MITEI works with the MIT Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP) to support the participation of undergraduates in energy research and to encourage undergraduate interest in the energy field. MITEI UROPs can be conducted in any academic department or interdisciplinary laboratory.
MITEI UROP funding is provided by individual donors and by members of the MIT Energy Initiative, including individual Affiliate Members with a particular interest in supporting undergraduate research.
MITEI’s Affiliate Member Program contributes to a critical link in the energy innovation chain — the pairing of MIT’s world‐class research teams with innovators in industry who will be responsible for moving many of the products of this collaboration into the energy marketplace. Most importantly, it provides key focus, research opportunities and critical funding for the next generation of energy technologists.
This summer, 16 undergraduate researchers were supported by MITEI members and donors to work on energy-related projects. Activities included developing organic materials for solar cells, modeling the performance of MIT’s battery electric vehicle, estimating cost curves for new natural gas sources, and more.