Patrick and Jana Eilers Graduate Student Fellowship for Energy Related Research

The Patrick and Jana Eilers Graduate Student Fellowship for Energy Related Research provides multiple awards to Notre Dame graduate students conducting energy-related research with faculty affiliates, or faculty who are willing to become affiliated. Students interested in broadening their standard thesis work with an additional strategic dimension to their current research plans should apply. Projects will be considered that include a brief overview of current research plans and a detailed explanation of the new research dimension and objectives, as well as how the new work will improve or enhance research results.

Application Dates

Applications for the 2027 Eilers Fellowships will be accepted through November 15, 2026. Students will be notified in December. Awards will be disseminated in January 2027.

Award Amount

  • Eilers awards are $12,847 per student and must be used for the student’s stipend ($10,609) and current fringe benefits rate of 21.1% ($2,238).
  • Eilers awards must be used during the calendar year received.

Award Criteria

Student applications will be rated and selected based on the following criteria:

Scope of Work and Project Objectives

  • Clearly states research purpose and rationale/justification for the study, detailing the additional strategic dimension to broaden his/her standard thesis work, research plans, and research results
  • Clearly describes the methods appropriate to address the research question/aim
  • Clearly understands his/her role in achieving the research objectives
  • Clearly explains the research project and relevance to ND Energy's mission

Student's Career Objectives and Academic Achievements

  • Clearly states his/her career path and future aspirations
  • Exemplifies academic excellence based on GPA, scholarly achievements, extracurricular activities, and other successes indicated in his/her CV

Faculty Recommendation

  • Clearly explains how the research project addresses current energy challenges and advancements in new technologies, materials, systems, etc.
  • Clearly acknowledges the strengths and capabilities of the student to conduct the research project and highly recommends the student for the award

Submission Deadline

The deadline to apply for the Patrick and Jana Eilers Graduate Student Fellowship for Energy-Related Research is November 15, 2026. Notre Dame graduate students may apply at the link below.

Eilers Student Application

Faculty affiliates advising graduate student applicants must submit a supporting application and recommendation letter at the link below.

Eilers Faculty Supporting Application

Questions?

For questions about the fellowship, please email ndenergy@nd.edu.

Meet This Year's Scholars

  1. Smiling man with dark hair, beard, and glasses, wearing a navy jacket and dark patterned shirt.

    Bikram Ghosh

    Chemistry and Biochemistry

    Advisor(s): Gregory Hartland

  2. A young woman with long, wavy brown hair and a subtle smile wears a maroon cardigan over a dark top.

    Navya Gupta

    Chemistry and Biochemistry

    Advisor(s): Adam Jaffe

  3. Young man with light brown hair, blue eyes, and a blue and white striped shirt smiles broadly.

    Logan Hennes

    Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

    Advisor(s): Jonathan Whitmer

  4. Smiling man with dark hair, a short beard, wearing a navy blue suit jacket and a light blue button-down shirt.

    Manish Mukherjee

    Chemistry and Biochemistry

    Advisor(s): Prashant Kamat

  5. An African American man in a dark suit, looks intently to the left with a serious expression.

    Paul Ubiododo Chibuzor Amagada

    Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering

    Advisor(s): Edward Maginn

  6. Happy young woman with long brown hair and blue eyes, wearing a light blue denim jacket and dark red top, with autumn leaves.

    Capra Williams

    Civil and Environmental Engineering and Earth Sciences

    Advisor(s): Ashley Thrall