Deadline: March 27, 2026
Applications are open for the RAY Fellowship Program 2026. Inspired by efforts to uplift underrepresented professionals in environmentally-related sectors, the Dr. Roger Arliner Young (RAY) Fellowship Program aims to increase and facilitate conservation, energy efficiency, and renewable energy-related career pathways for emerging leaders.
The RAY Fellowship Program is a two-year paid fellowship designed to equip recent college graduates with the tools, experiences, support, and community they need to become leaders in the conservation and clean energy sectors—one that, in our visions of the future, fully represents, includes, and is led by underrepresented communities, perspectives, and experiences of the United States.
Managed by the Environmental Leadership Program (ELP), the RAY Fellowship Program provides first-time career access opportunities for recent college graduates who do not have previous professional experience or a graduate degree. RAY Fellows are placed within one of the host organizations for a two-year paid fellowship position, with the resources and support to develop experiences that will launch them onto a path of career growth in the environmental field.
Benefits
- RAY Fellowship positions are full-time paid positions with competitive entry-level salaries plus benefits. All Fellows will also receive a stipend of $1,000 to go towards professional development opportunities, in addition to coordinated professional development through RAY Partner Organizations and ELP.
Eligibility
Applicants must:
- Have a strong interest in the conservation and/or clean energy field(s).
- Demonstrate a commitment to equity, environmental justice, racial justice, and social change.
- Be within THREE years of having received their undergraduate degree (must have graduated between April 2023 and June 2026).
- Have not had a full-time job in conservation or clean energy.
- Have not started a graduate degree.
- Have the ability to work in the United States and commit to the entire two-year fellowship.
Selection Criteria
The RAY Fellowship Program looks for applicants who demonstrate:
- Passion, capacity, and transformational potential to exercise leadership and respond to social and environmental challenges
- Commitment to promoting fairness, acknowledging various perspectives, and being a part of a welcoming environment
- Willingness to actively contribute to the Fellowship and take advantage of its benefits including eagerness to connect with and learn from others
- The desire to be active in and give back to community – their own and the large RAY Community during and after the fellowship
- Transformational potential to benefit greatly from the Fellowship’s opportunities and experience
Application
To apply for the RAY Fellowship Program, applicants must:
- Complete the 2026 RAY Fellowship Application Form.
- Proof of enrollment and a resume are required.
- Be sure to submit your responses to the essay portion of the application.
For more information, visit RAY Fellowship.
