Thirteen Texas A&M students receive TEX-E fellowships
by Emily Velez
Thirteen Texas A&M University students were selected as TEX-E Fellows for the Class of 2024-’25 to explore the critical importance of global energy transition, delve into the pillars of entrepreneurship, and witness firsthand how Houston is poised to become a global hub for energy innovation. Texas partnership universities attract an innovative talent pool to the Houston region, known as the energy capital of the world for its leadership in the energy transition. The Texas A&M University TEX-E awardees comprise eight doctoral students including Texas A&M Energy Institute students Marco De Sousa, Sahithi Srijana Akundi, and Austin Johnes; Jack O’Brien who is a Texas A&M Energy Institute Master of Science in Energy student; and four Bachelor’s students. All 13 are seeking degrees in varied aspects of energy to include chemical, mechanical, and petroleum engineering; electrical and computer engineering; construction science; geoscience; and materials science.
The Texas Exchange for Energy and Climate Entrepreneurship (TEX-E) is led by Greentown Labs and MIT’s Martin Trust Center for Entrepreneurship in partnership with Texas A&M University, The University of Texas at Austin, University of Houston, Rice University, and Prairie View A&M University. The fellowship awards undergraduate and graduate students who have a strong passion for energy innovation and knowledge in energy transitions and climate tech. The TEX-E Prize is a multi-round startup competition for Texas students who are developing innovative technologies and business models to advance the energy transition and address climate change.
“We’re excited to have another impressive cohort of Aggies selected to serve as TEX-E Fellows for this next academic year.” says Jim Donnell, TEX-E Fellowship program lead for the Texas A&M University System. “This outstanding group of undergraduate and graduate students will serve as liaisons to Texas A&M University and will ensure that our students are well aware of and participating in the full suite of opportunities represented by TEX-E. With its mission to address the critical topic of innovation in energy transition, TEX-E brings together top Texas universities and challenges the best and brightest students to combat climate change.”
Awardees receive access to leaders in the energy innovation ecosystem as well as funding for events and travel. In September 2024, the Fellows are invited to attend a TEX-E Entrepreneurship Bootcamp and the 2024 Gastech Conference, both in Houston, Texas. They are also eligible to apply for the Gastech Future Leaders Program, a four-day series of sessions conducted by senior industry leaders. This leadership development program aims to boost the energy sector’s dynamic landscape, enhance its reputation to attract diverse talent across the entire value chain, and drive the industry forward by investing in talent to highlight its positive impact on a global scale.
