Graduate Student Summer Fellows
The Graduate Student Summer Fellows program at the Institute for Global Sustainability (IGS) offers graduate students from across BU the opportunity for capacity building, mentoring, and interdisciplinary analysis to support their independent research projects in planetary health and human well-being, the governance and politics of sustainability transitions, and energy systems of the future. The program encourages diverse methodological approaches that span robust data analysis and rigorous mixed methods; an emphasis on social justice and equity; and the translation of research into policy impact, industry engagement, and social action.
“Every year, through the Graduate Student Summer Fellows Program, the Institute for Global Sustainability convenes and supports promising researchers — each exploring a bold idea for confronting the climate crisis. We are pleased to welcome these talented scholars from a variety of backgrounds and disciplines to the IGS community and offer them meaningful opportunities for professional growth.” – Arunima Krishna, faculty lead, Graduate Student Summer Fellows Program; associate director, IGS; and associate professor, College of Communication
The 2024 student fellows will conduct sustainability research spanning economics, politics, engineering. Learn about their research and explore their profiles below.
Research Projects
- Cultivating Resilience: Wastewatersheds as Beacons of Climate Adaptation in Agriculture, Adham Badawy (PhD student, Earth & Environment, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences). Focus: how treated wastewater reuse can be utilized as a climate adaptation measure for agriculture. This fellowship is supported by the Impact Measurement & Allocation Program to help investors mitigate against the climate risks associated with water scarcity.
- Rethinking How We Measure Indoor Heat Burden for People Living in Heat Islands, Pilar Botana Martinez (PhD candidate, Environmental Health, School of Public Health). Focus: the value of novel approaches to characterizing the burden of heat exposure for vulnerable populations in ways that are relevant to health and wellbeing.
- Assessing the Exposure of Socially Vulnerable Populations to Water Scarcity in Southern Europe: A Case Study of Portugal, Dalilah Paulino de Castro Campos (PhD student, Earth & Environment, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences). Focus: how socially vulnerable populations are disproportionately exposed to water scarcity in Southern Europe.
- Assessing the Carbon Sustainability of Photonic Computing for Artificial Intelligence Systems, Farbin Fayza (PhD candidate, Electrical & Computer Engineering, College of Engineering). Focus: the carbon sustainability of photonics-based computing systems, which are used in data centers and autonomous vehicles for running artificial intelligence applications.
- GDC-Infiltrated Solid Oxide Electrolysis Cells for Hydrogen Production and Grid-Scale Energy Storage, Emily Ghosh (PhD candidate, Materials Science and Engineering, College of Engineering). Focus: the longevity of solid oxide electrolysis cells (SOECs) in clean hydrogen production to minimize environmental impact from energy consumption.
- Empowering Belizean Communities: Science-Based Solutions for Coastal Ecosystems, Mira Kelly-Fair (PhD student, Earth & Environment, Graduate School of Arts and Sciences). Focus: ecosystem services to improve protection and restoration of mangrove forests in Belize.
- Visualizing Modeled Spatial Patterns of Residential Heating Consumption and Efficiency in Massachusetts, Erin Polka (PhD candidate, Environmental Health, School of Public Health). Focus: the spatial dynamics of residential energy patterns across Massachusetts and how energy consumption and efficiency differ across the state.
- Cost Benefit Analysis of Greenhouse Gas Reduction Technologies and the Associated Health and Water Impacts in the United States, Brian Sousa (MS student, Environmental Health, School of Public Health). Focus: the infrastructure costs, emission reductions, health impacts, and water consumption of various renewable energy and carbon capture technologies in the United States. This fellowship is supported by the Impact Measurement & Allocation Program to enhance IMAP’s Corporate Carbon Risk project.
2024 Summer Fellows
Explore research led by former Summer Fellows on our project snapshots page.
2024 Program Overview
The 10-week (May 16, 2024–July 18, 2024) fellowship includes a financial stipend (or research budget) of $5,000, structured interaction with IGS affiliated faculty and Senior Fellows, and a collegial atmosphere that fosters peer support and intellectual growth. Summer Fellows are expected to conduct independent research that is geared toward an academic audience and could be published in the future. Summer Fellows must participate in all weekly fellows sessions in person, Thursdays 11 am–2 pm, which includes a “green bag” lunch with faculty presentations on diverse research topics and professional development skills. The 2024 summer program will be held in person at the IGS office on the Charles River Campus at 111 Cummington Mall. At the end of the program, Summer Fellows will record long-form and short-form video presentations of their research results which will be published on the IGS website.
The program is open to Boston University graduate students from all Schools and Colleges. First-year master’s and early- to mid-stage doctoral students are especially encouraged to apply (students completing degrees in May 2024 are not eligible). Previous IGS Summer Fellows are not eligible to apply. Research proposals that link directly to the student’s own and/or BU faculty’s ongoing research are eligible, as are new projects aligned with ongoing IGS research areas.
In addition to students’ own research proposals, we encourage applications in the following areas that align with existing IGS projects:
- BU Impact Measurement & Allocation Program (IMAP):
- Working to provide better environmental, social, and governance (ESG) indicators of business performance to investors.
- Possible topic areas:
- Analyze the corporate carbon targets within US utilities that are part of our ongoing Corporate Carbon Risk project, or propose your own project.
- Visualizing Energy
- A new data-driven, online resource that communicates scientific information about the link between sustainable energy and human well-being to decision-makers, media, companies, advocates, educators, and the public.
- Possible topic areas:
- Climate, Environmental and Energy Justice, Health and well-being, Policy, Climate Change/Emissions
How to Apply
Applications should be submitted by email by 5 pm on Friday, March 22, 2024, to
igssfp@bu.edu with the subject line SUMMER FELLOWSHIP and your last name (e.g., SUMMER FELLOWSHIP JONES) and should include as a single PDF attachment:
- Your CV
- 1,500-word (maximum) proposal for your research, including how the topic relates to the IGS research agenda and your own research interests. Please make sure your proposal has a title and page numbers.
- A 250-word abstract at the beginning of the proposal, written for a general, interdisciplinary audience (this is in addition to the 1,500-word limit)
- A proposed timeline for project completion over the summer
- A copy of your unofficial transcript
Additionally, one letter of support from a Boston University faculty member familiar with your research proposal concept and goals should be submitted directly from the faculty member to igssfp@bu.edu by the application deadline with your name in the email subject line.
For more information on the IGS Graduate Summer Fellows program, please read the FAQs, attend our information session on Thursday, February 29, 2024, at 10:30 am, or email igssfp@bu.edu.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who is eligible to apply?
Any graduate student who is currently enrolled in a master’s or doctoral program at Boston University, except those completing degrees in May 2024.
If I am graduating in May, can I apply for the summer right after my graduation?
No. A student must have an active enrollment status with the University.
If I am an “ABD” doctoral candidate, am I still eligible?
Yes. Doctoral candidates may apply to the program after their coursework and qualifying exams are complete if they have active enrollment status with the University through the end of the summer.
If I do not need the funding but would still like to be a Fellow, can I apply?
Yes, if you do not need (or are not allowed due to your current funding) a stipend you can still be selected as a Fellow and participate in the program. SPH and ENG students may be interested in using the financial stipend to cover research costs.
When are applications due, and when will candidates find out if they have been selected?
The application deadline is 5 pm on Friday, March 22, 2024. Candidates will be notified of the outcome of their applications by early April.
What are the dates of the program?
The program starts on Thursday, May 16, and ends on Thursday, July 18.
If I have a fieldwork requirement or another summer commitment that overlaps with a few weeks of the program, may I still apply?
Regretfully, no. Interaction with faculty and student peers and participation in IGS events is an essential component of the Summer Fellow experience.
Can I still be a Fellow if I need to miss one week of the 10-week session?
Yes, if you will be unavailable for one week of the 10-week session you can still be a fellow. If your absence would be more than one week please reach out to igssfp@bu.edu to discuss the situation.
What activities do the Summer Fellows participate in?
Summer Fellows participate in informal group discussions with IGS-affiliated faculty about research areas and professional development skills; presentations about their research projects; and other social events.
How are the Summer Fellows selected?
A group of IGS Affiliated Faculty review applications and may interview some applicants. Students will be notified about the outcome of their applications by early April.
Can I apply for a 2024 Summer Fellowship if I was funded for a past IGS Summer Fellowship?
Unfortunately, no. You may only receive funding as an IGS Summer Fellow for one summer.
If you have additional questions or would like further clarification, please email igssfp@bu.edu.
