Professor Yong Hoon Lee and his collaborators launched a new NSF-funded program for international energy research program for students.
A new international research and training initiative, InteGRATE: International Grid Research and Advanced Training in Energy, has opened applications for U.S. undergraduate and graduate students seeking hands-on experience tackling global energy challenges. Funded by the U.S. National Science Foundation’s International Research Experiences for Students (IRES) program, InteGRATE is led by the University of Memphis in partnership with the Technical University of Munich (TUM).
For more information, please visit the OFFICIAL WEBSITE of the InteGRATE Program:
https://www.headleyresearchgroup.com/integrate/the-integrate-project
International Grid Research and Advanced Training in Energy (InteGRATE)
What the InteGRATE Fellowship Offers
Full immersion in international energy research
Fellows will travel to Munich, Germany, for a 10–12 week summer program where they will collaborate with expert faculty from the University of Memphis and TUM on cutting-edge energy projects.
State-of-the-art lab training
Research will take place in world-class facilities, including power-hardware-in-the-loop (PHIL) testing environments in Memphis and TUM’s Center for Combined Smart Energy Systems (CoSES) — a microgrid laboratory that integrates electricity, heating, cooling, and transportation systems.
Comprehensive financial support
Selected participants will receive round-trip airfare, local housing, living stipends, conference travel, and other logistical support, enabling them to focus on research and international collaboration without financial burden.
Professional development and mentorship
Fellows will attend technical workshops and international conferences, receive mentorship from energy engineering experts in both countries, and engage in cultural and technical excursions designed to build global fluency and leadership skills.
Possible Research Topics
The InteGRATE program encourages student-led, tailored research projects in several key areas of clean energy and grid innovation. Project themes may include:
- Grid-integrated battery testing: Exploring real-time control strategies and degradation behavior of lithium-ion battery systems within dynamic microgrids.
- Hydrogen storage and sector coupling: Examining hydrogen’s role in flexible storage and its integration within combined electricity, heating, and transportation systems.
- Converter-dominated power systems: Developing and testing control algorithms for systems with high penetration of power electronics under variable grid conditions.
- Smart grid monitoring and control: Investigating system-level approaches to demand response, fault recovery, and coordination among multiple energy vectors.
- Technoeconomic planning tools and high-power converter design: Applying optimization methods to analyze cost-performance tradeoffs in storage and generation technologies, design novel power converters, and enhance renewable-rich grid stability.
Students will work with faculty mentors before departure to shape projects in alignment with their personal interests, technical backgrounds, and program timeline.
Who Should Apply
Eligible applicants include U.S. citizens or permanent residents who are full-time students at U.S. colleges or universities, and willing to commit to the entire 10–12 week summer program abroad. Preference will be given to University of Memphis students, though students from other institutions are encouraged to apply and will be considered.
Application materials include a personal statement (1–2 pages), résumé or CV, unofficial transcript, and two letters of recommendation. Submissions must be compiled into a single PDF file named InteGRATE_LastName_FirstName.pdf.
Priority Deadline (University of Memphis students): September 30, 2025
Final Deadline (all applicants): October 31, 2025
Why InteGRATE Matters
As global energy systems work to decarbonize and transition to renewable power, the need for engineers and researchers who understand the complexities of sector coupling, storage, grid stability, and international policy has never been greater. InteGRATE aims to build a new generation of energy professionals who are not only technically skilled, but also culturally agile, globally minded, and ready to lead in an interconnected energy future.
Thanks to generous financial support and structured mentorship, participants can focus fully on research, learning, and innovation — while gaining international exposure that could shape their academic and professional futures.
For prospective applicants or those interested in learning more, the InteGRATE program is administered by Dr. Alexander J. Headley in the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the University of Memphis (jheadley@memphis.edu)
For more information, please visit the OFFICIAL WEBSITE of the InteGRATE Program:
https://www.headleyresearchgroup.com/integrate/the-integrate-project