The Ralph O’Connor Sustainable Energy Institute can announce Amienne Spencer-Blume and Xiao Xu as the selections for the 2026-27 ROSEI PhD Fellows Program.
The program will support two PhD stipends for the current upcoming academic year. The aim of the program is to:
- Provide an enhanced PhD experience for energy fellows
- Increase the potential that PhD students associated with ROSEI have impactful careers in energy – particularly in work that is timely for the energy transition (including all forms of commercial and non-commercial translation)
- Connect and strengthen ROSEI’s objectives, pillars, and future needs
“This year, we were especially inspired not only by the excellence of our selected fellows, but by the overall strength of the nomination pool,” said Susanna Thon, ROSEI associate director and an associate professor of electrical and computer engineering. “Amienne and Xiao are conducting innovative research that aligns closely with ROSEI’s mission, and we are excited to support their continued growth as energy leaders. Their selection, alongside the accomplishments of the other outstanding nominees, reflects the vibrant and collaborative energy research community we are building at Hopkins.”
Amienne Spencer-Blume (L) and Michael Levien (R)
Spencer-Blume was nominated for the program by Michael Levien, an associate professor of sociology and an associate researcher with ROSEI. Her work focuses on the sociology of the energy transition in Maryland.
In his nomination letter, Levien stated that he has “never seen such raw talent for qualitative research” and that she is someone who “would make full use of this opportunity.”
“Amienne wants to understand the dynamic relationship between local contention and the evolution of energy systems at sites of production, consumption and transmission,” Levien wrote. “The sociology of energy transition is in its incipient stages, and I think this dissertation will place Amienne at the very cutting edge of it. In fact, I would put money on her becoming a superstar in the field.”
“ROSEI is the ideal home base for rising to the occasion of making equitable transition more than a motto—a challenge that requires meaningful collaboration across disciplines, and deep understanding of the social and political processes shaping our energy futures,” said Spencer-Blume. “I’m honored to become a ROSEI Fellow and sincerely grateful to get to work within this brilliant community of researchers with shared urgency.”
Xiao Xu (L) and Corey Oses (R)
Xu was nominated for the program by Corey Oses, an associate professor of materials science and engineering and an associate researcher with ROSEI. His work aims to address a central challenge for the future of clean energy: enabling expanded nuclear deployment through improved materials for safe, durable waste immobilization.
In his nomination letter, Oses wrote that Xu is “an exceptional young researcher whose technical ability, initiative, and scientific judgment far exceed what I would normally expect at this stage of PhD training.”
“ROSEI support would amplify both Xiao’s own research and his growing impact on the people and program around him,” Oses wrote. “It would also help position him for a high-impact career at the intersection of energy materials, nuclear sustainability, and data-driven materials discovery.”
“I am deeply honored to be selected as a ROSEI PhD Fellow. This is not only a recognition of my previous work in energy research, but also a strong encouragement and support for my future innovation and professional development,” Xu said. “I am excited for this opportunity to engage with and learn from fellow ROSEI scholars, strengthen my research, and contribute to ROSEI’s collaborative mission of developing impactful and practical solutions to today’s energy challenges. I look forward to growing alongside the ROSEI community and contributing to the advancement of sustainable energy research and innovation.”
The selection committee also wanted to highlight three nominees who were named as honorable mentions: Nathan Houchens (nominated by Sara Thoi), Li Zeng (nominated by Magdalena Klemun), and Lingyu Zhang (nominated by Yayuan Liu).