency actually operates day to day, beyond what you’d learn just from studying energy policy.”
Building connections across the field
In addition to gaining valuable practical skills, Fellows were able to learn more about the climate field and explore career options by attending lunchtime talks, off-site tours and industry events. Fellows saw clean energy generation up-close with a tour of Invenergy’s Grand Ridge Energy Center, where they learned about solar, wind and battery technologies and heard about the business of renewable power. They also learned more about startups and physical product innovation at mHUB, a Chicago hub for product development and manufacturing.
“As someone who works mainly in a wet lab setting, it was very cool to see a much more industrial side of innovation and experimentation,” said Adriana Ortega, a Polsky Research Fellow working with Dr. Gokhan Mutlu, Professor of Medicine and Chief of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine.
Fellows also attended the Institute’s annual Foley Lecture, where they heard from Builders Vision Founder Lukas Walton about the intersection of climate philanthropy and finance. They were invited to attend talks from Institute faculty and staff on climate educational and career options, the Energy Transition Network Symposium, and a Climate Hackathon. And, the Fellows were invited to attend the Aspen Ideas: Climate conference in Chicago, where they learned from global climate experts about their areas of expertise and networked with attendees from a variety of industries.
“I appreciated the opportunity to both deepen my interest in the energy industry, as well as hear from top minds in the field about their work contributing to the energy transition,” said Polsky Research Fellow Kavi Patel, who worked with Economics Assistant Professor Eric Richert.
Read bios and reflections from each of our Polsky fellows on the Polsky Research Fellows and Polsky Policy Fellows pages. For information on applications for Summer 2027, join our student newsletter list