Support Research
Support Sponsored Research
Northwestern cultivates a rich ecosystem of innovation when it comes to addressing the most pressing challenges in energy and sustainability. The development of sponsored research projects and centers with support from industrial, entrepreneurial, and philanthropic communities can be essential for increasing the speed and scale of the discovery and deployment of sustainable solutions.
Partner on Funding Proposals
Team science, translational research, and experiential education are core principles at the Trienens Institute. Partnering with external research, industry, and NGO organizations on funding proposals (e.g., government funding, foundation funding, etc.) is often vital for maximizing impact.
Share Expertise on Joint Research
The pursuit and creation of new knowledge is paramount in the development of effective sustainability solutions. Research, industry, and NGO partners can support this effort by collaborating on academic publications and sharing expertise and research needs with Trienen's network.
Pilot Test Projects on Campus
Northwestern’s campus is a living laboratory of education and research. The Trienen Institute works with external partners and a host of internal offices, including sustainNU, to help make this vision a reality.
Use Trienens Institute Flex Lab
The Flex Lab is a $20 million dollar, 8,000-square-foot laboratory that brings together researchers in industry, academia, government, and non-governmental organizations to study the most pressing issues in sustainability and energy. The state-of-the-art lab is designed to function as a collaborative facility for global sustainability and energy research—serving as a major hub to accelerate and showcase research in these highly interdisciplinary fields at Northwestern and beyond.
Support Education
Participate in Practicum Projects
As part of Northwestern’s Master of Science in Energy and Sustainability (MSES), student teams work with a faculty advisor on a practicum project. This is a 10-week team consulting project for a corporate, non-profit, or municipal client.
Support Scholarships, Fellowships, and Visiting Scholars
From undergraduate scholarships to late-career fellowships, such support helps expand Northwestern’s role in developing leaders and change-makers focused on the most pressing issues in climate change, energy, and sustainability.
Recruitment and Internships
Northwestern is a top-ten university, educating future leaders across a wide variety of prominent schools and departments. Our students and fellows—ranging from undergraduate, masters, PhD, and postdoctoral—are highly skilled and eager to make an impact on pressing energy and sustainability challenges.
Support Engagement
Join Trienens Institute Executive Council
The Executive Council is an external philanthropic advisory board representing University trustees, sustainability leaders, and executives principally involved in the Institute’s strategic priorities across technology, finance, and international conservation. Council members bring financial resources to the Trienens Institute and advise the leadership team and University decision makers on industry trends and policy.
Institutional Partnership Agreements
Because the Trienens Institute is University-wide, the Institute coordinates with administrative offices and academic departments across Northwestern, helping to ensure partnership continuity over time. Formal institutional partnership agreements can be a helpful tool for clearly defining and charting these longer-term, multifaceted collaborative efforts. Agreements can take many forms including Master Research Agreements (MRAs) and Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs).
Co-Host Events
Partnering with the Trienens Institute on seminars, workshops, conferences, and symposia supports knowledge sharing and collaboration. Opportunities include speaking engagements and event sponsorship among others.
