Stanford R. Ovshinsky Sustainable Energy Fellowship

The fellowship is awarded to a researcher who is no more than ten years beyond receiving his or her Ph.D. (such as a graduate student, postdoc, or junior faculty/researcher) or, if not having received a Ph.D., is no more than 40 years of age. Applications will be evaluated for the innovative and creative nature of the proposed ideas or the approach to sustainable energy and for the potential of actual commercialization. Preferably, the awardee should show entrepreneurial interest in the development of his or her research for the marketplace. Applications will remain active for three years, provided the candidate continues to meet the other requirements for eligibility.

Applications for the Stanford R. Ovshinsky Sustainable Energy Fellowship will be received and reviewed by a selection committee from the Topical Group on Energy Research and Application (GERA). As this fellowship has the potential to recognize researchers from a variety of fields, it will be widely promoted within a number of APS units where energy sustainability interests exist as well as in Society-wide communications.

The nomination package must include:

1. Cover Letter
2. An Abstract (up to 200 words)
3. A discussion of the proposed project providing background on the applicant’s accomplishments to date and the proposed research (up to 2,500 words)
4. A research budget for the spending of $15,000 and justification (up to 2 pages). Note that no overhead charged by the institution can be included in the budget.
5. A biographical sketch (up to 2 pages)
6. 2 letters of recommendation from faculty members or researchers familiar with the candidate’s background and proposed research
7. A signed letter of commitment on official letterhead from an official authorized to commit the resources of the nominee’s sponsoring organization (e.g., department head, doctoral advisor, etc.) in support of the proposed project, ensuring that items such as equipment, lab space, facilities, and research time will be available.

To complete a nomination use the APS Honors Nomination Site. All files should be uploaded in PDF format. Letters may be signed electronically.

The Stanford R. Ovshinsky Sustainable Energy Fellowship was established in 2013 by Stan's widow, Rosa Young Ovshinsky, and his children to recognize his inventive spirit in science and to honor his lifelong dedication and contributions to developing efficient energy conversion technologies to meet global energy needs. The fellowship is being created with the conviction that it is now more important than ever to develop efficient and low-cost energy conversion technologies (such as photovoltaic cells, hydrogen fuel cells, or rechargeable batteries) that do not rely on fossil fuels and so provide sustainable carbon-free energy to the growing world population.