Training

Applications to join the Climate Action and Resilience for Extreme Urban Heat (CLIMATE-CARE) Program starting in Summer 2025 will be accepted during the Spring 2025 semester.

The timeline for implementation is outlined below:

• Spring 2025: Information session and application selection
• Summer 2025: Enrollment curricular plan and orientation
• Fall 2025/Spring 2026: Certificate coursework and IPD activities
• Summer 2026: Internship and undergraduate mentoring
• Fall 2026: Funding guarantee for rest of PhD
• Spring 2027 and beyond: Continue thesis, certificate work, and IPD activities

Eligibility to Apply:  Penn graduate students whose research interests align with the Climate Action and Resilience for Extreme Urban Heat (CLIMATE-CARE) scientific goal to advance and optimize the nexus of building climate (interior) and urban climate (exterior) to mitigate the critical challenges of global warming associated with extreme urban environments.

Applicants should also be interested in and open to learning about science policy. First and second year PhD students who would like to build a substantial part of their dissertation around the use of autonomous experimentation for climate care research are especially invited to apply. Students later in their programs who already have strong research compatibility with the research theme of using autonomous experimentation for climate care research are also welcome to apply.

There are no citizenship restrictions for application. Some of our stipend-funded slots are restricted to U.S. nationals, but there are a limited number available for other citizens.

Climate Action and Resilience for Extreme Urban Heat (CLIMATE-CARE) Trainee positions will come with access to research, travel and Immersive Experience funding. A subset of the positions will also include funding towards the students’ stipend and tuition. The other Climate Action and Resilience for Extreme Urban Heat (CLIMATE-CARE) positions depend on departmental or PI-based support of the student’s stipend and tuition (i.e., would be non-NRT funded).

If you are offered a position, details will be clear on your offer letter and available to you and your PI before you decide to accept the offer.

Expectations:  Climate Action and Resilience for Extreme Urban Heat (CLIMATE-CARE) Trainees (and their PIs) should be fully supportive of the overall NSF’s NRT goals and excited to participate and grow the NRT Climate Action and Resilience for Extreme Urban Heat (CLIMATE-CARE) community at Penn. Please read and explore these NSF NRT pages on Impact and Innovation, including the left side-bar information (About the NRT and Program Building Blocks).

Participation as a Trainee would include some or all of these components, depending on how early or far along a trainee is in their PhD program when they start the Climate Action and Resilience for Extreme Urban Heat (CLIMATE-CARE)  program: a) formal coursework, b) inter- and transdisciplinary research and research communication workshops and forums, c) seminars bringing together data science, climate care and science policy experts and learners, d) grad student workshops on career navigation, skills and exploration, e) outreach/mentorship to more junior and potential Climate Action and Resilience for Extreme Urban Heat (CLIMATE-CARE)  trainees, f) participation in NRT-network wide (or subsets of related NRT) meetings, programs, events, g) commitment to diversity, inclusion and equity values and support of Climate Action and Resilience for Extreme Urban Heat (CLIMATE-CARE)  efforts to diversifying and broadening participation in STEAM, h) an Immersive Experience that would be tailored to and advance Trainees’ NRT-related research (e.g., for data collection, extended workshop, or internship) or training (e.g,. understanding of science policy, science communication skills) at an institution external to Penn (e.g., National Labs, Industry, Government, NGOs, non-Penn higher education, i) community engagement/other outreach aligned with the NRT Climate Action and Resilience for Extreme Urban Heat (CLIMATE-CARE)  areas, and j) active participation in the evaluation and assessment process of our Climate Action and Resilience for Extreme Urban Heat (CLIMATE-CARE)  program.

Applicants should first discuss the NRT Climate Action and Resilience for Extreme Urban Heat (CLIMATE-CARE) program and their application with their Penn faculty supervisor(s). Applicants will need the support of their PIs to be competitive in their applications.

Deadline:  All materials must be received by TBD (Philadelphia time).