Connect with researchers across campus, meet like-minded students, and get published.
About the Seminar
Each year, the Kleinman Center hosts its undergraduate student fellows. This program is designed as a competitive and selective appointment for committed undergraduates. Admitted students are expected to attend 8-10 seminars over the course of the semester at the Kleinman Center for Energy Policy. These sessions provide students with the opportunity to meet and hear from energy researchers as they discuss the findings and policy implications of their recent research.
Please note, the 2025-2026 undergraduate seminar has been moved to the fall semester. We will not have a seminar spring 2026.
Seminar Topics
Lectures and discussions cover a wide range of energy and climate topics, including:
Climate Science and the Carbon Cycle
Energy Efficiency
Energy Markets
Environmental Justice
Environmental Law and Regulation
Environmental Risk Management
Renewable Energy and Storage
Transportation and Urban Planning
Note: Seminar discussions are designed to challenge students to think critically. Students need not have expertise on these topics.
2025 Fall Seminar Speakers
This fall’s seminar series will include presentations from:
Student fellows selected for this seminar have many unique opportunities for both academic and professional development.
Networking. Admitted students learn from many of Penn’s top energy researchers—engaging and networking with presenters and student fellows.
Publishing. Blog posts that students submit at the end of the semester are published on the Kleinman Center website and shared with our growing community of students, faculty, policymakers, and industry experts.
Career Building. This program is an excellent career-building opportunity, helping student fellows develop a deep understanding of energy and climate policy topics. As official members of the Kleinman Center community, student fellows receive a number of ancillary benefits such as occasional opportunities to meet visiting scholars and speakers, advanced notice of Kleinman Center events, and the professional benefits of having an official association with a globally respected energy policy center.
Student Commitments
The Fall 2025 seminar will be held for the entirety of the semester with a total of eight or nine seminar sessions. These sessions are on Wednesdays from 12PM to 1PM. Accepted student fellows are expected to attend all of the seminar sessions. Students must notify Arwen Kozak of any unavoidable absence in advance of the seminar. Students with two or more unexcused absences will be dismissed from the program.
In addition to attending seminar discussions, each student fellow is invited to submit a blog post (~600 words) on an energy or climate topic of their choice by the end of the semester. Student fellows then work with the Kleinman center’s editorial and communications team to publish their blog on the Kleinman Center website.
Applicants do not need to be pursuing a degree related to energy or climate policy and science.Â
Publication Highlights
Past Blog Posts
This year’s insights tackled everything from local public transit funding to clean energy in South America.
Matthew Barotz is a sophomore in the College of Arts and Sciences studying politics, philosophy, and economics with minors in sustainability and data science. Barotz is also a 2025 Undergraduate Student Fellow.
Martina Bulgarelli is an undergraduate student pursuing a dual degree in finance, ESG, and political science. Bulgarelli is also a 2025 Undergraduate Student Fellow.
Elea Castiglione is an undergraduate student studying philosophy, politics, & economics with a concentration in public policy and governance. Castiglione is a 2025 Undergraduate Student Fellow and a research assistant with the Center.
Anjali Dhupam is a second-year in the Huntsman Program studying economics in the Wharton School and international studies in the College. Dhupam is also a 2025 Undergraduate Student Fellow.
Charlotte Fletcher is a fourth-year student, double majoring in international relations and Hispanic studies. Fletcher is also a 2025 Undergraduate Student Fellow.
Vivek Nair is a fourth-year student in the VIPER program pursuing degrees in materials science & engineering and chemistry. Nair is also a 2025 Undergraduate Student Fellow.
Amelia Pilot is a fourth-year student from London in the Vagelos Integrated Program in Energy Research (VIPER) studying physics and material science and engineering. Pilot is also a 2025 Undergraduate Student Fellow.
Ben Sailors is a fourth-year and accelerated master’s student studying materials science and engineering. Sailors is also a 2025 Undergraduate Student Fellow.
Solemei Scamaroni is a first-year student from Houston on track to study philosophy, politics, and economics in the College of Arts and Sciences. Scamaroni is also a 2025 Undergraduate Student Fellow.
Sara Takenaka is an undergraduate student studying chemical and biomolecular engineering with a minor in sustainability and environmental management. Takenaka is also a 2025 Undergraduate Student Fellow.
Tobey Theiding is an undergraduate in the College of Arts & Sciences studying physics with a concentration in business & technology and a minor in French and Francophone studies. Theiding is also a 2025 Undergraduate Fellow.
Tommy Zeng is a fourth-year student studying political science with a concentration in international relations. Zeng is also a 2025 Undergraduate Fellow.
Rachel Zhang is a fourth-year student at Wharton, studying business economics and public policy with a minor in fine arts. Zhang is also a 2025 Undergraduate Fellow.
