Since 2010, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Indian Energy college student internship program has provided 31 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 recent interns and download their research papers below.
Learn about previous interns that were sponsored by the DOE Office of Energy Efficiency and Tribal Energy Program, a predecessor of the DOE Office of Indian Energy.
| STUDENT NAME | TRIBE | DEGREES | YEARS | RESEARCH PAPERS/PRESENTATIONS |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexis Glaudin | Lumbee | PhD Candidate, University of Washington B.S. Chemistry, UNC Chapel Hill | 2024 | Overview of Solar Panel Recycling for Indigenous Communities |
| Dresean Abeyta | Navajo | B.S. Chemical Engineering, University of New Mexico | 2024 | Empowering Tribal Members Through Solar Education |
| Sherralyn Sneezer | Navajo | PhD, Rochester Institute of Technology | 2024 | Pueblo of Picuris Solar Energy Research Case Study |
| Sarah LaVallie | Turtle Mountain Chippewa | Master's in Science, Technology, & Environmental Policy, University of Minnesota | 2022-2023 | Illuminating Common Ground: Success Factors for Contiguous US Tribal Solar Energy Development |
| Rachel Herring | Choctaw | Master's in International Environmental Policy and Japanese | 2022-2023 | Transforming Critical Mineral Demand for the Just Energy Transition |
| Veronique Arguello | Acoma and Santo Domingo (Kewa) Pueblo | M.S. Urban Planning, University of Arizona | 2022-2023 | Consensus-based Planning for Strategic Tribal Renewable Energy Projects; Presentation |
| Rudy Montoya | Navajo | M.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of New Mexico | 2022 | Shifting from Fossil Fuel Reliance to Green Energy Sovereignty: Ute Mountain Ute Tribe; Presentation |
| Dylan Hammond | Zuni | B.S. Mechanical Engineering, Utah State University | 2022 | Solar Energy Implementation Strategies on Picuris Pueblo; Presentation |
| Veronique Arguello | Acoma and Santo Domingo (Kewa) Pueblo | B.S. Environmental and Regional Planning, University of New Mexico | 2019 | Design Consideration for Solar Powered Wastewater Treatment Facility for Agriculture and Potable Usage on Acoma Pueblo Reservation |
| Callie Singer | Navajo | B.S. Civil Engineering, Columbia University | 2019 | Sizing Small-Scale Renewable Energy Systems for the Navajo Nation and Rural Communities |
| Sherralyn Snezzer | Navajo and San Carlos Apache | B.S. Environmental Science, Dartmouth College | 2019 | An Assessment of the Potential for Utility-Scale Solar Energy Development on the Navajo Nation |
| Sarah LaVallie | Turtle Mountain Chippewa | M.S. Science, Technology, and Environmental Policy, University of Minnesota; BS Mechanical Engineering, North Dakota State | 2021; 2019 | Preliminary Assessment of Potential for Wind Energy Technology on the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Reservation |
| Christian Gould | Navajo Nation | B.S. Chemical Engineering, Columbia University | 2018 | Addressing Food Insecurity on the Navajo Reservation Through Sustainable Greenhouses |
| Manuelito Chief | Navajo Nation | B.S. Electrical Engineering, University of Arizona | 2018 | Analysis of Refrigeration Units in Off Grid PV/Wind Hybrid Systems on Tribal Land |
| Teri Allery | Turtle Mountain Chippewa | M.S. Construction Management, North Dakota State University; B.S. Civil Engineering, North Dakota State University; A.S. Engineering, Turtle Mountain Community College | 2018 | Solar Street Lighting: Using Renewable Energy for Safety for the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa |
| Kathryn Hall | Turtle Mountain Chippewa | M.S. Chemical Engineering, University of North Dakota; B.S. Chemical Engineering; University of North Dakota | 2017 | Solar Energy Technologies and the Utilization on Native American Tribal Lands |
| Teri Allery | Turtle Mountain Chippewa | M.S. Construction Management, North Dakota State University; B.S. Civil Engineering, North Dakota State University; A.S. Engineering, Turtle Mountain Community College | 2017 | Renewable Energy Technologies for Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa Indian Reservation |
| Diana Fuller | Mescalero Apache | M.A. Sustainable Development and Policy, University of Illinois Springfield | 2016 | Identifying Sustainable Design Opportunities in Tribal Hotels and Casinos Focus: Mescalero Inn of the Mountain Gods Hotel & Casino |
| Rachael Gutierrez | Yomba Shoshone | M.A. City and Regional Planning, Pratt Institute's School of Architecture | 2016 | An Asset-Based Approach to Tribal Community Energy Planning |
| JoDonna John | Navajo | B.S. Electrical Engineering, Arizona State University; A.S. Sustainable Systems/PV, Navajo Technical University | 2015 | Building Geothermal Greenhouse Potential for the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe |
| Brittany Anstead | Haliwa-Saponi | M.S. Natural Resources and Environmentals, Sustainable Systems, University of MIchigan; B.S. Environmental Technology and Management, North Carolina State University | 2015 | Methods for Tribal Sustainable Development, Adaptation and Mitigation of Climate Change through a Sustainability Framework |
| Kimberlynn Cameron | Standing Rock Sioux | B.S. Geological Engineering, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology; M.S. Engineering Management/Sustainable Energy Minor, South Dakota School of Mines and Technology | 2015-2016 | Microbial Fuel Cell Possibilities on American Indian Tribal Lands |
| Len Necefer | Navajo | B.S. Mechanical Engineering, University of Kansas; Ph.D candidate in the Engineering and Public Policy Department at Carnegie Mellon University | 2014-2016 | Identifying Barriers and Pathways for Success for Renewable Energy Development on American Indian Lands |
| Tommy Jones | Aleut and Cherokee | B.S. Biology and Spanish, Oklahoma City University; M.A. Tropical Conservation Biology and Environmental Science, University of Hawaii at Hilo; Ph.D in natural resources studies and minoring in American Indian studies, University of Arizona | 2014-2016 | Identifying Barriers and Pathways for Success for Renewable Energy Development on American Indian Lands |
| Rachael Gutierrez | Yomba Shoshone Tribe | B.S. International Relations with a Concentration in Latin America and International Business | 2012 | An Asset-Based Approach to Tribal Community Energy Planning |
| Nora Cata | Seneca-Cayuga | M.S. Environmental Studies, San Jose State; B.A. Environmental Studies, University of California Santa Barbara | 2012 | Residential Solar Energy on the Navajo Nation |
| Chelsea Chee | Navajo | M.S. Community and Regional Planning and Public Administration, University of New Mexico; B.S. Environmental Studies, University of Arizona | 2012; 2011 | Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Benefits Agua Caliente Band of Cahuilla via Implementation at Their Indian Canyons Trading Post |
| Colleen Cooley | Navajo | M.S. Climate Science and Solutions, Northern Arizona University; B.S. Environmental Studies, Northern Arizona University | 2012 | Mitigating Climate Change on a Tribal Level |
| Tammie Allen | Jicarilla Apache | M.C.R.P. Community & Regional Planning, Emphasis Environmental and Natural Resource Planning, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico; B.A. Humanities, Cum Laude, College of Santa Fe, Albuquerque, New Mexico | 2011 | Improving Sustainability, Conservation, and Economic Development Utilizing Off-Grid Ecolodge: Ramona Band of Cahuilla Mission Indian Reservation Case Study |
| Gepetta Billie | Navajo | M.C.R.P. Community & Regional Planning, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico; B.A. Environmental Planning & Design, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico; A.A.S. Civil Engineering Technology, Southwestern Indian Polytechnic Institute, Albuquerque, New Mexico | 2011; 2010; 2009; 2008 | Renewable Energy: Planning for Sustainability & Self-Determination for the Navajo Nation |
| Devin Dick | Navajo | AS Renewable Energy Technologies, Navajo Technical University | 2011 | Suggested Alternatives for Navajo Tribal Utility Authority: Utilizing Excess Power Generated by Stored Hybrid Units |
| Joni Fuenmayor | Navajo | A.A.S. Energy Systems, Navajo Technical College, Crownpoint, New Mexico; B.A. Studio Art, Dartmouth College, Hanover, New Hampshire | 2010 | What's in a Watt? An Exploration of the Basic Electrical Relationship Between a Residential Photovoltaic System and an Appliance |
| 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 |
| Logan Slock | Hopi/Choctaw | B.A. Liberal Arts with focus in Environmental Studies, Johnson State College, Johnson, Vermont | 2010 | Achieving Overall Betterment of Energy Resource Use in Tribal Communities |