EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES
Collaboration. Engagement. Networking.
Led by expert researchers, our programs in grid resilience, disaster planning, and climate adaptation focus on enhancing collaboration, engaging communities, and sharing knowledge. We empower trainees, industry collaborators, Indigenous community partners, and future innovators. By promoting a diverse and inclusive workforce, we prepare individuals to confront the evolving challenges of climate resilience in their communities.
OUR PROGRAMS
Undergraduate Fellowship Program
Our summer program mentors the next generation of interdisciplinary researchers shaping climate-resilient power grids. Through this fellowship, up to 10 students from member institutions engage in immersive activities including short courses, research tutorials and training, webinars, and peer exchange sessions. Through collaboration with academic and industry leaders, fellows receive unparalleled experience researching and developing market-ready solutions. Fellows also receive a travel scholarship to attend our prestigious annual WIRED Annual Symposium. Open to undergraduate students from all majors.
Climate-Resilient Grid Short Courses
Open to university students; community members; and engineering, climate and atmospheric science, forestry, emergency planning, and community planning professionals. Our Interdisciplinary short courses—created by our affiliates and partners—bridge knowledge gaps and introduce cutting-edge innovations in climate science and power grids. We prioritize understanding accessibility and inclusion in energy resilience. We're exploring tailored certificate programs for undergraduate and graduate students at affiliate universities.
Research Tutorials
Designed to introduce affiliated partners to topics outside of their expertise, develop a common language across disciplines, and build the foundation for convergence research. These online interdisciplinary research tutorials are available on demand. Our experts also help connect affiliates with supportive professional development courses available across our various partner institutions.
WIRED Student Highlight
The WIRED Student Highlight series celebrates the outstanding contributions of students across our global research community. Each feature showcases a student’s unique journey, research focus, and impact on advancing grid resilience. From data-driven innovations to interdisciplinary collaboration, these highlights offer a glimpse into the next generation of energy leaders. Through storytelling and science, our students are shaping a more adaptive, reliable, and equitable energy future.
New highlights are shared on the 10th and 20th of each month—be sure to check back regularly to meet the brilliant minds behind WIRED!
November 10, 2025
Sarah Sami Khan
Sarah Sami Khan is a PhD student at University of Utah, working to make the grid more proactive and resilient. Her research spans wildfire risk modeling, data-driven decision frameworks, and international energy systems. Through WIRED and GRSG, she blends science and storytelling to make resilience research impactful and accessible. Away from her research, you may find her enjoying thrill rides at amusement parks or reading novels by the ocean, she finds inspiration in dynamic systems—both natural and engineered.
November 10, 2025
Hollis Belnap
Hollis Belnap is a PhD student at University of Utah, where she focuses on distribution system and distributed energy resource (DER) modeling, operation, and planning. Her work emphasizes renewable energy integration to enhance grid and community resilience, particularly in response to extreme events such as wildfires and heatwaves. Outside of the lab, she spends her time in the nature doing anything outdoor whether exploring the great nature of Utah or taking her sweet puppy on a walk.
Commitment to Accessibility and Inclusion
Through fellowships, research roles, webinars, and our annual meeting, we engage with and empower the next generation to make an impact on and drive change in power grid resilience.
MEMBER UNIVERSITIES
