Hydro Fellowship

ProgramHydro Research Foundation

Northwest Hydroelectric Association Conference Portland ORFebruary 22, 2011

Program Origin & Purpose

Made possible by a 4-year $3 million grant from Made possible by a 4-year $3 million grant from the Department of Energythe Department of Energy

Recognizes need to stimulate new academic Recognizes need to stimulate new academic interest in conventional and pumped storage interest in conventional and pumped storage hydropowerhydropower

Recognizes large numbers of opportunities for new Recognizes large numbers of opportunities for new employees in hydropower due to growing industry employees in hydropower due to growing industry and an aging workforceand an aging workforce

Program Objectives

Develop and manage a collaborative effort Develop and manage a collaborative effort involving a broad spectrum of industry and involving a broad spectrum of industry and academic organizationsacademic organizations

Develop a nationwide approach Develop a nationwide approach

Award fellowships to approximately 27 studentsAward fellowships to approximately 27 students

Program Objectives cont.

Publicize the ongoing and completed research at Publicize the ongoing and completed research at national forums and through electronic medianational forums and through electronic media

Develop strong mentoring relationshipsDevelop strong mentoring relationships

Develop career entry opportunities for graduatesDevelop career entry opportunities for graduates

Develop an approach to assure the long-term Develop an approach to assure the long-term sustainability of the program through sustainability of the program through sponsorships sponsorships

ApproachTwelve person Steering Group from a broad array of industry and Twelve person Steering Group from a broad array of industry and academic organizationsacademic organizations

Nationwide recruitment of applicants. HRF received 47 applications Nationwide recruitment of applicants. HRF received 47 applications from 34 universitiesfrom 34 universities

On-line application processOn-line application process

Fellowship includes tuition & health insurance allowances, living Fellowship includes tuition & health insurance allowances, living stipend, professorial discretionary fund, and attendance at stipend, professorial discretionary fund, and attendance at HydroVision.HydroVision.

Fellows are provided a Steering Group and industry mentor relevant to Fellows are provided a Steering Group and industry mentor relevant to research arearesearch area

Approach ContinuedFellows Roundtable sponsored by industry and providing on-Fellows Roundtable sponsored by industry and providing on-site visits to hydropower facilitiessite visits to hydropower facilities

Press releases, letters and publicity at national and Press releases, letters and publicity at national and international events, to Congress, to national professional international events, to Congress, to national professional organizations, universities, and fellows’ hometownsorganizations, universities, and fellows’ hometowns

Web publishing of research results and presentation Web publishing of research results and presentation opportunities at national conferencesopportunities at national conferences

Development of industry sponsors to assure long-term Development of industry sponsors to assure long-term viability of programviability of program

2010 Fellows Class

2010 Fellows Class

Michael George - Michael George - University of California, Berkeley CA, PhD Candidate- Rock University of California, Berkeley CA, PhD Candidate- Rock Scour Evaluation Using Block Theory and the Critical Key Block Concept Scour Evaluation Using Block Theory and the Critical Key Block Concept 

Justin Hannon - Justin Hannon - University of Iowa, Iowa City IA, Masters Degree Candidate - University of Iowa, Iowa City IA, Masters Degree Candidate - Proposal for a Computational Fluid Dynamics Study to Examine the Affect of a Proposal for a Computational Fluid Dynamics Study to Examine the Affect of a Karman Gait on Fish LocomotionKarman Gait on Fish Locomotion

Jordan Kern - Jordan Kern - University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill NC, PhD Candiate - University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill NC, PhD Candiate - Dynamic Hydrologic-Economic Modeling of Tradeoffs in Hydroelectric SystemsDynamic Hydrologic-Economic Modeling of Tradeoffs in Hydroelectric Systems

Marina Kopytkovskiy - Marina Kopytkovskiy - Colorado School of Mines, Golden CO, Masters Degree Colorado School of Mines, Golden CO, Masters Degree Candidate - The Effects of Climate Change on the Water Resources and Candidate - The Effects of Climate Change on the Water Resources and Hydropower Production Capacity of the Upper Colorado River BasinHydropower Production Capacity of the Upper Colorado River Basin

John Lamontagne - John Lamontagne - Cornell University, Ithaca NY, PhD Candidate - Real- Time Cornell University, Ithaca NY, PhD Candidate - Real- Time Forecasting and Hydropower Reservoir Optimization Using Sampling Stochastic Forecasting and Hydropower Reservoir Optimization Using Sampling Stochastic Dynamic ProgrammingDynamic Programming

2010 Fellows Continued•  Ann Marie Larquier - Alaska Pacific University, Anchorage AK, Masters Degree Candidate - Glacial Influences on Water Resources of the Eklutna Basin, Alaska

• Minal Parekh - Colorado School of Mines, Golden CO, PhD Candidate - Evaluating Internal Erosion in Earth Dams Using Non-Destructive Methods

• John Petrie - Virginia Tech University, Blacksburg VA, PhD Candidate - Modifying Hydropower Releases to Reduce Riverbank Erosion

• Adam Witt - University of Minnesota, Minneapolis MN, PhD Candidate – Development of a Technology to Predict Gas Transfer at Low and High Head Structures

Unique AspectsNational recruitment using social media and electronic newsletters for National recruitment using social media and electronic newsletters for recruitment of applicantsrecruitment of applicants

• Active participation of industry and academic communities on Steering Active participation of industry and academic communities on Steering GroupGroup

• Substantial in-kind participation by faculty and institution associated with Substantial in-kind participation by faculty and institution associated with the Fellowsthe Fellows

• Opportunity to meet with industry annually & on-site visits to hydropower Opportunity to meet with industry annually & on-site visits to hydropower facilitiesfacilities

• Introduction of Fellows to industry at HydroVisionIntroduction of Fellows to industry at HydroVision

• Industry mentorshipsIndustry mentorships

• Web publishing of research results and Web publishing of research results and presentation opportunities at national conferences.presentation opportunities at national conferences.

Current Activities

– Preparing for second round of selection of fellowsPreparing for second round of selection of fellows

– Application materials available November 1, 2010Application materials available November 1, 2010

– Selection early April 2011Selection early April 2011

– Development of industry sponsorship program to Development of industry sponsorship program to assure long-term viability of programassure long-term viability of program

– Working with potential sponsors on ideasWorking with potential sponsors on ideas

– Several flexible levels of sponsorshipSeveral flexible levels of sponsorship

Success Factors

• Building nationwide interestBuilding nationwide interest

• Strong industry partnershipsStrong industry partnerships

• Highly competitive selectionHighly competitive selection

• Highly competitive Fellowship provisionsHighly competitive Fellowship provisions

Why Does It Matter?

• Hydro’s green (!) again…and it’s funHydro’s green (!) again…and it’s fun

• Attractive to new generation of workersAttractive to new generation of workers

• Need to attract smart, agile employeesNeed to attract smart, agile employees

• Need to build cadre of up and coming industry Need to build cadre of up and coming industry leadersleaders

What’s Needed Next

• Industry sponsorships for new FellowshipsIndustry sponsorships for new Fellowships

• Industry mentors for new FellowsIndustry mentors for new Fellows

• Participation in Hydro Fellows RoundtablesParticipation in Hydro Fellows Roundtables

• Career opportunitiesCareer opportunities

Questions?

• Contact: Contact:

– Deborah M. Linke, Program Director at Deborah M. Linke, Program Director at Deborah@hydrofoundation.org 720-480-0488 720-480-0488

– Brenna Vaughn, Grant Administrator at Brenna Vaughn, Grant Administrator at Brenna@hydrofoundation.org 303-324-1736303-324-1736

– Linda Church-Ciocci, Executive Director at Linda Church-Ciocci, Executive Director at Linda@hydro.org 202-682-1700 202-682-1700