Additional Information
Alternative energy research is very scientific work. It attracts many
people with an engineering education. Although there is work for people with
undergraduate degrees, many upper-level positions require a master's degree
or a doctorate.
"There are a lot of different aspects to the problem, so it's beneficial
to have people with different skill sets. We each bring our own areas of
expertise and work with people with other skills," says Bonnie Jonkman. She
is a scientist at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory. She works in the
National Wind Technology Center.
Jonkman says electrical, mechanical and aerospace engineering degrees are
common for wind energy researchers. She has a master's degree in mathematics,
and others have degrees in meteorology, physics, geology or economics. She
notes researchers in fields other than wind may also study chemistry or biology.
"My advice is to take lots of math and science classes and then focus on
the area that interests you the most. For a research position, a graduate
degree is necessary," says Jonkman.
Jay Gill says most people who are in research roles have PhDs in math and
science fields. Chemical and other engineers can also find themselves in
research roles. Gill is the national sales manager for Global Resource Corporation.
That's a petroleum research, engineering, development and manufacturing company.