From 2002 to 2009, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) tribal energy college student internship program was sponsored by the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Tribal Energy Program, a predecessor of the DOE Office of Indian Energy. It provided 18 Native American undergraduate and graduate students with first-hand experience working on tribal renewable energy projects and direct exposure to issues concerning tribal renewable energy technology use and application. Find details about previous interns and download their research papers below.
Learn about recent interns that were sponsored by the DOE Office of Indian Energy.
| Student Name | Tribe | Degrees | Years | Research Papers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Prestene Garnenez | Navajo | M.A. Urban Planning, University of California-Los Angeles, California; B.S. Biology and minor in Mathematics, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico | 2010; 2009 | Green Gas Stations: A Guide for Tribally Owned Gas Stations |
| Suzanne Singer | Navajo | Ph.D. Mechanical Engineering, University of California Berkeley, California; M.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of California Berkeley, California; B.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of Arizona, Tucson, Arizona | 2009; 2008 | |
| Amanda Montoya | Taos/SanJuan/Isleta Pueblo | M.C.R.P. Community & Regional Planning, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico; B.A. Business Administration, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, New Mexico | 2008 | Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency Initiatives on the Laguna Pueblo Reservation |
| Carson Pete | Navajo | M.S. Mechanical Engineering, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona; B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, Arizona | 2008 | North Leupp Family Farms Project: Agriculture Systems Using Photovoltaic Cells and Small Wind |
| Terry Battiest | Choctaw | B.S. Industrial Engineering, University of Colorado Boulder; Graduate student in Telecommunications, University of Colorado Boulder | 2007; 2006 | Enhancing Monitoring and Reporting of Residential Renewable Energy Systems on the Navajo Nation; Navajo Tribal Utility Authority Solar Program System Data and O&M Initiative for DOE Solar Technologies Database; |
| Nick Johnson | Three Affiliated | Undergraduate student in mechanical engineering, University of Colorado Denver | 2007 | Sustainability of Small Wind Turbines on Native American Tribal Lands |
| Cherilyn Wilson | Navajo | Undergraduate student in biology and environmental science, Oklahoma Panhandle State University | 2007 | The Ecological Effects of a Native Wind Energy Project |
| Jonathan Biron | Sault St. Marie Tribe of Chippewa Indians) | Undergraduate majoring in Engineering, Michigan State University | 2006 | Tribal Renewable Energy Integration: An Analysis of Current Tribal Infrastructure |
| Lani Tsinnajinnie | Navajo/Filipino | Undergraduate student majoring in Environmental Science, University of New Mexico | 2006 | Benefits of Renewable Energy for Native Nations from the Environmental and Native Perspective |
| Jennifer Coots | Navajo | M.B.A. Finance, University of New Mexico. Her research focused on tribal mortgage financing of renewable energy systems. | 2005; 2004 | A Decade of Changes to an Alternative Power Source for a Rural Utility |
| Tanya Martinez | Mi'kmaq | B.S. Electrical Engineering; Power engineering graduate student at the University of Massachusetts Lowell | 2005 | Remote Monitoring System Design: Sustainable Systems for the Navajo Tribal Utility Authority |
| Deborah Tewa | Hopi | B.S. Indigenous Studies, Northern Arizona University. Her research focused on the U.S. Department of Energy's (DOE) reliability database for off-grid photovoltaic systems. | 2005; 2004; 2002 | NativeSUN: A Model for Sustainable Solar Electric Systems on Indian Lands |
| Colin Ben | Navajo | M.A. American Indian Studies, University of Arizona | 2004 | Researching Renewable Energy Systems Available to Indian Country |
| Benjamin Mar | Cherokee | B.S. Electrical Engineering, Worchester Polytechnic Institute | 2004 | Navajo Tribal Utility Authority: Photovoltaic Hybrid Operation and Maintenance Process for a Sustainable Program |
| Keith Candelaria | San Felipe/Jemez | B.S. Environmental/Earth Science, Dartmouth College | 2003 | Native American Renewable Energy Approaches: Navajo Tribal Utility Authority and NativeSun |
| Velissa Sandoval | Navajo/Zuni | B.S. Electrical Engineering, University of Denver | 2003 | Women Champions in Solar Energy |
| Shaun Tsabetsaye | Zuni | Graduate student in electrical engineering, University of New Mexico; B.S. Electrical Engineering | 2003 | Navajo Tribal Utility Authority: Electrification Demonstration Program Developing a Sustainable Tribal and Rural Cooperative Solar Program |