Undergraduate Seminar

Climate & Energy Policy Seminar

Connect with researchers across campus, meet like-minded students, and engage with the Kleinman Center.

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 4-6 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, as of 2026-2027, the Undergraduate seminar will be offered in both the fall and spring semesters.

Apply to the Undergraduate Climate & Energy Policy Student Seminar

Applications for the Undergraduate Climate & Energy Policy Student Seminar are now open. Students should apply using this form.

Students may apply using the online application form. Required materials include:

  • A current resume
  • A copy of your unofficial transcript
  • Responses to brief short-answer questions
Apply Now

Applications will be reviewed on a rolling basis, and the final deadline to apply is August 28.

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.

2026 Fall Seminar Speakers

This fall’s seminar series will include presentations from:

  • Heather Boushey
  • Carolyn Kousky
  • Leslie Labruto
  • Nora Todd
  • Jamie van Nostrand
  • And other energy and climate policy experts

Student Opportunities 

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. Students will have the opportunity to submit blog posts to be 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 2026 seminar will be held for the entirety of the semester with a total of five or six seminar sessions. These sessions are on Wednesdays from 12PM to 1PM. Accepted student fellows are expected to attend 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. 

Publication Highlights

Past Blog Posts

Explore insights on a variety of topics from our Undergraduate Seminar Fellows.

Read Student Blog Posts

Fall 2025 Fellows

Phoebe Anagnos

Undergraduate Seminar Fellow
Phoebe Anagnos is a second-year student in the College of Arts and Sciences, majoring in both architecture and earth and environmental science.  Anagnos is also a 2025 Undergraduate Student Fellow.

Aarit Bhatnagar

Undergraduate Seminar Fellow
Aarit Bhatnagar is an undergraduate student studying economics and history. Bhatnagar is also a 2025 Undergraduate Student Fellow. He developed an interest in energy after interning in energy finance and hopes to continue his journey in the energy sector.

Makenna Damhorst

Undergraduate Seminar Fellow
Makenna Damhorst is a third year student in earth and environmental science. Damhorst is also a 2025 Undergraduate Student Fellow. She conducts research with the Clean Energy Conversions Laboratory.

Max Davis

Undergraduate Seminar Fellow
Max Davis is a senior in the College of Arts and Sciences studying philosophy, politics and economics with a minor in sustainability management. Davis is also a 2025 Undergraduate Student Fellow.

Anya Draves

Research Assistant
Anya Draves is an undergraduate student majoring in physics. She is a research assistant with the Kleinman Center and was a 2025 fall undergraduate fellow.

Alexander Kuplicki

Undergraduate Seminar Fellow
Alexander Kuplicki is a third-year student in the Huntsman Program studying operations information and decisions and chinese. Kuplicki is also a 2025 Undergraduate Student Fellow.

Daylia Lian

Undergraduate Seminar Fellow
Daylia Lian is a second year student in the College of Arts and Sciences studying chemistry with minors in sustainability management and energy and sustainability.  Lian is also a 2025 Undergraduate Student Fellow.

Irene Antón Piolanti

Undergraduate Seminar Fellow
Irene Antón Piolanti is from Madrid and plans to major in math and philosophy.  Piolanti is also a 2025 Undergraduate Student Fellow.

Surina Ramoutar

Undergraduate Seminar Fellow
Surina Ramoutar is a senior in the College majoring in environmental studies with a concentration in sustainability & environmental management. Ramoutar is also a 2025 Undergraduate Student Fellow.

Courtney Savage

Undergraduate Seminar Fellow
Courtney Savage is a fourth-year undergraduate at Wharton, studying business analytics and marketing & operations management. Savage is also a 2025 Undergraduate Student Fellow.

Ellery Spikes

Research Assistant
Ellery Spikes is a freshman majoring in Politics, Policy & Economics. She is a research assistant with the Kleinman Center and she was a fall 2025 undergraduate student fellow.

Diego Tobon

Undergraduate Seminar Fellow
Diego Tobon is a second-year student from Tampa, Florida on track to study finance & legal studies at The Wharton School.  Tobon is also a 2025 Undergraduate Student Fellow.

Madeline Tsao

Undergraduate Seminar Fellow
Madeline Tsao is a third-year in the Huntsman Program in international studies and business. Tsao is also a 2025 Undergraduate Student Fellow. 

Cady Wang

Undergraduate Seminar Fellow
Cady Wang is a senior majoring in economics with minors in environmental studies and English literature. Wang is also a 2025 Undergraduate Student Fellow. 

Angela Ye

Undergraduate Seminar Fellow
Angela Ye is a senior studying earth and environmental science with minors in sustainability management and legal studies. Ye is also a 2025 Undergraduate Student Fellow. 

Claire Zhang

Undergraduate Seminar Fellow
Claire Zhang is a fourth-year student in the VIPER dual-degree program pursuing majors in bioengineering and biology. Zhang is also a 2025 Undergraduate Student Fellow.