The Colorado School of Mines, in collaboration with the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), has established a new, unique graduate program in Advanced Energy Systems. Working closely with faculty and researchers from both institutions, doctoral students will move seamlessly between Mines and NREL to augment their academic training with hands-on experience, providing a robust, multidisciplinary foundation for understanding and analyzing energy systems. This grant supports this innovative new doctoral program in three ways. First, it will provide two years of salary support for a program director staff position; the program director will be responsible for overseeing program management, student recruitment, external partnerships, and donor outreach. Second, it provides funds for a student-run seminar series that will allow students to bring in external energy experts to enrich the training program. Third, it provides funds for the development and implementation of a summer research program for enrolled doctoral students, helping select students in the Ph.D. program pursue individualized research projects in furtherance of their training and education.