Become a UC Davis Climate Action Fellow

At UC Davis, Climate Action Fellows are mentored by sustainability staff professsionals to contribute to a variety of new and ongoing projects and activities in support of the campus' sustainability priorities guided heavily by the priorities and policy recommendations provided in the UC Policy on Sustainable Practices.

Application Deadline: Monday, June 30 @ midnight

Fellowship Benefits

• Fellows are each awarded $5000, distributed incrementally during Fall, Winter, and Spring quarters
• Professional development and experiential learning opportunities, including climate action leadership training, networking with a Fellows cohort across the UC system, and more.

Eligibility

• Full-time enrolled UC Davis graduate and undergraduate students  in good academic standing.
• Applications reviewed on the basis of several characteristics, including but not limited to commitment to and familiarity with climate action principles, collaborative spirit, demonstrated ability to contribute to a team, likelihood to successfully accomplish fellowship project goals, maturity, and attention to detail.

Guidelines & Responsibilities

This Guidelines & Responsibilities document released by the UC Office of the President (UCOP) provides a detailed overview of general responsibilities for Bonnie Reiss Leading on Climate Fellowships - Climate Action Fellows & Sustainable Agriculture & Food Fellows.

Leading on Climate Student Fellowship Program Guidelines and Responsibilities 2025-26

Fellowship Responsibilities

• Start Date: Monday, September 22, 2025
• End Date: Thursday, June 11, 2025
• Commitment: 5-8 hours/week  to work on projects and events
• Attend weekly (Fall; in-person) or bi-weekly (Winter & Spring; Zoom) meetings
• Attend meetings with Sustainability staff, stakeholders, community partners, or other fellows as needed
• Attend UC-wide events, meetings and trainings, including:
  • A virtual orientation session in the fall of 2025
  • A leadership training in the fall of 2025
  • A virtual closing symposium and poster presentation in late Spring 20269 quarter
  • Additional activities such as conference calls, GCLC meetings and trainings or cohort buidling activities

To apply:

Review Fellowship Project Descriptions

Each fellow contributes to a project that supports the University of California's Global Climate Leadership Council's (GCLC) current priorities. Review all projects and rank order on the Application Form all projects for which you'd like to be considered.

2025-26 25-26 Climate Action Fellows Project Descriptions

Complete the Application Form

Climate Action Fellows (CAF) Program Application Form

• This Application Form must accompany the application submitted on Handshake. 

Submit Your Application on Handshake

• Apply to Handshake Job #9972624
• Attach the following documents to your application
  • Climate Action Fellows (CAF) Program Application form
  • Current resume or CV
  • Current advising transcripts or unofficial transcript
  • Work Sample. Upload your work sample in Handshake under the cover letter upload option. A 1-2 page work sample that demonstrates writing, communication skills, creativity, and/or organizational skills relevant to this position. This work sample may be something produced for a course, previous employer, or other professional context.

Applicant Review Process

• Applications will be reviewed and sorted according to the Project type preferences expressed by each applicant on Section II. of their Application Form
• Supervising mentors for each Project will review applications and invite select candidates for interviews in early July.
• Offer letters will be sent to final candidates by end of July. 

Questions? If you have questions, please contact: Carla Fresquez ccfresquez@ucdavis.edu  

Current Fellows (2025-26)

• Coming soon!

Former Fellows

• 2024-25 

• 2024-2025 Fellows Project Posters

  Emma Nguyen, Undergraduate, Community and Regional Development, Asian American Studies

  Gwyn Azar, Undergraduate, Environmental Policy Analysis and Planning

  Molly McCoy, Undergraduate, Environmental Policy Analysis and Planning

  Siena Reale, Undergraduate, Biological Sciences

  Nikunj Bharta, Master's Student, Energy Graduate Group

• 2023-24

• Natalie Aguilar, Undergraduate, Environmental Policy Analysis and Planning (EPAP) & Spanish

  Anne Saltel, Undergraduate, Community and Regional Development

  Thomas Snyder, PhD student, Anthropology,

  Daphne Condon, PhD student, Energy Systems, Energy Graduate Group

  Kriti Shah, Masters student, Environmental Policy and Management

  JieQi Yan, Masters student, Environmental Policy and Management

• 2022-23

• Natalie Aguilar, Undergraduate, Environmental Policy Analysis and Planning (EPAP) & Spanish

  Annika Denyer, Undergraduate, Sustainable Environmental Design

  Natalie Kataoka, Masters student, Environmental Policy and Management

  Annika Krueger, Masters student, Environmental Policy and Management

  Andy Li, Undergraduate, Economics, (Fall quarter)
  Nadiyah Helal, Undergraduate, Civil Engineering, (Fall quarter)