Research Participant Program

Since its inception in 1977, the National Renewable Energy Laboratory has played an increasing role in the international development of renewable energy — a role we couldn't have fulfilled without the support of visiting researchers. Here at NREL, we are committed to interacting with educational institutions, industry, and other research organizations through our Research Participant Program.

In return, participants are involved in exciting discoveries that go on here every day. Qualified university faculty, students, and professional scientists and engineers have the opportunity to participate in the Laboratory's research and development programs, initiate new areas of research, and establish a base for ongoing collaborations. You also can develop expertise in disciplines related to renewable energy research for application at your home institution or in your future career pursuits.

NREL also sponsors ongoing educational programs that provide opportunities for students, teachers, and faculty to learn about renewable energy and energy efficiency through research participation, curricula enhancement, and partnerships with schools, colleges, and universities.

Participants in NREL programs generally pursue studies in the following fields, which are listed below the applicable research centers:

National Bioenergy Center

Biochemical Engineering, Microbiology, Molecular Biology, Chemistry, and Chemical Engineering related to biomass and derived products

National Center for Photovoltaics

Physics, Chemistry, Materials Science, Electrical and Chemical Engineering

National Wind Technology Center

Aerospace, Mechanical, and Electrical Engineering, Meteorology

Buildings and Thermal Systems Center

Physics, Mechanical Engineering (emphasis on heat transfer), Architectural Engineering

Chemical and Biosciences Center

Physics, Chemistry, and Biological Sciences

Hydrogen Technologies and Systems Center

Radiometry, Atmospheric Science, Meteorology, Climatology, Remote Sensing, Metrology, Geographic Information Systems (GIS)

Materials and Computational Sciences Center

Physics, Materials Science, Chemistry, and Electrical Engineering. Basic and applied research using high-performance computing and applied mathematics

Strategic Energy Analysis and Applications Center

Energy forecasting and modeling; federal energy management; energy market, technology, and policy analysis; and international, state/local, and tribal energy project assistance.

Transportation Technologies and Systems Center

Mechanical and Chemical Engineering