The Szilagyi Energy Breakthrough Fellowships are made possible through the generous support of Gary and Tammy Szilagyi. These fellowships for continuing graduate students are intended as seed funding for new energy breakthrough ideas leading to potential commercialization.

Nominations for the 2022-2023 academic year are closed.

These highly competitive awards recognize "out of the box" thinking and are intended to provide fellows with an opportunity to explore energy breakthrough ideas that they otherwise could not explore. The Institute intends to name one student per academic year. The award provides $20K in discretionary funds to be used solely in support of the proposed research project. The funds can be used to cover any of the following expenses during the fellowship year: stipend, tuition/fees, travel, and/or supplies and recharges. The annual stipend total is limited to 1 quarter of stipend support (no more than $10K). The financial plan is made by the nominee at the time of application and is solidified with the nominee's graduate advisor and with IEE after selection. Additional fellowship benefits include participation in select Institute events, including meetings with select visiting speakers.

It is required that fellows give a short presentation on their research progress during the academic year, and submit a final 4-5 page report within 30 days following the fellowship period. Awardees are selected by a committee comprised of the Solutions Group Heads, Institute Director, and Associate Director.

Eligibility Criteria:

  1. Continuing graduate students only (not incoming)
  2. Submission of proposal in approved format by advertised deadline, including endorsement from Ph.D. advisor (signature)
  3. Proposed research project must be related to energy efficient technologies