The Nicholas Institute can connect you with a wide range of activities and opportunities to build your energy knowledge and connections outside the classroom. Hear from energy professionals in business and policy. Connect with fellow students through energy clubs. Take a Power Trip, or sign up for a for-credit, interdisciplinary research project. Duke University offers many opportunities for energy students to engage with each other, with Duke faculty and staff, and with alumni and other professionals.
Got an idea for a co-curricular activity of your own? Each semester, the Nicholas Institute also offers a limited amount of funding for student-led events and projects. The deadline for fall semester funding requests is Feb. 3, 2023.
Want to be alerted to new events and opportunities for Duke students? Subscribe to Currents, our email newsletter sent weekly during the academic year.
Energy Events & Opportunities for Duke University Students
Registration is usually required for student events. Details are posted on our Events page and in Currents.
Three trips to North Carolina energy businesses and organizations are offered each semester. For students in some programs at Duke, we also help to organize for-credit field trips during fall and spring break.
Energy professionals share lunch and discuss issues facing their sector with small groups of students (usually 20 or fewer).
Check out the Power Lunches we hosted during the 2017-2018 school year.
Students can mingle with energy professionals, faculty and researchers at the Energy Initiative’s public events, such as conferences, seminars and workshops, and our regular Energy Mix networking receptions. Visit our Events page for full details on all upcoming events.
Apply for a Bass Connections in Energy and Environment team to work directly with Duke faculty, outside professionals, community groups and more on a for-credit, interdisciplinary research project during the school year. Undergraduates can also pursue energy projects in Duke's unique Data+ and Story+ programs during the summer.
Check out our new Energy Internship Program. Get weekly updates on energy internship and job listings for Duke undergraduate and graduate students by signing up for our email list. And of course, make sure to check out the listings posted by your Duke school's career center!
Duke University alumni in energy are ready to help undergraduate and graduate students figure out the next steps in your Duke journey, give you insights into a future career or help you get your foot in the door at your dream company. Just fill out a brief questionnaire, and Ask a Blue Devil will match you with alumni who can help. Get started with Ask a Blue Devil.
Undergraduates seeking paid energy research opportunities on campus may apply for funding through the Office of Undergraduate Research Support (URS), thanks to a partnership with the Duke University Energy Initiative. Through our Promoting Opportunities With Energy Research (POWER Program), a limited number of students may receive up to $400 per semester to work with a faculty member on their energy research.
Team up with fellow students to see how your skills as an entrepreneur or inventor measure up. We list new competitions in our weekly student newsletter as they are shared with us.
Duke University is recognized nationally for its commitment to environmental stewardship. Find out how to get involved by connecting with Sustainable Duke or joining a campus sustainability group.
Student Energy Organizations
The Duke Energy Club provides an immersive, cross-disciplinary experience for undergraduates interested in the energy industry.
The focus of the MBA Energy Club is to educate students on all aspects of the energy industry and provide forums for stimulating discussion on energy-related issues by bringing thought leaders and company executives to campus for speaking events.
GLEAN (Global Energy Access Network) is an interdisciplinary network of graduate and professional students at Duke University who (i) recognize the urgency of the energy access challenge facing the Global South; and (ii) aim to advance sustainable, interdisciplinary solutions to address this challenge in their research and professional pursuits. The club offers students an opportunity to explore shared interests, engage with and learn from experienced researchers and practitioners, and build a platform of data and information as a hub for ongoing energy access research and engagement activities at Duke and beyond.
The MEMP Energy Club at the Pratt School of Engineering seeks to educate students and facilitate engagement with all aspects of the energy industry including energy basics, emerging technologies, energy finance, company profiles, and career tracks. The MEMP Energy Club also provides opportunities to students to work on real time industry projects which can convert into potential job opportunities.
The Nicholas School Energy Club supports graduate students interested in the energy field by organizing events that will improve the educational experience and place our members in careers that represent both our financial worth and environmental stewardship in the energy sector.
The Sanford Energy and Environment Club gives public policy students the opportunity to learn from experts in the energy and environment fields and to engage with the local and global community. SEEC connects students with faculty at Duke and professionals from across the country. We work with our colleagues across the university to provide conferences and networking opportunities on campus. In addition to learning from experts, we encourage our members to gain confidence in their own opinions and skills by engaging in casual discussion and debate, participating in the broader energy and environment community, and giving formal presentations to their peers.
The Smart Home ventures to engage the Duke University campus in developing solutions for energy efficiency, sustainability and "smarter" living. Research and educational opportunities like the Smart Home Club and the Smart Home Fellows Program support students in their design process, involving skill sets ranging from implementing prototypes to project management. Student projects have access to the Home Depot Smart Home as a testing ground for projects. The Smart Home operates as both a laboratory and dormitory composed of 10 residents from both Pratt and Trinity College.
Duke Climate Coalition is a student organization leading action and advocacy on renewable energy and other climate-related issues.
Duke Electric Vehicles is a student organization that builds electric vehicles to compete in the Shell Eco-marathon. Their goal is to produce innovative and fuel-efficient cars that succeed in the competition and can lead to real-world implications for sustainable transportation and helping the environment.
Environmental Alliance is an undergraduate student group committed to promoting the implementation of sustainable practices here at Duke University through organization, advocacy, and outreach. It also serves as a common interest group for those interested in the environment—working through campaigns and projects to give our members a platform for on hands experience with environmental topics and issues. In addition to projects, EA also organizes events that connect students to our local environment directly.
The Nicholas Net Impact Club is a networking and professional development club to connect Nicholas School students with environmental professionals in the private sector and provide access to resources for further business-related education.
