Student Experience
As a research organization, the Center is fortunate to work with motivated and well-qualified students. The graduate students have high levels of responsibility and carry out large portions of the effort, under supervision of PhD researchers. This brings creative new minds to the research and development effort. At the same time, we are training the next generation of professionals -- they study the theory, work with industry, are involved in writing law and implementing policy, teach, give demonstrations and lectures about new clean technologies, and sometimes write draft law or advance new policies. They are learning the science, engineering and policy--and working within the economy and the political process--to build a carbon-free society for the future. Below they describe some of their experiences with the Center...
“The V2g project has given me a chance to draw from university research, carry these ideas outside the academic world, and work with industry partners in an exciting field. I have gotten the opportunity to work on new technologies which have the potential to revolutionize the whole transportation paradigm and the chance to work on an interdisciplinary field that took me outside of my immediate comfort zone.”
- Jon Lilley, PhD Student
“Working for the Center, I was given responsibilities quickly and felt very involved quite early on. I jumped right into working on a large grant and was able to learn through experience rather than strictly through course work. Just six weeks after starting with the Center, I was included in the group of Center researchers at a press event, sitting across the table from the President of the University, the management team of a global wind power manufacturer, and the Governor of Delaware.”
- Blaise Sheridan, Masters student
“Doing research in cutting edge energy fields forces you to interact with industry experts because there is little or no previous literature on which to rely. Things are happening fast in this field, you can’t wait for reports or other experiments. As a consequence we get to do these things ourselves. We have direct interaction with lawmakers and law making. We are not responding to a bill that passes, but actually participating as an expert in the process. In just a couple of years of R&D at the Center, I have gained so much experience in the completely new field of Vehicle-to-Grid power that I have testified before a State Senate committee and answered lawmaker's questions--resulting in a new V2G law being passed. I now am answering questions from industry and the press, and I am a member of two US National committees setting standards for electric car connections.”
- Scott Baker, Masters Student
“In my short time here working for the Center I already feel that I am becoming an expert in multiple disciplines. I am gaining experience not just in policy making but also in fields like engineering and energy systems. I have participated in the passing of an energy bill, demonstrations with an electric vehicle, and the submission of an academic article on the offshore wind resource for publication. I know that I will leave here with an understanding of much more than just marine policy and my specific area of research.”
-Jo Huxster, Masters Student