UC Riverside and the U.S. Department of Energy will host the inaugural “DOE to the People” on Nov. 7, where researchers and students can meet with government and industry representatives on campus to learn about research funding and job and internship opportunities.
The day-long event will feature leaders from the Department of Energy, or DOE, and representatives from over a dozen different DOE departments and five national laboratories. Program managers and industry and university partners will also be on hand to provide information on federal funding, jobs, and internships in science, technology, engineering, and math, or STEM, fields.
“For researchers working in areas that intersect with sustainability, new fuels, science communication, and logistics, this is a rare opportunity to meet personally with representatives from Washington D.C. who support an agency that funds $100.52 billion dollars in energy programs,” Chancellor Kim A. Wilcox said. “For students, the event provides a chance to explore career opportunities available after graduation.”
The DOE to the People program includes workshops and presentations on topics such as workforce challenges, federal funding opportunities, faculty development, and industry mentorship programs. A lunch session will feature UCR students talking about their DOE internship experiences.
Participants will also be able to speak directly to representatives from the DOE, industry, higher education, national laboratories, and economic development at the afternoon EXPO and Career Fair, which will have 15 to 20 booths.
Last year, UCR and the U.S. Department of Defense held a “Taking the Pentagon to the People” event on campus, where representatives from the agency provided information about research and grant programs, and job and internship opportunities at minority serving institutions.
After that event, the campus was approached by the DOE Office of Minority Programs about hosting its first DOE to the People due to its status as a minority serving institution that can help attract a diverse talent pool in the Inland Empire, said Kathleen Eiler, UCR’s senior director of federal relations. UCR is a Hispanic Serving Institution, Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander-Serving Institution, and recently joined the Association of American Universities.
Rodolfo Torres, vice chancellor for Research and Economic Development, said his office has been highly proactive in seeking new external sponsor resources.
“The upcoming DOE to the People event presents a fantastic opportunity for our researchers to communicate, strengthen, or establish new relationships with program officers in the Department of Energy,” he said. “It also serves as an outstanding occasion to showcase everything that our UCR community is accomplishing in areas of interest to DOE.”
Torres noted that the event highlights how UCR has integrated its research to address the region’s needs, particularly in areas such as clean energy, transportation, and sustainable agriculture.
The Nov. 7 event will be held from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. at the Highlander Union Building. It is open to undergraduate and graduate students, faculty, researchers, and staff who can register online. A continental breakfast and lunch will be provided to registrants.
