PhD in Sustainable Energy

What is this program all about? 

The SE PhD is a new, innovative, and interdisciplinary graduate degree program. It is organized around the concepts of energy systems and energy transitions. Our perspective incorporates both the social and technical dimensions of energy systems, which co-evolve over time in the transition to low-carbon energy. 

The program is designed to be completed in five years. It begins with two years of coursework. The core SE PhD curriculum provides a foundation on the technical, social, policy, and economic aspects of energy systems, as well as providing mentoring in interdisciplinary energy research, while electives from across the university add specialized expertise and methodological skills. Students are expected to take their qualifying exams at the end of the second year, defend their research prospectus and begin research in the third year, and complete their research and dissertation writing in years four and five.

How do I know if I'm a good fit? 

Our students come from diverse intellectual backgrounds, including engineering, natural sciences, social sciences, planning, and public policy. 

Here’s what we’re looking for in students, regardless of disciplinary background: 

• Committed to energy. Since it’s a topically focused program, it’s important that students are truly dedicated to the field of energy. Usually this is demonstrated with prior degrees, coursework, research, or work experience.  
• Committed to research. Many students want to make a real-world difference in clean energy. That’s why we’re all here, and we welcome applied research topics. At the same time,  a PhD is fundamentally a research degree. It’s important to articulate in your essay why you want to pursue a research path and demonstrate that you are thinking through potential research ideas.  
• Interested in interdisciplinary approaches. We are looking for students who want to integrate social and technical components in their research. This could take many forms. For example, students might be interested in understanding technical inputs to policymaking, examining stakeholder engagement with infrastructure or renewable energy technologies, incorporating social or policy dynamics into energy system models, or conducting policy-relevant techno-economic analyses. If you come from highly disciplinary background, then it’s especially important to explain in your application materials why you want to pursue interdisciplinary research.  
• Pioneering and self-motivated. The SE PhD was launched in fall 2017. The program’s newness and flexibility bring both opportunities and risks. It’s an awesome fit for students who are driven, self-directed, and searching for an innovative program where they can pursue interdisciplinary research in energy. It’s not as good if you feel more comfortable with established programs and disciplines.

Should I contact faculty prior to applying? 

Yes! It is very important for us to match prospective students with faculty advisors. Sometimes we find a match after a student has already submitted their application, but it’s even better for you to have conversations with faculty prior to applying to discuss research interests and whether they are taking on new students. 

Two places to start looking for potential faculty advisors are the Expert Search from ASU's Global Institute of Sustainability and Innovation and the Graduate College’s list of SE PhD graduate faculty. Note that faculty from any school at ASU are eligible to advise students in the SE PhD program, so the list of potential advisors is not limited to those lists. Faculty receive many inquiries from prospective students, and it comes down to the best fit, so it’s a good idea to do some background research and tailor your inquiries to faculty with relatable research interests. 

Is funding available for PhD students in this program? 

Doctoral students in the School of Sustainability (SOS), including the SOS PhD and SE PhD, are funded in a variety of ways. This includes teaching assistant positions from the school, research assistant positions funded by faculty grants, and external fellowships and scholarships. Since teaching assistant lines may be limited, we encourage prospective students to look into external fellowships that they can apply for before they enroll in the PhD program, e.g., the Fulbright program for international applicants and the National Science Foundation’s Graduate Research Fellowship Program for U.S. applicants.