UT Austin launches Kay Bailey Hutchison Computational Energy Fellowship, applications opened Jan. 5

January 21, 2026

Applications for the Kay Bailey Hutchison Computational Energy Fellowship opened on Jan. 5 at the University of Texas at Austin. The program will prepare PhD students and postdoctoral researchers to model and evaluate energy systems, aiming to make power plants and other infrastructure safer and more efficient across Texas and nationwide.

Oden Institute director Karen Willcox said fellows will work with cutting-edge computational tools and artificial intelligence to create and run digital representations of physical systems. These so-called digital twins let researchers simulate scenarios and test operational decisions before changes reach a real facility, helping identify maintenance needs and optimize performance.

The fellowship targets early career researchers who are pushing the boundaries of computational science, Willcox said, and will provide financial support through a grant from the O'Donnell Foundation. Program leaders want candidates who also show an interest in mentoring, since a major component of the fellowship will involve guiding students pursuing energy minors.

Kay Bailey Hutchison, a founding member of the KBH Energy Center and former U.S. senator, said the center exists to expose students to the range of careers in the energy sector. The center houses academic tracks such as the Energy Studies Minor and the Energy Management Minor, and fellowship work will aim to connect computational resources to students across disciplines who are exploring energy-related career paths.

Hutchison reflected on the center's growth over the past decade, noting that energy policy and technology have become central to national economic competitiveness. Program leaders said the fellowship positions UT Austin to lead in educating researchers who can apply advanced simulation and AI to real-world energy challenges.

Prospective applicants should expect training that combines technical work on simulations with mentorship responsibilities and cross-campus collaboration. The fellowship represents a joint effort by academic units at UT Austin to bridge computational science and practical energy education.