Turn big ideas into real‑world impact
The Energy & Infrastructure Solutions Lab is a year‑long, paid, industry‑integrated experience where interdisciplinary student teams work on real challenges in energy, infrastructure, and sustainability. Students move beyond case studies to develop prototypes, models, and implementation strategies for partner organizations.
The Lab engages partners from utilities, nonprofits, technology companies, and advanced‑materials firms to bring forward challenges such as critical‑materials supply chains, decarbonizing the built environment, wildfire and grid resilience, sustainable computing, low‑carbon fuels, and market‑based carbon removal.
Students selected for the Lab receive internship‑level compensation during the fall implementation phase and develop tangible deliverables—models, pilots, prototypes, or roadmaps—that stand out to employers and funders. They work closely with faculty and practitioners from the Environmental Institute, UVA Innovates, the Office for Sustainability, and schools including Darden, McIntire, Batten, and Engineering.
Why join — and who should apply
The Solutions Lab is built for students who want meaningful responsibility and the chance to address real‑world problems. Participants collaborate with external organizations on interdisciplinary challenges while building skills in problem‑solving, venture development, communication, and navigating real constraints.
Students from any school and at any level (undergraduate or graduate) are encouraged to participate. Strong candidates are motivated by applied problem-solving and cross‑disciplinary collaboration. Graduates of the Lab leave with a substantial project for their resume or graduate applications, experience working with partner expectations and timelines, mentorship from leaders in innovation and sustainability, and a durable network across UVA and beyond.
