Page Types: Education

Energy Graduate Group Faculty

The EEI has nearly 50 affiliated faculty from departments across UC Davis. These faculty are affiliated with the Energy Graduate Group (EGG).

Md Shamim Ahamed, Ph.D.
  • Assistant Professor, Biological and Agricultural Engineering
Research Interests: Thermal Environment Modelling, HVAC Systems, Renewable Energy, Precision Livestock Farming
mahamed@ucdavis.edu
Gwen Arnold
Gwen Arnold
  • Associate Professor, Environmental Science and Policy
  • Co-Director, Center for Environmental Behavior
Research Interests: Hydraulic fracturing; regulation and policymaking
Shota Atsumi
Shota Atsumi
  • Associate Professor, Chemistry
Research Interests: Biofuels
Louise Berben
Louise Berben
  • Professor, Chemistry
Research Interests: Solar fuels; CO2 conversion; hydrogen production
Catherine Brinkley
Catherine Brinkley
  • Assistant Professor, Human Ecology
Research Interests: City and regional planning; place-based policies and interventions; food-energy-water nexus; integrating agricultural ecosystems with urban areas; district heating
David Bunch
David Bunch
  • Professor, Graduate School of Management
Research Interests: Consumer choice behavior and modeling; decision and management sciences
James Bushnell
James Bushnell
  • Professor, Economics
Research Interests: Energy markets; utility regulation; climate change; environmental regulation
Colin Carter
Colin Carter
  • Distinguished Professor, Agricultural and Resource Economics
  • Associate Director, UC Agricultural Issues Center
Research Interests: Commodity markets; international trade; China’s rural economy
Andre Daccache
Andre Daccache
  • Assistant Professor, Biological and Agricultural Engineering
Research Interests: Agriculture water management; irrigation & hydraulic engineering; crop & climate change modeling
J.P. Delplanque
J.P. Delplanque
  • Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
  • Director, California Small Hydro Collaborative
Research Interests: Combustion; hydropower; modeling and simulation
Irwin R Donis-Gonzalez
Irwin Donis-Gonzales
  • Assistant Postharvest Engineering Specialist, Biological and Agricultural Engineering
Research Interests: Postharvest engineering, handling, traceability & processing of agricultural commodities; reducing energy consumption
Matt Ellis
Matt Ellis
  • Assistant Professor, Chemical Engineering
Research Interests: Control optimization of energy systems
Paul Erickson
Paul Erickson
  • Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Research Interests: Heat & mass transfer enhancement of reacting flows; fuel cell, hybrid drive & electric vehicles; energy systems
Zhiliang (Julia) Fan
Zhiliang (Julia) Fan
  • Associate Professor, Biological and Agricultural Engineering
  • Energy Graduate Group Advisor for Science and Technology track
Research Interests: Biofuels; metabolic engineering; fermentation; process modeling
jzfan@ucdavis.edu
530-754-0317
Beth Ferguson
Beth Ferguson
  • Assistant Professor, Design
Research Interests: Renewable energy; transportation fuels; energy efficiency
Annaleise Franz
Annaliese Franz
  • Associate Professor, Chemistry
Research Interests: Biofuels, catalysis; chemical transformations to produce biofuels
Scott Hardman
Scott Hardman
  • Professional Researcher, Plug-in Hybrid & Electric Vehicle Research Center
Research Interests: Low carbon & innovative vehicle technologies
Andrew Hargadon
Andrew Hargadon
  • Professor of Technology Management, Graduate School of Management
  • Charles J. Soderquist Chair in Entrepreneurship, Graduate School of Management
Research Interests: Energy efficiency design and management
abhargadon@ucdavis.edu
530-752-2277
John Harvey
John Harvey
  • Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
  • Chair, Transportation Technology and Policy Graduate Group
  • Director, University of California Pavement Research Center
Research Interests: Life cycle assessment; pavement engineering; alternative material development
Rebecca Hernandez
Rebecca R. Hernandez
  • Assistant Professor, Land, Air, Water Resources
  • Assistant Earth System Scientist, Agricultural Experiment Station
Research Interests: Energy geography & energy knowledge systems; environmental impacts, trade-offs & synergies of energy development; land-use, land sparing & energy infrastructure planning; food-energy-water nexus; sustainable solar energy development & wildlife interactions
Bryan Jenkins
Bryan Jenkins
  • Distinguished Professor Emeritus, Biological and Agricultural Engineering
  • Chair/Director, California Renewable Energy Center
Research Interests: Energy systems; optimization; thermochemical conversion
Alan Jenn
Alan Jenn
  • Assistant Professional Researcher, Institute of Transportation Studies
Research Interests: Alternative fuel vehicle adoption; transition to sustainable energy systems; quantitative policy analysis; big data statistical analysis
Tina Jeoh
Tina Jeoh
  • Associate Professor, Biological and Agricultural Engineering
Research Interests: Cellulosic biofuels; bioconversion
Katrina Jessoe
Katrina Jessoe
  • Associate Professor, Agricultural and Resource Economics
Research Interests: Environmental and energy economics; consumer and firm behavior
Alissa Kendall
Alissa Kendall
  • Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
  • Chair, Energy Graduate Group
Research Interests: Life cycle assessment; renewable energy; transportation energy
amkendall@ucdavis.edu
530-752-5722
Isaya Kisseka
Isaya Kisekka
  • Assistant Professor, Land, Air and Water Resources and Biological and Agricultural Engineering
Research Interests: Agricultural hydrology & water management; irrigation engineering; crop modeling & decision support
Kelly Kissock
Kelly Kissock
  • Faculty Director, Energy and Efficiency Institute
  • Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
  • Chevron Endowed Chair in Energy Efficiency
Research Interests: Energy efficiency; renewable energy
jkissock@ucdavis.edu
530-752-4909
Kurt Kornbluth
Kurt Kornbluth
  • Assistant Adjunct Professor, Biological and Agricultural Engineering
  • Director, Program for International Energy Technologies & D-Lab
  • Associate Director, UC Davis Blum Center for Developing Economies
Research Interests: Climate neutrality, energy efficiency; consumer behavior; renewable energy technologies
kkorn@ucdavis.edu
Marina Leite
Marina Leite
  • Associate Professor, Materials Science and Engineering
Research Interests: Energy harvesting & storage systems; functional properties of materials; materials processing
Frank Loge
Frank Loge
  • Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
  • Director, Center for Water-Energy Efficiency
  • Krone Endowed Professor in Environmental Engineering
  • Energy Graduate Group Advisor for Policy and Management track
Research Interests: Information technology; water/energy nexus; water/health; conservation; sustainable systems & technologies
fjloge@ucdavis.edu
530-754-2297
Mark Mascal
Mark Mascal
  • Professor, Chemistry
Research Interests: Integrated biorefinery; renewable fuels and materials; biomass valorization; biomass-derived platform chemicals
Alan Meier
  • Acting Executive Director, Energy and Efficiency Institute
  • Adjunct Professor, Environmental Science and Policy
  • Senior Scientist, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
  • Energy Graduate Group - Grad Advisor for Admissions
Research Interests: Energy efficiency; energy demand; economics; behavior and energy use
akmeier@ucdavis.edu
510-486-4740
Sabbie Miller
Sabbie Miller
  • Assistant Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
Research Interests: Life cycle assessment; alternative materials development; sustainability and structural design
Mark Modera
Mark Modera
  • Associate Director, Western Cooling Efficiency Center
  • Professor Emeritus, Civil and Environmental Engineering
  • Professor Emeritus, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
Research Interests: End-use energy efficiency; energy distribution systems; building energy management; ventilation and indoor air quality
mpmodera@ucdavis.edu
530-754-7671
Frances Moore
Frances Moore
  • Assistant Professor, Environmental Science and Policy
Research Interests: Economic and social impacts of climate change; energy-water-food nexus
Adam Moule
  • Associate Professor, Chemical Engineering and Material Sciences
  • Energy Graduate Group Advisor-Science & Technology Track
Research Interests: Solar materials
amoule@ucdavis.edu
530-754-8669
Erich Muehlegger
Erich Muehlegger
  • Associate Professor, Economics
Research Interests: Regulation and taxation of energy markets; industrial organization; public finance; environmental policy
Jeremy Munday
Jeremy Munday
  • Professor, Electrical and Computer Engineering
Research Interests: Photovoltaics; hydrogen technologies
Vinod Narayanan
Vinod Narayanan
  • Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
  • Associate Director, Western Cooling Efficiency Center
Research Interests: Energy efficiency; heat and mass transfer enhancement in devices and systems; phase change heat transfer; microtechnology
Kevin Novan
Kevin Novan
  • Associate Professor, Agricultural and Resource Economics
  • EGG Graduate Advisor-Energy & Policy Management Track
Research Interests: Environmental economics; applied econometrics
knovan@ucdavis.edu
530-752-7426
Joan Ogden
Joan Ogden
  • Professor Emeritus, Environmental Science and Policy
  • Not serving as primary faculty advisor for new students
Research Interests: Alternative fuels; energy transitions; hydrogen and fuel cells; energy infrastructure
Frank Osterloh
Frank Osterloh
  • Professor, Chemistry
Research Interests: Solar energy; photovoltaics; photocatalytic water splitting; hydrogen; nanomaterials
Jae Wan Park
Jae Wan Park
  • Associate Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
  • Director, UC Davis Green Transportation Laboratory
Research Interests: Efficiency energy systems; fuel cells; batteries; electric grid
Alireza Pourreza
Alireza Pourreza
  • Assistant Agricultural Mechanization Specialist, Biological and Agricultural Engineering
Research Interests: Agricultural mechanization, robotics & automation; precision agriculture & horticulture; machine vision & remote sensing
David Rapson
David Rapson
  • Associate Professor, Economics
Research Interests: Energy economics; energy markets; energy policy
Pamela Ronald
Pamela Ronald
  • Distinguished Professor, Plant Pathology
  • Professor, Genome Center
  • Director, Grass Genetics, The Joint Bioenergy Institute
  • Faculty Director, Institute for Food and Agricultural Literacy
Research Interests: Biofuels; grass genetics; cell wall biosynthesis
Nesrin Sarigul-Klijn
  • Professor, Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering
  • Director, Scaled Model Aerospace and Research Laboratory (SMARTLAB)
  • Co-Director, Transportation Noise Control Center (TNCC)
  • Research Interests: Mobile renewable energy harvesting and storage, Autonomous Energy ships, Hybrid solar-wind energy, Flow-structure dynamic interactions
nsarigulklijn@ucdavis.edu
Tyler Scott
Tyler Scott
  • Assistant Professor, Environmental Science & Policy
Research Interests: Environmental governance systems; environmental policy; land planning
Michael Siminovitch
Michael Siminovitch
  • Professor, Design
  • Director, California Lighting Technology Center
  • Rosenfeld Chair in Energy Efficiency
Research Interests: Energy-efficient lighting technology and design
Chris Simmons
Chris Simmons
  • Assistant Professor, Food Science and Technology
Research Interests: Biofuels; waste-to-energy; water/energy nexus
Aaron Smith
Aaron Smith
  • Professor, Agricultural and Resource Economics
Research Interests: Biofuels; residential energy efficiency; energy price dynamics
Edward (Ned) Spang
Edward (Ned) Spang
  • Assistant Professor, Food Science and Technology
  • Affiliated Faculty Member, Center for Water-Energy Efficiency
Research Interests: Water, energy, and food resource systems
Dan Sperling
Daniel Sperling
  • Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering & Environmental Science and Policy
  • Founding Director, Institute of Transportation Studies
  • Founding Chair, Policy Institute for Energy, Economics and the Economy
Research Interests: Transportation and energy systems; transportation and energy policy
dsperling@ucdavis.edu
530-752-7434
Gil Tal
Gil Tal
  • Research Director, The Plug-in Hybrid & Electric Vehicle (PH&EV) Research Center
  • Transportation Research Director, The China Center for Energy and Transportation
  • Admission Graduate Advisor, Transportation Technology and Policy Graduate Group
Research Interests: Alternative fuel vehicles; travel behavior; travel demand modeling; transportation planning
gtal@ucdavis.edu
530-754-9230
Keith Taylor
Keith Taylor
  • Assistant Economic Development Specialist, Human Ecology
Research Interests: Energy cooperatives; environmental policy; wind energy
Jesus Velasquez
Jesús M. Velázquez
  • Assistant Professor, Chemistry
Research Interests: Rational design of well-defined dimensionally reduced materials; nanoelectronics, energy conversion devices, and environmental remediation
Stephen M. Wheeler
Stephen M. Wheeler
  • Professor, Human Ecology
Research Interests: Urban and regional planning; sustainability; climate action planning
Dong Yu
Dong Yu
  • Associate Professor, Physics
Research Interests: Solar energy; nanostructure solar cells

For Incoming Students

Welcome to the UC Davis Energy Graduate Group! We are thrilled to have you join us at UC Davis this fall to pursue a degree in energy systems.

 

Power Trip Orientation Program

To kickoff your graduate education here, we would like to invite you to participate in Power Trip—a 4-day orientation adventure for incoming Energy Graduate Group students–from September 19-22, 2023. The goals of Power Trip are to:

  1. Introduce you to a wide variety of energy research and policy work at UC Davis and in the Sacramento/Bay areas; and
  2. Provide you with the opportunity to get to know the other Energy Graduate Group students prior to starting the academic year.

Please see our blogs from past Power Trips. We are currently planning the details of the trip, but would like you to save the dates and plan on attending.

What: Energy Graduate Group Power Trip

When: September 19-22, 2023

Where: in Davis, Sacramento, and possibly the Bay area 

EGG New Graduate Student Orientation

The 2023 mandatory new student orientation will be held on Monday, September 25, 2023. Stay tuned for more details.

Connect with Us

Join our mailing list. Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter.

Incoming Graduate Student Facebook Group

You are welcome to join the UC Davis Facebook group for incoming graduate students. The group is designed to introduce incoming graduate students to life at UC Davis and will post on a variety of topics, including housing, transportation, funding, wellness, and social engagement.

Graduate Student Orientation

You are invited to complete Aggie 201.

Academic Calendar

Fall Quarter 2023 begins on September 25, 2023. Fall instruction begins on September 27, 2023. To find out the holiday breaks and other important dates, visit the UC Davis campus calendar.

Computer and E-Mail Accounts

You may obtain a UC Davis e-mail address, login ID, and Kerberos password online here. (Please provide your new e-mail address to Annemarie Schaaf  so she can add you to our e-mail lists to make sure you don’t miss any future important announcements.)

Student ID Number

Your student ID number was given to you in your official letter of admission from the Office of Graduate Studies. You can access your letter by returning to the Embark Online Admission system.

Student Health Insurance Plan (SHIP)

Your graduate student health insurance is effective on the dates shown on the SHIP website. If you plan to continue to carry private insurance, download the waiver found on the SHIP website.

Student Health and Counseling Services

Immunization requirements and information on vaccine programs and health insurance. Visit the website.

UC Davis Photo ID Cards

New graduate students will receive a UC Davis AggieCard, your official UC Davis identification. Graduate students can upload their photo and then your card will be mailed to the address provided on the form.

International Student Orientation Program

International students should check in with Services for International Students and Scholars. For more information please review the SISS Newly Admitted Students website.

English for International Students

All new international graduate students are required to take an English language course during their first academic year, unless they meet the requirements listed here.

If you have any questions, please contact Annemarie at aschaaf@ucdavis.edu or 530-752-0247.

Emerging Energy Professionals Program

Vision

Build a thriving network of energy professionals by providing the connections and opportunities UC Davis undergraduate and graduate students need to succeed in the energy sector. This network will foster and empower leaders who will help solve the energy and climate challenges of the 21st century and beyond.

Goals

The Emerging Energy Professionals (EEP) Program, hosted by the Energy and Efficiency Institute at UC Davis, provides:

  • Coaching with UC Davis alumni via one-on-one and small group meetings,
  • Career counseling opportunities,
  • Internship/career assistance,
  • Exposure to key energy issues/organizations, and
  • Opportunities to stay connected and contribute back to the program after graduation.


This program targets select undergraduate and graduate students at UC Davis interested in pursuing careers in the energy sector.

Who Should Apply

Any UC Davis student, undergraduate or graduate, who is interested in an internship or career related to energy is eligible to apply to be a part of the EEP program.

The ideal student will be self-motivated, good at balancing school demands with outside activities, and able to commit about 1 hour a week to the program plus complete a summer internship/start a career.

Curriculum Components

Fall Quarter

  • Students will be paired with a mentor and will meet one-on-one with their mentor throughout the academic year.
  • All students will meet as a larger EEP group, every other week for 1 hour, to learn about and discuss relevant topics (e.g., resume development, networking).
  • Students attend weekly Energy Graduate Group seminars on Fridays from 10:30-11:50am (optional).
  • Students attend Career Fairs to network with relevant companies.
  • This quarter, we will focus on resume development, developing LinkedIn profiles, and networking strategies.

Winter Quarter

  • Students meet with their mentor as needed.
  • Students attend the Energy Career Fair to network with targeted employers.
  • All students will meet as a larger EEP group a few times this quarter.

Spring Quarter

  • Students meet with their mentor as needed.
  • All students will meet as a larger EEP group a few times this quarter.
  • Students attend weekly Energy Bites seminars on Fridays from 12pm to 1pm (optional).

Summer

  • Students complete summer internships or find a career position.

Program Requirements

EEP students will be required to:
  • Create a cover letter and resume,
  • Create a LinkedIn account,
  • Join the Energy Network LinkedIn Group,
  • Meet with an assigned mentor,
  • Participate in EEP group meetings,
  • Attend the Energy Career Fair, and
  • Apply for an internship/career position.

External Collaborators

The success of the EEP Program depends on harnessing EEI’s sponsors and partners to provide a robust, meaningful, and valuable experience for students. In the past, EEI has successfully placed students and alumni at the following utilities, industries, and public agencies:

  • Pacific Gas & Electric
  • Walmart
  • Chevron
  • Southern California Edison
  • Wells Fargo
  • California Energy Commission
  • SMUD
  • Ecology Action
  • EPRI
  • CA Public Utilities Commission
  • California Independent Systems Operator

Management

2021-2022 Steering Committee Members

2021-2022 Mentors

Common Q&As

You are welcome to apply again. First priority will be given to students that have not participated in the program, but any remaining spaces can be assigned to repeating students.

  • Students are expected to meet with their mentor on a regular basis.
  • Students are expected to spend a few hours a month out of class preparing their resume, Linked in account, etc.
  • Students are expected to attend the Energy Career Fair.
  • Students are expected to attend scheduled EEP program meetings.

Applications

This program is currently on hold for the 2022-2023 academic year. Stay tuned for additional information.

Contact | Energy Graduate Group

If you have general questions or need assistance, please contact:

Annemarie Schaaf
Annemarie Schaaf
  • EGG Graduate Program Coordinator
aschaaf@ucdavis.edu
530-752-0247
If you have general program questions or would like advice, please contact:
Alissa Kendall
Alissa Kendall
  • Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
  • Chair, Energy Graduate Group
Research Interests: Life cycle assessment; renewable energy; transportation energy
amkendall@ucdavis.edu
530-752-5722
Zhiliang (Julia) Fan
Zhiliang (Julia) Fan
  • Associate Professor, Biological and Agricultural Engineering
  • Energy Graduate Group Advisor for Science and Technology track
Research Interests: Biofuels; metabolic engineering; fermentation; process modeling
jzfan@ucdavis.edu
530-754-0317
Frank Loge
Frank Loge
  • Professor, Civil and Environmental Engineering
  • Director, Center for Water-Energy Efficiency
  • Krone Endowed Professor in Environmental Engineering
  • Energy Graduate Group Advisor for Policy and Management track
Research Interests: Information technology; water/energy nexus; water/health; conservation; sustainable systems & technologies
fjloge@ucdavis.edu
530-754-2297
Alan Meier
  • Acting Executive Director, Energy and Efficiency Institute
  • Adjunct Professor, Environmental Science and Policy
  • Senior Scientist, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory
  • Energy Graduate Group - Grad Advisor for Admissions
Research Interests: Energy efficiency; energy demand; economics; behavior and energy use
akmeier@ucdavis.edu
510-486-4740

Project-Based Learning

D-Lab and Path to Zero Net Energy Initiative

The Program for International Energy Technologies (PIET) developed D-lab and the Path to Zero Net Energy (ZNE) Initiative to engage students in finding solutions to energy issues in developed and developing countries.

D-Lab

Founded in 2008, The UC Davis D-Lab works with international partners to find scalable, sustainable solutions for specific energy issues in their host communities. Faculty and graduate students from Engineering, International Agriculture Development, Community Development, Business, and Economics work together in teams in the lab and in the field. Using a bottom-up approach, D-Lab works with local communities to understand specific energy needs and assess the sustainability of proposed energy solutions through technical, social, environmental, and financial lenses. D-Lab focuses on innovative technologies and business models that can allow people at the “bottom of the pyramid” to save or earn more money. D-Lab is building expertise in water pumping and irrigation, post harvest drying and storage, off-grid lighting and micro power, and small-scale renewable energy such as solar and biogas.

Path to Zero Net Energy Initiative

The PZNE Initiative, in partnership with the UC Davis Energy Conservation Office, is a multi-disciplinary course to educate and engage students in issues of energy use, demand, energy efficiency, renewable energy and climate neutrality as well as their associated technical, economic, social and political challenges. Through lectures, field trips, and a hands-on project, students will understand the concepts behind zero net energy buildings and communities, and the associated climate and economic issues.

Education Initiatives

Project-Based Learning

The Energy and Efficiency Institute supports project-based learning opportunities that enable students to gain knowledge and skills by investigating and responding to authentic, engaging and complex questions, problems and challenges.

Apply to the Energy Graduate Group

Welcome! We are delighted that you are interested in joining us as a graduate student. The Energy Graduate Group (EGG) provides an opportunity to do interdisciplinary research to address pressing energy, environmental, economic, policy and social challenges facing California, the U.S., and the world.

Watch Our Virtual Information Session Video

EGG Admission Schedule

Admission to graduate studies requires a bachelor’s degree from an accredited institution. Students are generally admitted for the fall quarter, but exceptional cases for off-cycle admission can be considered. The application deadlines for admissions are:

Priority Deadline:
January 15th

General Deadline:
April 1st

Space Available Deadline:
June 1st

Applicants who submit their application to the graduate program by the Priority Deadline will receive priority review for admission. These applications will also receive the highest priority in consideration of funding opportunities. We strongly encourage applications for any form of financial aid by this date as well.

Applicants who apply by the General Deadline (but after the Priority Deadline) will have their files formally reviewed for admission by the graduate program but will not be reviewed on a priority basis.

Applicants who apply by the Space Available Deadline (but after the General Deadline) are not guaranteed to have their application reviewed by the graduate program. Their application will be reviewed only if the graduate program determines that they have additional space available.

EGG Admission Criteria

Master’s degree applicants must have earned a grade point average of at least 3.0 in the junior and senior years of college and must submit three letters of recommendation. 

Applicants must complete the GRE. Register here for the GRE. NOTE: you can still take the GRE from home.

Master’s applicants who want to ultimately get a PhD are encouraged to contact a prospective research advisor and make clear to that faculty member and in their application that their degree goal is ultimately a PhD.

Doctoral applicants normally will have earned a minimum grade point average of 3.5 and must also submit three letters of recommendation. 

Applicants must complete the GRE. Register here for the GRE. NOTE: you can still take the GRE from home.

Applicants who already have a related MS degree are admitted to pursue a PhD degree. Applicants in this category are strongly encouraged to contact prospective research advisors. The program has a policy of admitting only those PhD applicants for whom a member of the faculty has agreed to serve as research advisor.

International students are expected to meet the English Language Testing Requirements as defined by the University of California.

Applicants must complete the GRE. Register here for the GRE. NOTE: you can still take the GRE from home.

Apply Now

EGG Application Process

ALL OF THE FOLLOWING DOCUMENTS MUST BE RECEIVED BY OUR DEPARTMENT IN ORDER FOR YOUR APPLICATION TO BE CONSIDERED

  • Apply Online
    • UC Davis offers application fee waivers to applicants who have participated in specific graduate preparation programs (for a full list see Graduate Preparation Program Participants)
    • UC Davis College of Engineering Equity Program Fee Waiver Eligibility
      • Applicants must seek Fall 2023 admission to a PhD program administered by the College of Engineering. (EGG is within the College of Engineering.) Applicants for MS programs are not eligible for a fee waiver through this program.
      • Only US citizens or current permanent residents are eligible to receive a fee waiver through this program.
      • Click this link to request a College of Engineering application fee waiver
  • Statement of Purpose and Personal History Statement. The Personal History Statement provides an opportunity for applicants to tell the Admissions Committee something about their unique backgrounds and personal histories. It may include information about other pursuits and interests of the applicant. It may give some details about any obstacles or disadvantages the applicant had to overcome, or inspiration for their pursuit of a graduate degree.
  • Three Letters of Recommendation. All letters must be submitted electronically by the referee.
  • UC Davis requires academic records from each college-level institution you have attended. You will be instructed to upload scanned copies of your transcripts after you have submitted your online application. For more details visit UC Davis Grad Studies.
  • GRE Scores – GRE scores are required for the Fall 2023 application cycle.
  • English Language Testing Requirement
  • EGG Prerequisites. Please provide this information in the Prior Coursework section of your online application. If you have deficiencies in any of these areas, you will need to complete them in your first year of study.
    • All applicants
      • Intermediate Statistics
      • Calculus
    • In addition, Energy Policy & Management track applicants
      • Intermediate Economics

EGG Change of Major or Double Major

If you are a current UC Davis graduate student and wish to change your major or add Energy Systems MS as an additional degree, you must file a Petition for Change of Graduate Major or for Double Major form. To apply to Energy Systems, please send the following information to EGG Graduate Coordinator, Annemarie Schaaf, aschaaf@ucdavis.edu.

After submission of this packet, the Energy Systems Admission Committee will review the application and inform the applicate of their decision. If accepted, signatures from both the current degree and EGG Staff Coordinators and Graduate Advisors will be collected and submitted on the provided Petition. The completed form is then forwarded to Graduate Studies for their approval.

If you have questions or need assistance, please contact us.

For Prospective Students

The Energy Graduate Group is designed to meet the world’s growing needs for highly qualified, thoughtful and dedicated leaders in sustainable energy systems. In addition to coursework and research, students interact with researchers and leaders from industry, government, public interest groups, and academia through seminars, internships, and visiting lectures.

Our interdisciplinary approach transcends the boundaries of traditional engineering-based studies to include social and behavioral sciences, ecology, and management. The EGG program offers two tracks of study:

(1) Energy Science & Technology, and
(2) Energy Policy & Management*

Master’s and Ph.D. Degree Requirements

For more degree information please click here.

Interested in a PhD focusing on energy economics? Please read more here about the Davis Energy Economics Program (DEEP) and if you’re interested in working with Energy Economics Faculty (see here), contact them directly about the graduate program in which they prefer to advise PhD students.

 

Funding Support Information

Approximately 95%  of our students receive funding

Estimated Student Fees Breakdown

Estimated Cost of Attendance

 

 

Undergraduate Preparation

The EGG program is designed to accommodate persons of diverse backgrounds who have sound educational foundations in areas that may include engineering, science, policy, economics, planning, or management. All students will be expected to have completed at least one upper division college level course in statistics and one year of calculus prior to admission. For students interested in the Energy Science and Technology track, the admission policy will require at least two undergraduate courses in chemistry and physics. For students interested in the Energy Policy and Management track, intermediate microeconomics and macroeconomics will be required.

Highly competitive applicants will have a GPA greater than a 3.6 in their prior programs and GRE verbal and quantitative scores greater than 60% and 90%, respectively. A minimum GPA of 3.0 in the undergraduate program and in any prior graduate program is required for admission. The program follows the policies of the UC Davis Graduate Council for evaluating international applicants and their test scores. For applicants who meet the admission requirements, the group will admit those who are academically outstanding and who demonstrate an interest in advanced energy systems, including technologies, policy, planning, and management in their applications.

 

If you have questions or need assistance, please contact us.

Key Features

We focus on energy
this is not a general environmental management degree.

We address energy systems broadly
with a focus on renewable energy, transportation fuels, and energy efficiency.

We offer rigorous, science-based degrees
without the requirement of an engineering degree.

We promote interdisciplinary interaction among graduate students and faculty
and with energy and environmental professionals in industry and government.

We are hosted by the UC Davis Energy and Efficiency Institute
and its affiliated research centers, programs and partnerships—recognized national and world leaders for research and education in energy efficiency.

We have a large, world-renowned community
of faculty and researchers engaged in energy research and teaching.

UC Davis has a long, successful history
of research and professional engagement in energy, policy, and management.

We are located in West Village
the country’s first and largest planned Zero Net Energy (ZNE) community, which also houses the Honda Smart Home and serves as a living laboratory.

We are located in close proximity to federal and state agencies
stakeholders and industries in the Sacramento and San Francisco Bay Areas—excellent sources of expertise and potential employment in energy-related fields.

California is a global leader in energy efficiency
low-carbon vehicles and fuels, renewable energy, and grid storage.

We provide valuable access to internship and job opportunities
via our partnerships with a large array of energy-related companies and government agencies.

Why Choose UC Davis?

Located conveniently near the Silicon Valley and California State Government,
Davis shares the advantages of both its relaxed, small town atmosphere, and big city access to opportunity.

More than 3,000 company recruiters — including Apple, Amazon, Wells Fargo, Dupont and Genentech, seek UC Davis graduates
and Livability.com ranks Davis the 3rd “Best City to Live in for STEM Workers” and 18th among the “Top 100 Best Places to Live” in the country.

When you want to unplug and renew,
iconic natural landmarks like Lake Tahoe and Yosemite are just a short trip away!

Internships

If you are a student interested in energy and energy efficiency, please ask us about internship opportunities in our office. We often have internships available in a range of areas, including research, outreach, and project management. Internships are valuable opportunities to:

  • Gain valuable work experience before you graduate;
  • Develop new skills and refine others;
  • Apply knowledge gained from coursework to on-the-job situations;
  • Test out your career interests;
  • Meet and work with professionals; and
  • Establish contacts for letters of reference and networking.

Also, please visit the UC Davis Internship and Career Center where you can access Handshake, an online platform where UC Davis students can search for jobs and internships.