ABOUT THE PROGRAM
Training and empowering the next generation.
WIRED Undergraduate Summer Fellowship Program provides up to 5 undergraduate students each year from the United States and Canada with opportunities to immerse themselves in grid resilience, disaster planning, and climate adaptation. Our program offers research opportunities, transformative training, and peer mentorship designed to equip students with the skills, knowledge, and connections needed to build climate-resilient technologies and fortify the power grid. Fellows will work under the guidance of expert faculty and researchers on center activities related to data cyberinfrastructure, use-inspired research, community engagement, and our innovation ecosystem. Through collaboration with academic and industry leaders, fellows receive unparalleled experience researching and developing market-ready solutions.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Answers for Principal Investigators (PIs)
Who can submit project ideas?
What is the program timeline for 2025?
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- PIs must submit projects by March 15, 2025.
- PIs will recruit an undergraduate student of their choice from their respective institution and, when ready, inform the Fellowship Committee to initiate a fellowship offer.
- Funds for the fellowship must be expended by August 31, 2025. The fellowship should occur during the summer term or semester between May and August.
How will fellowship funding be administrated?
PIs whose projects are approved for the fellowship program will receive information via email about funding information.
Where can I learn more about the program?
PIs who have questions about the program can email Marlee Jeppsen at marlee.jeppsen@utah.edu.
Answers for Undergraduate Students/Fellows
What is the WIRED Undergraduate Summer Fellowship Program?
Each year, the program offers a unique opportunity for up to 5 undergraduate students to gain leadership experience and engage in research and training focused on grid resilience, disaster planning, and climate adaptation. Through this program, fellows collaborate with expert faculty and researchers, gaining hands-on experience and contributing to innovative solutions for pressing challenges in the energy sector.
Who should participate in the program?
Undergraduate students enrolled at member universities have the opportunity to participate in the program and be a part of a project conducted at their respective institutions. We welcome undergraduate students of all majors who are passionate about addressing issues related to power grid resilience, disaster preparedness, and climate adaptation. Fellows should demonstrate a strong interest in research, a commitment to learning, and a desire to make a positive impact in their communities and beyond.
Why should I be a fellow?
Fellows will receive $2,500 to work under the guidance of expert faculty and industry leaders, contributing to projects with real-world impact. Fellows build relationships and connections with faculty, researchers, industry partners, and peers. This fellowship will also pay the student fellows to attend the WIRED Annual Symposium in August, where students participate in sessions, network, and engage in hackathons.
What is the fellowship timeline?
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- Deadline for students to apply is March 31, 2025.
- University of Utah Students apply here: 2025 Summer Undergraduate Fellowship Program
- Notification to students will go out by April 10, 2025.
- The fellowship program operates during the summer between May and August, providing fellows with a focused and immersive experience. Exact fellowship dates may vary depending on specific project timelines and the duration of the summer semester/term at their respective institution.
- Deadline for students to apply is March 31, 2025.
Where do fellows work?
Fellows in the WIRED Undergraduate Summer Fellowship Program are hosted at one of our 11 member universities across the United States and Canada. Each fellow will work under the guidance of their associated project's faculty at the hosting university.
Where can I learn more about the program?
Students who have questions about the program, eligibility requirements, and program updates can email the PI of the project directly.
2025 Undergraduate Summer Fellowship Projects
Institution: University of University
PI: Cindy Furse
Project Background:
Our research goal is to assess the feasibility of SSTDR for fault detection and location on power
distribution systems. This includes two major aspects: (1) Connections and cable effects (a study
of how to connect to the cables, evaluation of the impedance and attenuation of power distribution
cables (how much of the test signal can be gotten on/off the cables), and an evaluation of the best
frequency ranges for testing, and (2) Simulation of the expected SSTDR response from a power
distribution system.
Project Objectives:
- Visit Rocky Mountain Power (RMP) to determine feasible connection types. These may
include direct or capacitively/inductively coupled connections (clamp on such as for a non-contact
current meter). They may include temporary or built-in connection points.
- From the connection options identified above, create / build / buy at least one. Test
feasibility. Determine how to test this connection (at RMP, UofU, etc.). Obtain access to or create
this test option.
-Work with the SMART center to create a simulation of SSTDR on a power distribution
system. Use a combination of hardware and software as feasible. Simulate effects of wire lengths
and types (attenuation), multiple branches (reflections), and fault types (broken wires, full and
partial short circuits, trees on lines, etc.).
Dates: May to August 2025
Institution: University of Utah
PI: Deisy Carvalho Fernandes Dixon
Project Background:
This research project aims to develop and study 3D-printed graphene oxide (GO) membranes for
controlled molecular release. Traditional controlled release systems suffer from limited tunability and
inconsistent diffusion rates. By utilizing 3D-printed graphene oxide membranes, the project seeks to
understand how different structural designs influence controlled release performance.
Project Objectives:
- Synthesizing graphene oxide and embedding intercalants (such as Rhodamine B and Citric Acid) into
the material.
- 3D printing the graphene oxide gel into membranes of varying structures and porosities.
- Conducting release experiments by immersing the membranes into deionized water and quantifying
intercalant release rates using UV-Vis spectroscopy (following Beer’s Law).
- Raman spectroscopy is employed to monitor membrane structural integrity and chemical changes
during release.
Dates: May to August 2025
Institution: University of Utah
Project Background: Wildfires are an increasing threat to power systems, necessitating
innovative and practical strategies for resilience. While there are multiple mitigation and
resilience strategies available to utility providers to implement for wildfires, it is not clear which
ones are being adopted on the ground or to what extent. Knowledge on this front can help utility
providers assess their ongoing efforts towards wildfire resilience and make targeted
improvements.
Project Objectives: This project examines which wildfire preparedness, response, mitigation,
recovery and adaptation strategies utility providers within the Western Interconnected Grid are
currently adopting. The overall goal of the project is to assess and improve adoption of wildfire
resilience-based practices among utility providers. There are two specific measurable
objectives:
1. To assess the current adoption of the following wildfire resilience strategies among utility
providers: (i) Grid/Infrastructure Hardening and Design, (ii) Situational Awareness and
Forecasting, (iii) Asset Inspection and Management, (iv) Vegetation Management, (v)
Grid Monitoring and Response; (vi) Emergency Operations Planning and (vii)
Stakeholder and Public Engagement.
2. To assess the current state of practice with regards to shorter-term (wildfire preparedness
and response) and long-term (mitigation, recovery and adaptation) strategies among
utility providers.
Dates: May to August 2025
OTHER STUDENT PROGRAMS
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.
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
