VSEC Senior Fellowship
The VSEC Senior Fellowship is our commitment to elevating and connecting distinguished faculty, researchers, and collaborators who work in the areas of Energy Integration, Resource Sustainability, Climate Change Mitigation and Adaptation, and Systems Risk, Reliability, and Resilience to advance global solutions at the intersection of scientific discovery, systems integration, and societal impact.
Become a VSEC Senior Fellow
Are you interested in joining our community and helping to shape the future of sustainable energy systems and climate resilience?
If you are an established researcher whose work bridges innovation and implementation, we invite you to engage with the VSEC Senior Fellowship. Join a network of exceptional leaders committed to accelerating discovery, strengthening cross-sector collaboration, and advancing real-world impact.
Eligibility
Academic & Professional Status
You must be an established faculty member, senior researcher, industry leader, or policy expert with a demonstrated record of impact in sustainability, energy, climate, or closely related fields.
Eligible applicants include:
- Tenured or tenure-track faculty
- Research faculty or senior scientists
- Industry leaders or national laboratory researchers
- Policy or public-sector leaders working in sustainability, energy, or climate
Connection to Vanderbilt
While you do not need to be a Vanderbilt faculty member to apply, a meaningful connection to the Vanderbilt community and the Vanderbilt Center for Sustainability, Energy, and Climate is required.
- Vanderbilt faculty and researchers affiliated with VSEC are eligible to apply directly.
- If you are not a Vanderbilt faculty member or researcher, you must have an established relationship with, or be formally connected to, a VSEC-affiliated faculty member. This may include active research collaboration, proposal development, co-authorship, advisory and consultancy roles, or participation in VSEC pillar initiatives (e.g., research, education, innovative engagement, and global outreach).
- External applicants should identify a VSEC-affiliated faculty sponsor as part of the fellowship application process.
We are always interested in expanding our community and networks! If you are unsure whether your connection qualifies, please contact VSEC for guidance.
Fellowship Impact
Through the VSEC Senior Fellowship, we aim to:
- Build an active, connected community of research and practice and
- Elevate Vanderbilt’s leadership in sustainability, energy, and climate innovation.
- Catalyze large-scale, cross-sector research initiatives.
- Accelerate translational impact from lab to deployment.
- Strengthen global partnerships addressing climate and energy challenges
The VSEC Senior Fellowship reflects our belief that bold leadership, interdisciplinary collaboration, and strategic investment are essential to building resilient and sustainable systems for the future.
Contact
If you have questions or need more information, please contact Courtney Huff-Oelberg, VSEC Senior Program Manager.