2023 ACEP Summer Internship Program
Program Dates: May 30, 2023 – August 11, 2023

The UAF Alaska Center for Energy and Power (ACEP) summer internship is a 10-week program for students to gain hands-on research experience and skill development in the energy industry.

This summer, ACEP offers two internship strands: AUSI and NSF REU. Regardless of strand, all interns will receive:

• A specific research project with 1:1 mentorship from an ACEP researcher

• Collaborative workspace at ACEP

• On-campus housing

• Travel to and from Fairbanks

• Field trips related to energy in Alaska

Please fill out the interest survey to be included in application updates.

This program was developed by the Alaska Center for Energy and Power (ACEP) at the University of Alaska Fairbanks.

Which strand is right for me?

AUSI – ACEP Undergraduate Summer Internship

AUSI interns will devote the majority of their summer work to a research project with an ACEP mentor. Interns will meet with their mentors weekly, and the majority of projects give the opportunity for interns to work self-directed on their deliverables with low-to-medium support. 

The AUSI strand is generously supported by a grant from the Office of Naval Research.

NSF REU – NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates

The NSF REU strand is a new exploratory research opportunity for students ready to embark on their first undergraduate summer research experience. NSF REU program activities will include a broader educational and professional experience to support the cohort in their research activities including Arctic Science Seminar Series, Teaching through Technology professional development, and a multi-day field trip.

The NSF REU strand is generously supported by the National Science Foundation Research Experiences for Undergraduates program.

AUSI

ACEP Undergraduate Summer Internship

NSF REU

NSF Research Experiences for Undergraduates

Program covers

• On-campus housing
• Travel to and from Fairbanks
• Competitive hourly rate

Program covers

• On-campus housing
• Travel to and from Fairbanks
• Summer stipend

Program activities

• Research project (90%)
• Field trips, Growth Mindset in Research Training (10%)

Program activities

• Research project (70%)
• Professional development including: Arctic Lecture Series, Teaching through Technology seminars, Growth Mindset in Research Training (20%)
• Field trips, multi-day trip (10%)

Expectations and Deliverables

• Research final presentation
• Mentor-determined final product (paper, presentation, etc)

Expectations and Deliverables

• Research final presentation
• Portfolio
• Science education resource

Who is a good fit for AUSI?

• Students going into their Junior or Senior year
• Spring 2023 graduates
• University of Alaska students
• Projects that lead to published work, formal deliverables

Who is a good fit for NSF REU?

• Students going into their Sophomore or Junior year
• First research experience
• Interest in broader understanding of Arctic energy research

What requirements are needed for this internship?

This program is designed for undergraduate and Spring 2023 graduating seniors who have an interest in working on an energy research project to benefit Alaskan communities. We are seeking students from a variety of disciplines including electrical or mechanical engineering, computer science, rural development, communication, and journalism.

The ACEP Summer Internship Program is committed to building a diverse cohort of student interns who represent a variety of experiences and knowledge bases. We strongly encourage students with lived experience in Alaska to apply. 

If you are unsure if you qualify for this program, but you see a project that interests you, we encourage you to apply! Please contact Annalise Klein ([email protected]) with specific questions.

Interns must be United States citizens residing in the U.S. and U.S. territories.

2023 Applications & Timeline

December 5, 2022: Project summaries posted to the application website and application opens. Students will apply to specific projects.

January 13, 2023: Application rolling deadline. Faculty will begin first round of application review and conduct interviews.

Mid-February, 2023: Offers extended to applicants.

May 30, 2023 – August 11, 2023:  1-week Microgrid Boot Camp training followed by the 10-week internship program.

Previous Years

The 2022 ACEP Undergraduate Summer Internship program transitioned to Fairbanks-based 10 week research projects with a 1:1 faculty mentor. See past projects and interns’ work here.

See past interns’ presentations from 2022 here.

Piloted in the summer of 2019, the ACEP Utility Student Internship program was a collaborative internship program developed by ACEP in partnership with Alaska electrical utilities.

See past projects and interns’ work from 2019 – 2021 here.