Five Stanford energy fellows open next chapter in research careers

Stanford University’s Precourt Institute for Energy is ushering five fellows in its Stanford Energy Postdoctoral Fellowship onto the next stage of their academic careers, just as it opens applications for the next class of scholars.

The five early-career researchers, who had recently earned their PhDs when they were named fellows, immersed themselves in interdisciplinary research during their fellowships, helping to advance the future of sustainable energy. Four of the five have secured tenure-track faculty positions at universities, while the fifth considers offers and expects to make a decision this summer.

"We designed the energy postdoc program to underwrite bold and creative solutions to the world’s sustainable energy problems and to advance the careers of a promising group of scientists," said Yi Cui, faculty director of the fellowship, "They will always be a part of the energy fellowship, and – I hope – the fellowship will always be a part of them. We look forward to seeing where their research takes us. Congratulations to each."

The five out-going Stanford energy fellows are:

Sang Cheol Kim

Sang Kim, a member of the inaugural 2023 cohort, came to Stanford with both industry and academic experience in battery technology. As a fellow, he worked under Nobel laureate Steven Chu to develop protective films for battery electrodes and explore electrochemical capture of carbon dioxide. Kim described his time on the Farm as personally transformational. "It's just an amazing place, Stanford. The quality of students. The availability of resources," Kim said. "The opportunities are unmatched." Next up for Kim is an assistant professorship at the National University of Singapore, where he  continues his studies in sustainable electrochemical energy solutions.

Luca Vialetto

With a background in applied physics and engineering, Luca Vialetto, 2023 cohort, earned his doctorate researching ionized gases – also known as plasmas, the fourth state of matter – to convert greenhouse gases into sustainable fuels. During his fellowship, Vialetto advanced that research and also pivoted to computational modeling of plasma systems for agriculture, aiming to boost crop yields while reducing soil overfertilization. "I really value Stanford's multi-disciplinary approach – physics, engineering, chemistry, biology, energy, and economics,"  Vialetto said. "At Stanford, you can work with leading experts in all these fields. That's special." Luca's new role is as an assistant professor at UCLA, where he plans to expand his research across diverse applications, from sustainable food technologies to semiconductors and plasma-based propulsion systems.

Yifan Wang

2023 cohort’s Yifan Wang’s fellowship research focused on decarbonizing the steel industry, which spits out a tenth of global CO₂ emissions. With degrees in chemical, petroleum, and mechanical engineering, Wang worked to unravel the atomic-level chemistry of energy-intensive iron production. Wang sees metallurgy as a gateway to cleaner industrial processes. "Stanford provides a vibrant environment for research and scientific communication beyond disciplinary boundaries to inspire new ideas. I find that exciting," Wang said of the Stanford ecosystem. Wang is currently entertaining offers from universities and other academic institutions. Wherever he ends up, Wang hopes to continue to bridge physical sciences with sustainable applications.

Cong Chen

Economics and electrical engineering unite in the research of 2024 cohort’s Cong Chen, who develops models to more accurately and more fairly price renewable energy. Her interdisciplinary work provided a direct link between Stanford’s Graduate School of Business, the School of Engineering, and the Precourt Institute, which is part of the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability. "I learned so much from my mentors and from fellows in other fields from economics to engineering. It broadened my entire research horizon," said Chen, who will soon take a faculty position at Dartmouth College where she will teach and continue her research in power systems and electricity markets operations.

Jacqueline Dowling

Jacqueline "Jackie" Dowling, 2025 cohort, has a doctorate in chemistry and interests that span the sustainable energy systems landscape. During her postdoc she investigated the possibilities of pumping clean-burning, renewably produced hydrogen gas into subterranean salt caverns for long-term energy storage. "They really care about the industry and policy relevance," Dowling said of Stanford researchers. "That is another reason why this program was just perfect for me." Dowling is now headed to a faculty position at the University of Iowa – a state that is one of the nation’s leaders in wind energy – where she hopes to expand on her multidisciplinary skills with applied research.

The fellowship's mission is to cultivate energy leaders in academia, industry, and government, noted Audrey Yau, director of the Stanford Energy Postdoctoral Fellowship.

"We are gratified that our inaugural departing fellows are continuing to pursue groundbreaking energy research," Yau said. "That shows the strong commitment of these fellows to finding scalable solutions to our global sustainable energy challenges."

Join the next class of fellows

The application period for the 2026 cohort opens July 1, 2025 and closes October 1. Selections are announced in January 2026 and successful candidates will begin their fellowships by September. The Stanford Energy Postdoctoral Fellowship offers an annual stipend of $85,000, research and relocation funding, and benefits, including paid time off and health care insurance. Applicants must have a PhD in a related field and a demonstrated commitment to collaborative, energy-focused research. For more information and to apply, start here.

Cui is also faculty director of the Sustainability Accelerator at the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability, co-director of the Precourt Institute's StorageX Initiative, senior fellow at the Precourt Institute and at the Stanford Woods Institute for the Environment, and a professor in the departments of Materials Science & Engineering in the School of Engineering, of Energy Science & Engineering in the Doerr School, and of Photon Science at SLAC National Accelerator Laboratory. Yau is also the director of the postdoctoral fellowship at the Sustainability Accelerator. The Precourt Institute and the Woods Institute are part of the Stanford Doerr School of Sustainability.

The Stanford Energy Postdoctoral Fellowship is sponsored by Stanford’s Precourt Institute for Energy, TomKat Center for Sustainable Energy, Bits & Watts Initiative, and StorageX Initiative.