Join the LEAP lab!

PhD opportunity in clean energy systems at the University of Iowa

I am recruiting PhD students to join my group at the University of Iowa in Civil and Environmental Engineering in Fall 2026. Go Hawks!

The LEAP lab (Low-carbon Energy Analysis and Planning) will support energy transition decision-making by analyzing natural resource constraints, guiding technology innovation, and targeting decarbonization solutions. PhD students will:

• 🌎  Analyze natural resource constraints such as wind and solar droughts and subsurface storage.
• ⚡️ Guide technology innovation for cost-effective energy storage, electricity generation, and clean heat.
• 🎯 Target decarbonization solutions including energy infrastructure flexibility, retrofits, and resilience.

Who should apply:

Motivated students excited about interdisciplinary energy systems work. Your PhD can dive deeper into earth science, energy technologies, or social constraints as they relate to guiding the global clean energy transition. Please let me know which of the domains above you are interested in, and check out jadowling.com to learn more about my research. Experience with scientific programming (e.g. Python) will help you incorporate new data and constraints into least-cost energy system models. Creativity, critical thinking, and the ability to make new connections will help you make an impact.

How to apply:

Make the LEAP! Email me (jacqueline-dowling@uiowa.edu) your CV along with a short summary of your background and future research interests. Let me know in your email if you will be attending INFORMS, USAEE, or AGU this fall. Apply by January 15th, 2026. https://grad.admissions.uiowa.edu/academics/civil-environmental-engineering-ms-or-phd