Summer 2026 Energy Access Internships and Research Projects
The Energy Access Project at Duke University (EAP) provides funding to students that will spend their summer working on energy access or energy transitions in low- and middle-income countries with companies, government agencies and non-profits, or supporting Duke faculty-led research projects.
Students should submit applications by March 31st for summer 2026 internships and project-based work related to energy access in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs), with a focus on either modern technologies or fuels for cooking, or access to reliable, affordable, safe, and sustainable electricity. EAP is particularly interested in supporting projects and work with organizations that (i) promote innovative approaches to accelerate sustainable energy transitions in LMICS; (ii) offer insights that are applicable or generalizable to wider audiences; (iii) build linkages with innovative companies and non-profits in the energy access space; and/or (iv) are related to ongoing EAP projects.
Applications for Summer 2026 internship funding will be reviewed on a rolling basis until March 31st or until available funds are exhausted, whichever comes first. EAP will prioritize in-person, field-based internships in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) that directly experience energy access or electricity reliability challenges. Remote internships, or internships based at Duke or in other parts of the developed world, will be considered only in exceptional cases, and only where the work has a clear and direct link to energy access challenges in LMICs. While energy poverty exists globally, EAP’s primary focus is on LMICs.
Energy Internship Program
The Energy Internship Program functions as a job board for students to identify summer internship opportunities. The Energy Internship Program connects Duke students from all majors, backgrounds, and degree programs to summer internship opportunities across the energy sector, including at start-ups, utilities, renewable energy developers, large firms, government agencies, and non-governmental organizations.
Energy Internship Funding
The Energy Access Project at Duke has partnered with the Energy Internship Program to ensure that a portion of available funds are reserved for internships that relate to energy access in low- and middle-income countries. Students can identify their own opportunities or identify an opportunity with the Energy Internship Program. Once they identified an opportunity, students can apply for funding via the application below. Applications will be accepted on a rolling basis until March 31st or until available funds are exhausted, whichever comes first.
FUNDING PORTAL NOW OPEN!
Research Funding
You are eligible to apply to this funding if you have secured a position in a Duke faculty-led research project. This funding can be used as a stipend for the duration of the research project. Students at Duke who are currently enrolled, and will be enrolled full-time at Duke in Fall 2026, are eligible to apply. Applications will be evaluated on a rolling basis pending availability of funds. Pending availability of funds, the program may also support funding for conferences that aligns with our objective.
For Organizations Interested in Hosting Students
If your organization is looking to host a Duke student intern for summer 2026, for projects in energy access or energy transitions in emerging economies, you can fill out this survey to share your opportunity and describe what you are looking for in a candidate.
Positions can be unpaid or partially funded. Eligible students may apply for Energy Internship Program funding if they are not graduating in May 2026. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and any awarded funding is determined in consultation with both the student and your organization.
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