Tomorrow’s Leaders

Developing energy policy experts. The Kleinman Center continues to offer a variety of resources and opportunities for students at every academic level, from undergraduates to doctoral candidates. This year, we connected with students newly exploring energy topics and those deeply engaged in energy research and policy design.

From our research grant program that supports innovative projects to our certificate program that supports career advancement, we provide a home on Penn campus for all students interested in energy policy.

In the Classroom

Graduate students interested in energy policy gathered for Kleinman Center professor Shelley Welton’s class “Introduction to Energy Policy.” Several of these students were pursuing our Certificate in Energy Management and Policy.

2023-2024 Kleinman Center Courses

ENMG 5020: Introduction to Energy Policy
ENMG 5120: European Energy Security and Sanctions Policy
ENMG 5030: Topics in Energy Policy: Carbon Capture and Sequestration
ENMG 5100: Societal Grand Challenges at the Interface of Technology and Policy
ENMG 5300: Energy Justice

These courses help create the foundation for our Certificate in Energy Management and Policy. Open to all Penn graduate students, our certificate provides students a respected credential built on targeted coursework.

Undergraduate Climate and Energy Seminar

In the spring, a select group of undergraduate students joined us in the classroom for our annual seminar series. Students gathered every other week for lunchtime discussions with energy scholars like Parrish Bergquist, assistant professor of political science, and William Braham, professor of architecture.

Beyond the Classroom

Shrey Mehta works in his office at IEA headquarters in Paris -- with the Eiffel Tower visible from his office window. — Shrey Mehta, this year’s Kleinman Birol fellow, sits in his office at IEA headquarters in Paris. This is one of several annual fellowships that we offer.

Environmental studies master student Shrey Mehta (SAS ’25) was this year’s Kleinman Birol Fellow, spending the summer at the International Energy Agency (IEA). The fellowship, designed by IEA Director and 2016 Carnot Prize Winner Fatih Birol, welcomes a Penn student to Paris headquarters for research and mentorship.

Mehta’s work focused on electricity systems, markets, and policies, with an emphasis on decarbonization. His writing is included in a recent report, where he is listed as a contributing author.

“This role offers an incredible opportunity to work alongside leading experts and contribute to important research and analysis that influence global energy policies,” said Mehta.

About Our Fellowships

Inspiring Writers

In our fall blog competition, students submitted entries on the topic of energy shifts. We asked: what changes in energy policy have you witnessed during your lifetime? We selected two winners. Chemical and biomolecular engineering Ph.D. candidate Sam Layding composed a written blog about how AI can provide a new approach for using polymers for carbon emissions reductions.

Economics major Benjamin Chen (SAS ’25) composed an audio blog on the topic of the corporate disclosure law. Chen was invited to our podcast studio, where he worked alongside Energy Policy Now host and producer Andy Stone to create a final recording. This audio blog reached our podcast audience of several thousand listeners.

It’s tremendous to see the growth at the Kleinman Center since the early days of the Energy Management and Policy program when I was on campus.
Rob RitchiE, BSE & MSE (MEAM) & ENMG certIFICATE, 2014