Schneider Sustainable Energy Fellowships
In this short but powerful video from 2013, renowned climate scientist Stephen Schneider, reflects on the state of climate change and its urgency.
Through the Schneider Sustainable Energy Fellowships program, Stanford students work at leading U.S. nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) in the sustainable energy field. Fellows spend a summer quarter or one year tackling the world’s economic, environmental, social, and technical challenges associated with harnessing energy resources to deliver energy services.
The program is named in honor of Stephen H. Schneider (1945-2010), an internationally renowned expert on climate science and a leader in promoting solutions to address climate change. Stephen Schneider pioneered interdisciplinary research and policy analysis that underpinned many influential climate science publications, including the first four annual reports of Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change. For 18 years he served as a professor at Stanford University, where he had a lasting impact on countless students and alumni.
Eligibility
The Schneider Fellows program is open to currently enrolled undergraduate and graduate students. Fellows commit to working 12 weeks for the summer program or one year at their host NGO. Generally, summer fellowships begin in June and the one-year fellowships begin in September.
The NGOs will receive and screen candidate applications. There are no limits to the number of fellowships to which applicants may apply.
Information Sessions
Upcoming sessions
Come to a joint Schneider Summer Fellowship and Shultz Energy Fellowships information session on Tuesday, January 13, 2026 from 12-1pm (lunch provided) at Y2E2, 382.
Summer Quarter Program
Fellows receive a stipend of $11,500 for a 12-week summer fellowship plus additional funding of up to $1,500 for fellowship-related travel. The summer program is co-sponsored by the Haas Center for Public Service and the Precourt Institute of Energy.
Program contact: Valerie Chow (vychow@stanford.edu)
California Forward - 2 positions
- Fellowship 1: Industrial (R)Evolution Fellow
- Fellowship 2: Carbon Accounting Fellow
Climate Cabinet Education - 2 positions
- Fellowship 1: Data Center Fellowship
- Fellowship 2: Transportation Fellowship
Environmental Defense Fund - 9 positions
- Fellowship 1: Methane Activity Data
- Fellowship 2: Livestock Methane Reduction
- Fellowship 3: Mesopelagic Fisheries Ecology
- Fellowship 4: Community Air Monitoring
- Fellowship 5: Climate Science & Communication
- Fellowship 6: Voluntary Carbon Pricing
- Fellowship 7: Economics Research
- Fellowship 8: Agriculture & Water Communications
- Fellowship 9: Japan Fisheries & Oceans
Natural Resources Defense Council - 7 positions
- Applicants can rank up to three positions on the NRDC Schneider application:
- Fellowship 1: Equitable Climate Action in Colorado
- Fellowship 2: Power Sector Policy Analysis
- Fellowship 3: Innovation in Decarbonizing Industrial Technologies
- Fellowship 4: Chemicals Industry Advocacy
- Fellowship 5: State Industrial Decarbonization Policy
- Fellowship 6: State Building Electrification Analysis
- Fellowship 7: Data Centers and Equity & Community Partnerships
Rewiring America - 1 position
RMI - 2 positions
Students can choose to apply to up to two focus areas at RMI:
- Finance / Accounting
- Policy Innovation and Impact
- Sustainable Buildings and Design
- Urban and Community Engagement
- Sector Research and Insights
- Data Analytics and Visualization
- Technology Systems and Solutions
- Project and Operations Management
- Media Relations and Communications
Union of Concerned Scientists - 2 positions
- Ensuring a Just and Equitable Transition to Clean Energy in the United States (2 Fellows)
U.S. Climate Alliance - 2 positions
- Fellowship 1: Research and Analysis Fellow
- Fellowship 2: Climate Policy Fellow
U.S. Green Building Council - 3 positions
- Fellowship 1: Technical Development Fellow
- Fellowship 2: Product Management Fellow
- Fellowship 3: Public Policy Fellow
Meet our fellows
One-Year Program
Fellows work at a Natural Resource Defense Council (NRDC) office for one year, tackling the world’s economic, environmental, social, and technical challenges associated with harnessing energy resources to deliver energy services. Fellows receive a competitive salary with benefits as an employee of the NRDC. Apply for the 2026 Schneider One-Year Fellowship and review the 3 open roles via SOLO. For more information, see the One-Year Schneider Fellowship program page.
Program contact: Ben Weissman (benidw@stanford.edu)
NRDC - 3 positions
- Buildings Schneider Fellow - Climate & Energy Department
- Oil & Gas Schneider Fellow - Environmental Health Department
- Toxics Schneider Fellow - Environmental Health Department
FAQs
Yes! You can apply to any of the opportunities that interest you and seem like a potential fit. If you apply to opportunities at multiple organizations, you will need to submit application materials for each opportunity. Review the application requirements and process for each opportunity as they may vary.
Yes! However, if you are offered both a summer and year-long fellowship, you will only be able to accept one of the opportunities.
If you have already engaged in a summer Schneider Fellowship experience you will have lower priority for the current summer program. You can apply, and be fully considered, for a year-long opportunity regardless of whether you have previously completed a summer fellowship experience.
Summer opportunities: Recommendation letters are NOT required for the summer fellowship opportunities, but you may be asked to provide the name and contact information of one reference. References will only be contacted if the host organizations require additional information about your application. References can include Stanford faculty, staff, lecturers, graduate teaching assistants (for undergraduates), residence fellows as well as former employers or internship supervisors.
Yearlong opportunities: Two letters of recommendation are required. One should be an academic reference–feel free to ask faculty, lecturers, graduate teaching assistants, etc. from Stanford or from a previous institution. Your second letter should be a professional reference: former and/or current employers, internship supervisors, principal investigators, residence fellows.
For both opportunities: Peers should not serve as references or recommenders. Best advice is to select someone who knows you best and can speak to your candidacy for the fellowship opportunity. Be sure to ask them early and give them plenty of time to submit your recommendation letter by the deadline.
If your fellowship application requires a writing sample (not all organizations require this), plan to include a 3-5 page piece you have completed for a past course or work experience. If the piece is related to the sustainable energy arena that is ideal, but not required. A policy-related piece would also be appropriate to submit.
All submitted applications that are fully completed will be sent directly to our partner organizations just after the application deadline. Each fellowship supervisor will review all applications and determine interviews and final selections.
Fellowship supervisors will evaluate the submitted applications and conduct interviews for selected applicants in February. Final selections will be made and students are notified by March.
Application numbers for each fellowship opportunity do vary from year to year, but overall it is a popular program since all degree levels can apply. We do encourage all interested students to apply and to submit thoughtful application materials. Since the number of fellows selected each year is limited, we encourage students to consider applying to other related campus opportunities as well. Other opportunities to consider include:
Graduate & Undergraduate summer opportunities:
- Shultz Energy Fellowships (Precourt, Bill Lane Center, Stanford in Government)
- energyStartup Internships & Energy Impact Fellowship (TomKat Center for Sustainable Energy)
- Partnerships for Climate Justice in the Bay Area (PCJ in the Bay) Summer Fellowships (Haas Center)
Undergraduate summer opportunities:
- Environment & Policy Internships (EPIC) (Woods Institute, SIG)
- Earth Systems Public Service Fellowship (Haas Center)
- Bill Lane Internship (Bill Lane Center for the American West)
- Public Service Projects Fellowship (Haas Center)
Opportunities for graduating students:
- Community Impact Fellowship (Haas Center)
- John Gardner Public Service Fellowship (Haas Center)
To explore additional energy-related opportunities visit Explore Energy.
Fellows do not receive tax forms from Stanford for their summer stipends and are responsible for paying and filing for all applicable taxes. Financial Aid's tax information page and the Mind Over Money program may be helpful resources. Graduate students can review these FAQs for Grad Students with funding. If you are an international graduate student, your Schneider summer stipend may be subject to tax withholding.