Supported by the National Science Foundation as part of the National Research Traineeship initiative, the Ohio State EmPOWERment Program has equipped an interdisciplinary cohort of doctoral students to drive transformative change in sustainable energy systems. Over the past five years, more than 500 students have participated in the program through key initiatives such as the Sustainable Energy Student Community of Practice and Engagement (SCOPE), specialized coursework in the Data-Driven Sustainable Energy Systems Graduate Interdisciplinary Specialization, and the JOULE Energy Research Seminar.
Guided by the leadership team and internal and external advisory councils, EmPOWERment launched in 2019 with the goals of augmenting graduate education through interdisciplinary training in sustainable energy systems for PhD students enrolled in a STEM graduate program, including through cohorts of students working as part of interdisciplinary research teams with faculty and multiple energy-sector partners; broadening the pool of students who are enrolled in STEM graduate programs; and preparing students for both academic and non-academic careers relating to sustainable energy systems.
Through its strong commitment to interdisciplinary collaboration, the Ohio State EmPOWERment Program has engaged 47 PhD student trainees from 16 departments across four colleges. Of these, 32 students are currently active in the program (as of Fall 2025), and six have completed their doctorates. Representation includes the College of Engineering, College of Food, Agricultural, and Environmental Sciences, John Glenn College of Public Affairs, and the College of Arts and Sciences. Notably, 64% of all participants have received fellowship funding from the Ohio State EmPOWERment Program to support one year of their studies.
Graduate Interdisciplinary Specialization
The curricular centerpiece of EmPOWERment’s training program is a 19-credit Graduate Interdisciplinary Specialization (GIS) in Data-Driven Sustainable Energy Systems (DRIVES), open to all graduate students across the university. Two core courses—Foundations of Data-Driven Sustainable Energy Systems (cross-listed with six academic units) and the Innovating for Sustainable Energy Systems capstone—were created to integrate knowledge and bring students together from a wide array of disciplines and provide experiential project-based learning.
Evaluation data from the 2023–2024 annual report prepared by College of Education and Human Ecology evaluators underscore the program’s success in achieving interdisciplinary training goals. Compared to a control group of PhD students not in the program, EmPOWERment trainees had higher confidence and skills across key interdisciplinary domains, including:
- Ability to understand multiple disciplinary perspectives
- Development of interdisciplinary language skills
- Acquisition of data analysis skills
- Ability to integrate interdisciplinary information
- Ability to design solutions to sustainable energy problems
- Ability to innovate and adapt to changing sustainable energy needs
- Confidence in asking critical questions regarding sustainable energy
- Interest in addressing sustainable energy problems
- Ability to communicate perspective to lay audiences; and
- Ability to communicate in an interdisciplinary team.
These results were reported in two peer-reviewed conference papers at the 2024 and 2025 annual conferences of the American Society of Engineering Education.
Qualitatively, students shared the following:
“Working in interdisciplinary teams, even when challenging, has helped me improve my ability to communicate and collaborate across diverse fields, enhancing both my personal growth and professional development.”
“The EmPOWERment Program has helped me transition from engineering to policy, which I was interested in but didn't know how to approach. It’s a good platform for exploring interdisciplinary fields and integrating different perspectives into my work.”
Professional Development and Industry Engagement
Professional development and industry engagement have been central to the program’s success. The Sustainable Energy SCOPE—facilitated by the Battelle Center—has offered students opportunities to connect with industry leaders, expand their professional networks, and gain insights into energy careers beyond academia. One trainee established mentorship and an internship through the SCOPE and their partnership with Go Sustainable Energy. That trainee shared, “My external mentor has been by far the most meaningful thing…it’s just been definitely the most helpful part of the program for me.” A representative from Go Sustainable Energy also serves on the program’s 7-member External Advisory Board, strengthening industry ties.
Renewable Energy Bootcamps
The program’s five high-impact bootcamps have introduced incoming trainees to real-world challenges through 10-days of learning facilitated by faculty, staff, industry experts, and fellow trainees. In 2024, Open Road Renewables donated $100,000 to support a bootcamp focused on public perceptions of agrivoltaics in rural Ohio communities. Reflecting on their bootcamp experience, one student noted,
“I participated in the bootcamp session as kind of my first introductory to the program. I think while it was a very daunting task to go into a place where I was like the only chemist in the room... it was really eye-opening to me to see, especially those involved in sociology, how they had just as many beneficial points to bring when we were trying to solve the problem. That was really like, whoa, these things are important. I should be taking these into consideration when I'm designing new project.”
Program Awards and Collaborations
Evaluation and knowledge-sharing have been integral to the program’s design. The Ohio State EmPOWERment evaluation team received the 2024 Best Paper Award from the American Society for Engineering Education in the Environmental Engineering Division. Additionally, the program contributed to the ExLENT BATTERI initiative, which was awarded $1 million in funding for three years from the National Science Foundation.
Ohio State hosted the University Energy Institute Leaders Collaborative (UEILC) Summit in October 2024, featuring a panel of Ohio State EmPOWERment trainees, further showcasing the program to university leadership across the country. In addition, two manuscripts are currently in progress as part of a cross-NRT collaboration led by Colorado State University and the Ohio State EmPOWERment Program was invited to provide input to the 2025 Engineering Mindset Report.
Finally, the Ohio State EmPOWERment Program collaborated with Michigan State University and Colorado State University–Fort Collins on a proposal and a supplement that both received funding. Further, the program collaborated with the University of California–Merced and Central State University on proposals that were not selected for funding. These efforts significantly enhanced national visibility and strengthened cross-institutional relationships.
Lasting Program Outcomes
The Ohio State EmPOWERment Program has positioned the university to be a national leader in interdisciplinary sustainable energy education. The GIS DRIVES curriculum continues to be available to any graduate student. A proposed Master of Sustainable Energy professional program, spurred by External Advisory Council feedback and support from key members of the Internal Advisory Council, builds from this curriculum and is planned to launch in Fall 2026. Signature initiatives such as Sustainable Energy SCOPE and student-centered programming remain accessible to all Ohio State students with an interest in energy. By weaving these program components into the durable fabric of the university, Ohio State will continue to drive impact through educating and training of energy innovators and change-makers.
Ohio State EmPOWERment Graduates and Spring 2025 Trainee Participants
Ohio State EmPOWERment Leadership Team