Training the Next Generation of Climate and Energy Leaders: The James Bartlett Fellowship Program

Inspiration struck Jay Bartlett, MSESP’08, during the summer of 2008—in more ways than one.

Intrigued by behavioral economics theory in his Harris coursework, Jay was eager to explore its application to climate policy. So when Jay, a finance professional before his time as a student, found himself with unscheduled time over the summer, he savored that to focus on doing research. Through the fiscal lens of his career to that point, he dug into questions like, Do homeowners make rational economic investments in energy efficiency, such as weatherization?  What would lead someone to invest in more energy-efficient practices if they’re unsure of the health benefits or energy savings? Is there a market barrier that public policy can address?

“Having time outside of the busy Harris academic schedule to fully delve into one particular area of interest was so helpful to me,” Jay says. “I was confident that other Harris students could benefit from such dedicated time.”

Jay’s gratitude allowed Harris to launch the James Bartlett Fellowship Program. Now in its 11th year, the Bartlett Fellowship offers Harris students an unparalleled opportunity to work alongside faculty mentors and contribute to groundbreaking research in the field of energy policy.

Program evolution

The Bartlett Fellowship Program is a sought-after paid fellowship for Harris students to gain hands-on experience in energy, environment, and climate economics and policy research, through positions with faculty mentors at the Energy Policy Institute at the University of Chicago (EPIC) or external summer internships.

“Finding a way to balance the need for inexpensive, reliable energy while limiting impacts on our environment and climate is perhaps the defining challenge the world faces this century,” says Michael Greenstone, Milton Friedman Professor and EPIC Director. “Confronting this challenge requires not just the attention of policymakers and industry leaders, it requires leading thinkers and trailblazing young minds coming together to challenge convention and test new solutions. The Bartlett Fellowship is a unique and powerful way for talented students to engage in research on this topic and learn from inspiring faculty mentors.”

At a recent quarterly gathering, the 2022-2023 fellows discussed their appreciation for the comprehensive design of the program, which has allowed them to delve deeper into topics and skills taught in the classroom.

“Thanks to weekly objectives and meetings with my mentor, Assistant Professor Eyal Frank, I became more comfortable with a structured approach to research,” says Salhila Kudalkar, MPP’23. “Sometimes results aren’t as you expect, and I’ve learned the process of thinking through next steps.” For Kudalkar, who studied the large-scale adoption of DDT in the 1940s and its impact on public health and mortality rates in the US South, “It was enriching to translate concepts introduced in my classes—such as casual inference—to the rigor of a real-world scientific research project.” 

Lindsay Hiser, MPP’23, who was paired with Research Associate Professor Kim Wolske to study public-facing energy programs and consumer behavior, commends the fellowship as “a special campus program that’s incredibly supportive, well-rounded, and well-structured.”

The lauded structure has taken time to fine tune: The Bartlett Fellowship launched in 2012 as one summer fellowship for a singular student.

Aman Chitkara, MPP’13, was that inaugural Bartlett Fellow. He spent the summer at the International Center for Trade and Sustainable Development (ICTSD), Geneva, researching the barriers to trade of renewable energy goods and services. “I joined Harris when there were few climate and energy policy courses on campus. Only two other students at Harris were interested in this topic, and few faculty members had any active research projects,” he recalls.

Energy, economics, and policy research have since come into sharper focus at Harris—and throughout the world—and students’ hunger for training in the field reflects this. What started as one summer internship has evolved into a highly competitive program hosting 10 students across the summer and academic year.

Student enthusiasm, evidenced by applicant numbers, thrills Jay, and he works closely with Harris to better accommodate demand. With each cohort informing the next, quarterly fellowships were added, and those grew into full-year placements where students can help tease out an early-stage research idea. “We try to benefit as many students as possible and weigh priorities, assess shifts in student and faculty composition, and respond to changing student interests—such as preferences for EPIC-affiliated versus external mentors,” Jay says.

Real-world practice

One such EPIC-affiliated professor, Assistant Professor Fiona Burlig, has mentored several fellows over the years. “Hands-on research is extremely valuable for preparing our students for careers in public policy, international development, energy, and the environment,” she says. “Bartlett Fellows experience the inner workings of field research and gain significant technical expertise by working with data on projects that have real-world impacts.”

Participants agree that the advanced thinking and practical application of classroom learnings are hallmarks of the program. “The opportunity to wrangle real-world data sets, which can be messy, bold, and unorganized, improved my competence and confidence,” says Liana Lan, MPP’23, of her work with Assistant Professor Shaoda Wang.

Generational investment

At the time when Jay was searching for a graduate program that combined his undergraduate chemistry background with social sciences and economics, Harris offered a Master’s of Science in Environmental Science and Policy (MSESP)—“a fortuitous fit” that provided him with a strong analytical framework for examining public policy’s role and evaluating its effects.  

“I graduated from Harris and moved to DC in August 2008, just before Obama’s clean energy Recovery Act. It was a remarkable time to start on the ground floor of DC policy,” he says. Working at the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy and the Solar Energy Technologies Office at the U.S. Department of Energy, Jay was uniquely positioned to dive into the policy action buzzing in the nation’s capital.

Now a resident of Seattle, where he focuses on environmental, natural resources, and energy economics as a Senior Research Associate at the independent nonprofit research institution Resources for the Future (RFF), Jay remains fiercely loyal to Harris.

As a member of the Harris Council, the lead advisory group to the dean and school administrators, he lends high-level expertise to the community. His deepest tie to Harris, though, is his commitment to honing the Bartlett Fellowship, named in honor of his father, James (Jim). Jay supports a similar fellowship named in honor of his mother, Dede, at Princeton University, where he earned his BA in chemistry.

Born from his positive academic experiences, Jay’s interest in establishing research fellowships has also been shaped by the philanthropic example set by his parents. Their foundation, the Jim and Dede Bartlett Foundation, supports education, women in STEM, health, and other causes. As the Harris program grew, Dede, a former Fortune 25 executive, and Jim, the founder of an investment firm, decided to jointly fund the fellowship with Jay. “My parents are longtime patrons of education. We want to make an impact on as many students as possible, and funding research opportunities goes a long way,” Jay says of his family’s support.

“Jay’s devotion to ever improving the program means that each iteration optimizes our resources to elevate outcomes,” says Alison Coppelman, Senior Associate Dean of Alumni Relations and Development at Harris. “It’s been a great pleasure collaborating with Jay, and we are so grateful to the Bartlett family for their generous investment in student success.”

Global impact

No one knows the long-term value of the Bartlett Fellowship better than Chitkara. Post-Harris, he found himself back in Switzerland, where he realized how acutely the fellowship inspired his curiosity about different cultures. “I had never dreamt of living and working in Switzerland before Harris,” he says. “I would not have been able to pursue research at ICTSD had it not been for Jay’s generosity, and I wouldn't be living in Zurich today if not for my time at ICTSD. I am immensely grateful for Jay's gift and the irreversible impact it has made on my personal and professional life.”

Chitkara, who has built a career in climate-tech, energy, and sustainability, is a shining example of the global impact of the program. International students comprise half the Harris student population, and this diversity is reflected in the fellows. “We are facing a global issue that requires well-versed practitioners all over the world,” says Jay. “Harris produces outstanding energy and policy economists whose influence knows no geographic bounds.”  

Bringing their own varied experiences to a mentor’s research project, fellows both gain and impart knowledge. “I’ve been fortunate to work with many students who are originally from the regions where I conduct my research,” says Burlig. “I learn a lot from them, and it’s always fun to see them making an impact beyond Harris.”

And Bartlett Fellows feel uniquely prepared to do so.

Lan notes that she has become a more mature researcher through her hands-on role investigating the Revolving Door in China’s judicial system. “I’ve been engaged throughout the entire research process,” she says. “Having conversations about the research plan and strategy development—versus only carrying out assigned tasks—has helped more than I could have imagined.” And with an expanded data science skillset, Lan is primed for success in her current job at an Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) rating firm—and in whatever position may come next.

Aditya Retnanto, MSCAPP’23, credits his increased creativity and drive to working with Assistant Professor Amir Jina on a project using satellite imagery to quantify the presence of ocean plastic and help officials make data-driven decisions. “I’ve developed a creative problem-solving skillset to navigate roadblocks in the research process. You don’t always know the destination; sometimes you hit a dead-end, and other times you explore alternative avenues,” he says.

For Hiser, the Bartlett Program is a valuable opportunity to straddle the student and professional worlds: “It’s a great intermediary between the exclusively academic world of being a student—classes, studying, tests—and the strictly professional arena. Having more ownership at Harris, interacting directly with faculty, and feeling empowered as an energy policy steward have strengthened my academic experience and allowed me to confidently talk in-depth about my coursework in job interviews and among my peers.”

Greenstone echoes current and past students’ gratitude: “I am so thankful to the Bartletts for their continued support of this critically important program that is training the next generation of climate and energy leaders.”