Interested in energy justice, environmental policy, sustainability, or the impacts of expanding data centers on communities and ecosystems? The University of Tennessee's Department of Geography and Sustainability is recruiting a Ph.D. student for a fully funded research assistantship beginning in Fall 2027.
This opportunity may be especially interesting to Environmental Studies graduates considering advanced research in energy transitions, environmental justice, geography, and community-engaged research.
About the Research Project
The selected student will join an interdisciplinary research team working on the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation-funded project, "Data Centers and the Southern Energy Buildout: Implications for Electricity Cost, Energy Transition, and Energy Justice."
As data centers expand across the United States, their growing electricity demands raise important questions about energy costs, fossil fuel development, decarbonization, and environmental justice.
The project will examine these issues across the southeastern United States, particularly Central Appalachia and the Tennessee Valley Authority's service territory.
What Will You Do?
The graduate research assistant will contribute to the project through:
Conducting interviews and community-engaged research with residents and stakeholders.
Collecting, processing, and analyzing environmental, energy, and demographic data.
Developing maps of data center locations and electricity demand.
Investigating connections between data center expansion, energy infrastructure, and environmental justice.
Traveling throughout Central Appalachia and the Southeast to conduct field research.
Collaborating with researchers from the University of Tennessee, Emory University, and the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis.
Funding and Benefits
The position includes four years of guaranteed funding, contingent on satisfactory progress in the Ph.D. program.
Years 1–2: Graduate Research Assistantship with a stipend of at least $34,000 per year.
Years 3–4: Graduate Teaching Assistantship with a minimum stipend of $26,500 for nine months.
Additional Funding: Possibility of applying for a fifth year of teaching assistantship support.
Research Travel: Three years of funding for research travel and conference participation.
Research Support: Faculty mentorship and assistance applying for additional research fellowships and grants.
Who Should Apply?
The research team is seeking a student interested in independent research on energy justice and the social and environmental impacts of energy infrastructure.
Desired qualifications include:
A master's degree in geography or a related field.
Experience with social science research methods.
Familiarity with energy-related research or energy geography.
Experience conducting an independent research project.
Interest in environmental and energy policy.
Commitment to community-engaged research.
Willingness to travel independently for fieldwork.
Students with interdisciplinary backgrounds in environmental studies, geography, sustainability, anthropology, public policy, and related fields may find this opportunity particularly relevant.
How to Apply
Application Deadline: December 15, 2026
Interested applicants should review the University of Tennessee Department of Geography and Sustainability's graduate application guidelines.
Applicants are also encouraged to contact Dr. Gabe Schwartzman, Assistant Professor of Geography and Sustainability, to express their interest in the research assistantship and ask questions about the position.
Contact: Gschwar3@utk.edu
This is an opportunity for students and alumni interested in combining environmental research, community engagement, and policy to address emerging energy and sustainability challenges.
