Job Title:

PowerAhead Energy Innovation Student Employee

Location:

California Home Office, Remote/Home Based

Job Summary and Description:

PowerAhead is EPRI’s platform for demonstration-enabled technology transfer, helping accelerate adoption of innovative energy solutions through technical validation, partner engagement, and deployment-focused strategy. The program works across utilities, communities, technology providers, regulators, and other stakeholders to move promising concepts from pilots and technical evaluation toward real-world implementation. This internship will support PowerAhead’s work at the intersection of electrification, distributed energy resources, grid modernization, resilience, and emerging technology deployment.

The role is well suited for a student interested in both technical and strategic work, including research, market analysis, program support, stakeholder mapping, and development of materials that help translate innovation into actionable opportunities. The intern will work closely with EPRI staff on projects that may include demonstration planning, partner research, opportunity tracking, communications support, landscape analysis, and preparation of internal and external materials. This role is intended to provide practical exposure to how new energy technologies are evaluated, positioned, and advanced in collaboration with utilities, public agencies, and industry partners.

Typical Activities and Responsibilities:

• Support PowerAhead program activities related to emerging energy technologies, demonstrations, and deployment strategy.

• Conduct research on priority topics such as distributed energy resources, virtual power plants, electrification, resilience, community energy solutions, grid-edge technologies, data center power and flexibility, and related market opportunities.

• Assist with development of stakeholder maps, partner briefs, meeting preparation materials, and opportunity summaries for utilities, public sector entities, technology companies, and other external collaborators.

• Help organize and synthesize information across projects, including notes, action items, market intelligence, pilot concepts, and strategic partnership opportunities.

• Contribute to preparation of presentations, summaries, briefing memos, and draft external-facing content in support of PowerAhead initiatives.

• Support analysis of demonstration concepts and strategic initiatives by helping frame technical, commercial, and public-benefit value propositions.

• Work with technical and business team members to identify opportunities for technology transfer, regional engagement, and adoption-ready program development.

• Track relevant developments across the energy sector and help translate findings into useful insights for internal planning and external engagement.

EPRI is looking for a highly motivated student who is interested in energy innovation, applied research, and the practical pathways required to move new technologies into deployment.

Typical majors could include, but are not limited to:

• Engineering, public policy, environmental studies, energy systems, data science, economics, business, planning, or related fields.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Undergraduate, master’s, or PhD student with strong interest in the energy sector.

• Strong research, writing, and synthesis skills, with the ability to turn complex information into clear and useful outputs.

• Interest in energy innovation, electrification, DERs, utility strategy, energy policy, clean technology, or grid modernization.

• Ability to manage multiple workstreams, organize information, and support both technical and strategic tasks.

• Experience with PowerPoint, Excel, Word, and basic research tools. Familiarity with data analysis, GIS, CRM systems, or market research is a plus.

• Comfort working independently while also collaborating regularly with mentors and cross-functional teams.

• Strong verbal and written communication skills.

Ideal Candidate:

• The ideal candidate is curious, organized, and able to operate across both technical and strategic subject matter. They should be comfortable supporting work that ranges from research and analysis to partner engagement preparation and innovation program development. This internship is a strong fit for someone who wants to understand how energy technologies move from concept to demonstration to broader market adoption.

What the Intern Will Gain:

• Exposure to real-world energy innovation and deployment efforts across EPRI’s network.

• Mentorship from EPRI staff working across technical, market, and partnership functions.

• Hands-on experience supporting projects tied to utility innovation, demonstrations, stakeholder engagement, and commercialization pathways.

• A clearer understanding of how public-interest research organizations help reduce risk and accelerate adoption of new energy solutions.

The hourly rate range for Student positions are:

• Undergraduate: $16-29 per hour

• Masters: $27-33 per hour

• Ph.D: $31-36 per hour

These ranges are an estimate, and the actual hourly rate may vary based on various factors, including without limitation applicant's education, experience, skills, and abilities, as well as internal equity and alignment with market data. The hourly rate may also be adjusted based on applicant's geographic location.

As an EPRI Student, you will not participate in EPRI’s Benefit Programs which includes health insurance, retirement benefits, vacation, sick leave (except as set required by law) and holiday pay. However, as a Student employee you are eligible for the benefits of Social Security, State Disability Insurance, and Workers’ Compensation Insurance.

For Student positions which require one to relocate to an EPRI office.  Relocation assistance is not provided and the student will be responsible for covering all relocation costs/expenses.

EPRI participates in E-Verify, an online system operated jointly by the Department of Homeland Security and the Social Security Administration (SSA). EPRI uses the system to check the work status of new hires by comparing information from the employee's I-9 form against SSA and Department of Homeland Security databases.

EPRI is an equal opportunity employer. EEO/AA/M/F/VETS/Disabled

Together . . . Shaping the Future of Energy.

www.epri.com