2026 David Leuschen Global Energy Fellowship at Columbia University | How to Apply

The David Leuschen Global Energy Fellows Program, run by Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy, is a year-long fellowship pairing 15 graduate students with senior energy scholars for direct research collaboration, mentorship, and policy engagement. Before anything else, this fellowship is only open to students already enrolled full-time in a Master’s or PhD programme at Columbia University. It is not an open international opportunity, so students outside Columbia’s graduate programmes do not qualify, regardless of their academic background or interest in energy policy.

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The application window for the cohort beginning January 2026 closed on September 30, 2025. Based on the programme’s pattern, applications for the next cohort typically open in September each year, meaning the next window is likely opening around now. This guide is written for currently enrolled Columbia graduate students specifically — if that doesn’t describe you, this isn’t a fellowship you can apply for.

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About This Fellowship

The programme honours David Leuschen, founder and senior managing director of Riverstone Holdings, and operates through Columbia’s Center on Global Energy Policy (CGEP), a research institution within the School of International and Public Affairs that focuses on independent, nonpartisan energy and climate research.

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What sets this fellowship apart from a typical academic programme is its direct pairing structure: each fellow is matched with a CGEP Senior Research Scholar or Global Fellow and works as a research assistant on the scholar’s ongoing research projects, rather than simply participating in a general seminar series.

Fellows contribute to research materials and support the Center’s convenings with policymakers and industry stakeholders, embedding their work directly into CGEP’s ongoing research rather than placing them on a separate student-focused track. CGEP’s founding director has framed the programme’s purpose explicitly around today’s geopolitical landscape — building graduate students’ capacity to understand how energy policy intersects with geopolitics and national security, not just energy systems in isolation.

David Leuschen Global Energy Fellowship Summary

Who Can Actually Apply

• You must be a full-time graduate student — Master’s or PhD, including PhD candidates — currently enrolled at Columbia University for the entire duration of the fellowship. This is the single defining eligibility requirement, and it rules out anyone not already admitted to and enrolled in a Columbia graduate programme.
• Your expected graduation date must fall within or after the fellowship period, so check the specific cohort’s stated cutoff, as previous cycles have required fellows to meet a minimum graduation timeline.
• You need a demonstrated record of academic excellence and genuine professional potential in fields connected to energy, climate, or policy.
• You need to demonstrate a proven interest in global energy systems, climate change, and related policy or research areas through meaningful engagement with the subject, not simply a passing interest stated in your application.
• You need strong communication, analytical, and interpersonal skills because the fellowship involves close, collaborative research with a senior scholar rather than independent, low-contact study.
• You need genuine willingness to commit to the full programme — monthly seminars, networking events, mentorship sessions, and ongoing research collaboration — for the entire year-long duration.

What the Fellowship Provides

• A compensated research role as a Student Research Worker, for up to 10 hours per week, working directly with your paired CGEP scholar rather than in a generic support capacity.
• 1:1 mentorship, pairing each fellow individually with a CGEP Senior Research Scholar or Global Fellow — a structural feature introduced specifically to give fellows direct, sustained access to one researcher rather than diffuse group mentorship.
• Support for a fully funded summer internship in the energy and climate sector, extending the fellowship’s value beyond the academic year itself.
• Monthly luncheons and learning sessions, giving fellows direct engagement with distinguished energy leaders and scholars on live issues in energy security, climate change, and global markets.
• Access to exclusive networking and professional development events, connecting fellows with industry leaders, policymakers, and academics shaping current energy policy.
• A certificate of completion, awarded on successful participation through the full fellowship term.

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Documents to Prepare

Hosted by the Center on Global Energy Policy (CGEP) at Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA), the David Leuschen Global Energy Fellows Program selects a cohort of 15 full-time Columbia graduate students (including Ph.D. candidates) annually.

Selection is merit-based and focuses on energy policy, technology, and market interests. Applications are submitted online through CGEP’s portal.

1. Current Resume or Curriculum Vitae (CV):

• Length & Format: 1–2 page structured document (uploaded in .pdf format).
• Focus Areas: Must highlight relevant academic achievements, past professional roles, policy research, internships, and data/analytical capabilities in energy, environment, or sustainability sectors.

2. Statement of Purpose / Motivation Letter:

• Format & Length: Typically capped at 1 to 2 pages (500–750 words).
• Strategic Themes:
  • Academic & Research Alignment: Detailing your specific focus within energy systems, geopolitics, decarbonization, or climate finance.
  • CGEP Value & Engagement: Explaining why you want to work 1-on-1 with a CGEP Senior Research Scholar or Global Fellow.
  • Career Vision: Explaining how the fellowship’s roundtables, policy workshops, and mentorship will advance your long-term career goals in global energy.

3. Academic Transcripts:

• Scope: Official or unofficial transcripts covering your current Columbia University graduate coursework, alongside complete transcripts from your prior undergraduate (and postgraduate) degrees.
• Requirement: Must show grade point averages (GPA) and course titles confirming strong academic performance.

4. Letters of Recommendation:

• Composition: 1 to 2 letters from academic professors, thesis advisors, or professional supervisors.
• Content Focus: Referees must explicitly speak to your analytical capacities, written communication skills, research potential, and commitment to global energy systems.

How to Apply — For the Next Cycle

1. Confirm your enrollment status meets the requirement first — full-time Master’s or PhD enrollment at Columbia for the entire fellowship duration is non-negotiable, and there’s no route into this programme without it.
2. Check your expected graduation date against the specific cohort’s stated cutoff before applying, since this has been a defined eligibility line in past cycles.
3. Draft your statement of purpose with genuine specificity about your energy and climate policy interests — given the direct scholar-pairing structure, a generic statement is less competitive than one showing real engagement with a specific area of the field.
4. Gather your transcripts and secure your letters of recommendation well ahead of the deadline.
5. Complete the online application through Columbia’s Center on Global Energy Policy fellowship website once the next cycle opens — based on the pattern, watch for this around September.
6. Submit before the stated deadline, historically at 11:59 PM. Past cycles have stated explicitly that late submissions aren’t accepted.
7. If selected, expect notification the following month, with the fellowship year typically beginning in January.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can students outside Columbia University apply for this fellowship?

No. Despite what some guides suggest, this fellowship is restricted to students already enrolled full-time at Columbia University in a graduate programme. It is not an open international opportunity, regardless of nationality or academic background.

Is the fellowship currently accepting applications?

No. The cycle for the cohort starting January 2026 closed on September 30, 2025. Based on the programme’s pattern of opening applications in September each year, the next cycle is likely to open around now.

Do I need to already have an energy or climate-specific degree to apply?

You do not need a specific degree title, but you must demonstrate a strong academic record and genuine professional interest in energy, climate, or policy-related fields. The selection process assesses this through your application materials rather than requiring a particular degree programme.

How many fellows are selected each year?

15 — this is a small, competitive cohort, not a large-scale programme.

Does the fellowship guarantee a summer internship?

It provides support for a fully funded summer internship in the energy and climate sector, extending the fellowship’s benefits beyond the academic year, though the specific internship placement depends on individual circumstances and CGEP’s connections that cycle.

Disclaimer: All fellowship details, deadlines, and eligibility criteria in this post were verified from Columbia University’s Center on Global Energy Policy official sources as of August 2026. Information is subject to change without notice. Always confirm the latest details directly on CGEP’s official website before applying. ScholarWaka is not affiliated with Columbia University.

Official Application Portal