ARPA-E invites America’s next generation of energy innovators to apply to the ARPA-E Fellows Program. Fellows are typically postdoctoral researchers or recent graduates with strong technical science or engineering backgrounds. Prior experience in energy and/or commercialization is beneficial but not necessary; ARPA-E is looking for smart and motivated scientists and engineers who want to help tackle some of the most pressing and exciting challenge of our time.

Within ARPA-E, the Fellows form an internal think tank focused on identifying and developing new energy paradigms and strengthening existing program areas. During their two-year tenure, Fellows undergo a full-immersion experience in energy technology development, working with entrepreneurs and experts throughout academia, industry, and the national labs to positively impact the future of energy in the United States and world.

Job responsibilities (% of working time):

Independent energy technology development (50%)

• Synthesizing data from multiple sources to identify high-impact energy technology opportunities.
• Reviewing literature.
• Brainstorming with experts.
• Attending and presenting at conferences.
• Performing primary technical and financial analyses, including back of the envelope estimations, deriving scaling relationships, and executing simulations in Mathematica, MATLAB, C++, etc.
• Evaluating market and business opportunities and obstacles.
• Generating both original research papers and area reviews for publication.

Program Director support (30%)

• Supporting existing programs through technical and financial analysis.
• Developing promising future program areas.
• Developing, planning, and executing workshops.
• Reviewing proposals.
• Visiting ARPA-E funded projects to provide on-site support.

Organizational support (20%)

• Organizing the ARPA-E seminar series.
• Building the ARPA-E Fellows program.
• Developing technical content for the ARPA-E Energy Innovation Summit.
• Supporting ARPA-E initiatives.

ARPA-E Fellows do not perform laboratory research and do not directly engage in policy making.

Required qualifications:

• Ph.D. in science or engineering with less than five years of work experience. In rare cases, candidates may be accepted while still working toward their doctorate.
• U.S. Citizenship.
• Aspirations to become a leader in the energy sector (industrial, academic, governmental, etc.).
• Passion for energy technology research and development.
• Interest in working in a multi-disciplinary, fast-paced environment, focused on energy technology research and development.
• Strong analytical and research skills and a demonstrated capacity for creative thinking.
• A distinguished record of scholarship and publication.
• Background in energy and/or commercialization is beneficial but not required.

Employment details:

• Initial term of hire will not exceed two years.
• Duty station is ARPA-E headquarters, in Washington, DC.
• Candidates are hired throughout the year on a rolling admission cycle.
• Fellows receive an independent budget for professional development, travel, and project support.
• Fellows are full-time federal employees and paid a competitive salary depending on experience, and receive full benefits.

To apply:
Applicants should submit a current resume (no more than three pages), along with a one-page statement describing relevant experience and expertise, the current ARPA-E energy technology areas he or she has an interest in investigating, and the proposed energy technology areas ARPA-E is currently not exploring but that he or she might want to research as an ARPA-E Fellow. Applicants should submit application materials to ARPA-E-jobs@hq.doe.gov. ARPA-E will contact candidates of interest for an initial interview.

To see FAQs regarding the Fellows and Senior Fellows Program please click here.

To see more information on the Senior Fellows Program please click here.