Kleinman Birol Fellowship: International Energy Agency

Position Details

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This opportunity is only available to Penn graduate students.

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The International Energy Agency (IEA) is an intergovernmental organization located in Paris. The IEA is committed to advancing security of energy supply, economic growth and environmental sustainability through energy policy co-operation. The IEA operates as an autonomous body within the framework of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD).

The Fatih Birol Fellowship was established in late 2016 by the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy at the University of Pennsylvania to enable graduate students to spend 10-12 weeks working on energy policy-related issues at the IEA. Applicants for the 2026 Birol Fellowship should be highly motivated individuals with experience working on energy, environmental or economic issues.  Because of the range of the IEA’s “all of energy” activities, opportunities exist for candidates with specific expertise in any of the following areas: energy technology and development; coal, power and natural gas; energy access; and energy efficiency.

Supervising Office: Dennis Hesseling, Head of Gas and Coal Markets Division

Under the Energy Markets and Security (EMS) Directorate, the gas team is tasked with preparing the quarterly IEA Gas Market Report, which analyses market developments and recent policies in global gas markets. The report also provides forecasts for gas demand and supply. The internship will cover a range of tasks depending on the skill set and interest of the applicant:

Tasks:

• Research support and written contributions to the IEA’s regular gas market reports and ad hoc publications;
• Contribution to the IEA’s ongoing work on energy and gas supply security in South-East Asia;
• Supporting the development of the IEA’s gas supply and demand models.
• Support with other ad hoc tasks as required.

Background and skills required:

• Knowledge of the energy system and the functioning of gas and power markets (supply-demand dynamics, price formation);
• Proven ability to conduct independent analysis and draft in-depth market reports;
• A working knowledge of Excel;
• A high degree of proficiency in written and spoken English;
• Good problem-solving skills, ability to work independently with periodic guidance;
• Experience in advanced statistical analysis, econometrics and/or coding in Python is a plus.

The intern will have the opportunity to further develop their skills and build on their knowledge and experience while working in an international environment tackling global energy issues.

Stipend 

Fellows will receive $15,000 from the Kleinman Center.

Travel

This is an in-person fellowship which requires travel to Paris, France. The selected student will be responsible for their own airfare, visa arrangements, travel insurance and housing. Penn has many resources to help you plan your trip through Penn Global. Please make sure to register your trip and begin all necessary travel paperwork as early as possible.

Application Instructions

Applications for this fellowship must be submitted to the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy. Interested candidates should apply by submitting an online form with the following information:

• Unofficial Transcript
• Resume
• Writing sample (Applicant should be the first author and the topic does not need to be related to energy, although that is always appreciated)
• A 1-page cover letter