November 25, 2020

Clean Energy Bridge to Research (CEBR) is a summer research program sponsored by the University of Washington (UW) Clean  Energy Institute (CEI). It supports a select group of undergraduates and community college teachers to participate in authentic research in solar, energy storage, and grid technologies under the mentorship of UW’s world-class faculty and graduate students. Please see the attached flyer CEBRreuflyer2021. The CEBR program is open to U.S. citizens or permanent residents.  

Full Research Session / June 21-August 20, 2021 

For: Students who have completed their first or second year of  college 

A nine-week immersive research project in a single lab leading to an abstract and poster. This session provides a stipend of $5,000,  on-campus housing, $600 for food, and a $500 travel allowance.  

Research Experience For Teachers / June 21-July 30, 2021 

A six-week session designed for 2-year community college teachers who have the goal of integrating clean energy research into their curriculum. This session provides a stipend of $6,000. 

The Clean Energy Institute invites undergraduate students and community college teachers to apply for a research experience at the University of Washington in Seattle. 

Program overview 

Participating students will have the opportunity to explore research that has the potential to revolutionize the field of clean energy. CEBR is a  multidisciplinary program offering research experiences in a variety of scientific disciplines including chemistry, chemical engineering, physics,  materials science and engineering, and electrical engineering.  

Participants may select research projects across a broad range of topics and research areas. Students can choose to work on the theory that drives the development of new molecules for trapping solar energy,  new electrode materials, and chemistry for batteries, or models for grid management of renewable energy. Other labs work on integrating these new materials into devices at both the nano- and macro-scale.  

Students and community college teachers will also participate in CEBR seminars, social activities, and field trips that provide them with networking and learning opportunities. They may join other enrichment and outreach activities sponsored by the Clean Energy Institute designed to acculturate the student and contextualize the CEBR experience within the field of clean energy and, more broadly, within science and engineering. These activities include technical content and career seminars, as well as workshops designed to teach students how to effectively present scientific research. Some students may be eligible to receive academic credit and be provided with the opportunity to attend professional conferences to share their work and learn from others.  

By the end of the summer, students will be familiar with lab research and the technical, social, and cultural skills necessary to succeed in industry and academia. Students research activities may include literature search, experimental design, bench work, lab notebook management, mathematical modeling,  instrumental characterization, computer/software control and analysis, and lab safety. They will also develop  communication, organization, and interpersonal skills. 

Expectations of CEBR participants 

Full Summer Research Session: Students are expected to work in their designated laboratory 40 hours  per week for 9 weeks and complete an academically appropriate research project designed in conjunction with their advisor. By the end of the nine-week session, students are expected to complete an abstract or summary of their work, a poster, and a presentation. Other assignments may be required.  

Research 360 students are affiliated with local community colleges and will continue their research at their home institution during the academic year. 

Research Experience For Teachers: Community college teachers will conduct laboratory research with the goal of creating curricula that they can use at their institution to prepare students for clean energy content and research.