Three years of graduate research assistantship funding is available for a student to study energy transitions in the rural U.S. while completing the Environmental Engineering Science PhD and Humanitarian Engineering and Science certificate at the Colorado School of Mines. The assistantship and PhD coursework will begin in Fall 2023. The successful applicant will have prior experience or strong interest in taking a Science and Technology Studies (STS) approach to energy and will be supervised by Professor Jessica Smith.

Qualifications:

The ideal candidate will have training in social science theories and methods along with BS or MS degrees in biology, chemistry, math, physics, geology, engineering, and other technical fields. MS preferred. EES students tailor a coursework program that best suits their career goals, but must be ready for graduate level coursework in environmental chemistry, chemical fate and transport, and microbial processes, analysis and modeling. Technical pre-reqs include two semesters of college calculus, one semester of physics, two of chemistry, and one in probability/statistics. Prior thesis work and experience working in interdisciplinary settings are strongly preferred. Experience using community-engaged or participatory research methods, and/or experience working on energy transition issues, are strongly desired but not required.

The EES PhD has been admitted to the Western Regional Graduate Program (WRGP/WICHE), a recognition that designates this curriculum as unique within the western United States. An important benefit of this designation is that students who are residents from Alaska, Arizona, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming are given the tuition status of Colorado residents.

Mines is an R1 university committed to the earth, energy, and the environment and consistently ranked among the top engineering colleges in the United States. Mines is located in the heart of Golden, Colorado, at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains. The campus location offers a small-town ambiance with close proximity the Denver metropolitan area. An arid climate and an average 300 days of sunshine per year make the area an ideal place to live, work and play. We seek individuals who value a diverse and inclusive community – offering different perspectives, experiences, and cultures that enrich the educational and work experience. To learn more about Mines visit, https://www.mines.edu.

The priority deadline is December 15. Interested applicants should send a brief letter of interest and their CV via email to Professor Jessica Smith ([email protected]) for feedback prior to formally applying to the university.