Photo by Melina Walling
Shultz Energy Fellowships
Every summer, the Bill Lane Center for the American West offers many opportunities for Stanford undergraduates (including graduating seniors, co-terminal and master's students) to work with organizations throughout the West. Through these internships, students can explore careers in natural history, conservation, ecology, land use, museum curation, resource management, water, energy, literature, policy, politics, and more.
Students who complete any Bill Lane Center internship are also eligible for the public service Cardinal Quarter certification, offered in partnership with the Haas Center for Public Service. Students receive a notation on their transcript after completing all Cardinal Quarter requirements.
The two types of internship offered by the Bill Lane Center are known as the West Internships and the Shultz Energy Fellowships. Visit the West Internship page for more information on this program. Below, learn more about the Shultz Energy Fellowships Program.
Application information and general background for the Shultz Energy Fellowships can be found on the Explore Energy, Precourt Institute for Energy website.
Program History and Goals
Since 2016, the Lane Center has been proud to partner with Stanford’s Precourt Institute for Energy and Stanford in Government to offer full-time paid internships for students to explore energy issues in the American West. Previously known as Stanford Internships in California and the West (SEICW), this program has been renamed the Shultz Energy Fellowship, in honor of former Secretary of State George P. Shultz.
The Shultz Energy Fellowships are open to both undergraduate and graduate students. Host organizations have included the California Air Resources Board, California Department of Water Resources, City of Palo Alto Utilities, Western Energy Interstate Board, California Energy Commission, and more. Read more about the Shultz internship program here.
The goals of this program are to:
- Create an avenue for Stanford students interested in energy to participate in influential, paid internships with energy-related government organizations in the United States.
- Provide municipal, state, regional and federal agencies with highly motivated Stanford students and supporting resources.
- Promote the spirit of public service to Stanford students and encourage them to consider public service positions after graduation.
- Educate students about the many opportunities to inform and shape critical energy policies, whether as public employees or private citizens.
- Build connections between Stanford faculty and students and government policymakers.
Meet past Shultz Fellows and read about their experiences by clicking on the links below.
Nathaniel Ramos spent the summer of 2020 working on a project related to the State Water Project.
During the summer of 2020, Mondee Lu worked for the office of Commissioner Shiroma.
Working in the office of commissioner Monahan, Sindhu Nathan dove deep into work at the California Energy Commission.
Wenxi Zhao stepped into an important role at DWR and studied hydroelectric power generation.
Liqian helps the City of Palo Alto understand their electricity usage.
Alex Evers gets immersed in the world of wildfires and energy at WIEB.