The Financial Research Institute (FRI) at the University of Missouri is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a grant from the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation to connect early-career energy economics researchers with energy industry practitioners through FRI’s Regulated Utilities Leadership Institute (RULI).

This three-year grant will allow FRI to recruit four early-career energy economics scholars each year to be FRI Utility Policy Fellows. Selected Fellows will participate in a week-long research workshop in conjunction with FRI’s regular RULI program. In addition to sessions focused on public utility economics, data sources, empirical methods, and potential research questions, Fellows will participate alongside industry practitioners throughout the RULI program, facilitating network development and cross-fertilization of ideas that might inform future research projects. Fellows will then work with FRI’s academic team to produce original, policy-relevant research over the ensuing year for presentation at an academic conference and for publication in peer-reviewed journals. Fellows will receive a stipend to support participation in both RULI and their academic conference presentation.

The goal of the project is to develop a network of energy economics researchers who have first-hand experience working with industry practitioners to develop policy-relevant research and to allow industry personnel to develop a network of academics doing research that can inform industry and regulatory policy decision making. The program also will facilitate collaboration among researchers and between industry and academia.

Applications to participate as an FRI Utility Policy Fellow for the 2025 RULI program will open in January, with selection in early March.

The ALFRED P. SLOAN FOUNDATION is a not-for-profit, mission-driven grantmaking institution dedicated to improving the welfare of all through the advancement of scientific knowledge. Established in 1934 by Alfred Pritchard Sloan Jr., then-President and Chief Executive Officer of the General Motors Corporation, the Foundation makes grants in four broad areas: direct support of research in science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and economics; initiatives to increase the quality, equity, diversity, and inclusiveness of scientific institutions and the science workforce; projects to develop or leverage technology to empower research; and efforts to enhance and deepen public engagement with science and scientists.