EmPOWERment students engage in various activities designed to enhance innovation capacity, self-efficacy, and collaborative capacity.

With the program’s 10 learning outcomes in mind, trainees participate in the following activities: 

• Bootcamp: The two-week bootcamp for incoming Ph.D. students serves as a comprehensive introduction to the EmPOWERment program, acquainting students with its objectives, campus environment, and key faculty and staff members. It facilitates a smooth transition into the program and focuses on interdisciplinary research and collaboration. Students form teams need to tackle a problem-based learning challenge, engaging in data gathering, stakeholder interviews, and consultation with faculty. The bootcamp culminates in team presentations, receiving feedback from faculty and peers, ultimately fostering research and collaboration skills. 

• Energy SCOPE: Student Community of Practice and Engagement (SCOPE) is a bi-weekly program organized by the Battelle Center for Science, Engineering, and Public Policy. SCOPE sessions introduced students to industry professionals, fostered networking, and encouraged informal mentorships, enhancing their social development and exploration of non-academic career paths.  

• JOULE: The JOULE energy seminar program is a bi-weekly activity for affiliated faculty members to share their research interests with students and create a space for students to build networking connections and foster a sense of community within the program. Topics covered encompass science, engineering, and public policy. The seminar is designed and implemented to address the need for increased community interaction and engagement for both faculty members and students. These sessions serve as opportunities for faculty members and students to engage in meaningful discussions, exchange knowledge, and explore potential collaborative research endeavors.  

• Academic Coursework: In addition to two mandatory core courses (foundations of data-driven sustainable energy systems and a capstone project course taken pre-candidacy), trainees choose four elective courses from across five different themes: energy systems modeling; information systems; energy, policy, regulation, and economics; energy-business modeling; and energy technology, components, and sub-systems. 

• Mentorship: Each trainee is assigned an internal mentor from the EmPOWERment faculty team, separate from their academic advisor, ensuring consistent support and guidance. Internal mentors support students in navigating the program, offering professional and personal development advice, coaching, evaluation, and goal-setting. Trainees are also paired with external mentors from the energy sector to explore diverse career paths, build professional networks, and discover internship and research opportunities. Annual progress reviews and IDP adjustments ensure students receive the guidance they need to excel in the EmPOWERment program.