Alexander Smith

Highest Degree: M.S., Public Policy, Georgia Institute of Technology, Specialty: Energy/Environmental Policy (Projected: 2012)

Adviser: Dr. Marilyn Brown, Professor of Public Policy

Other Degrees: B.S., Chemistry, Georgia College and State University (2009)

A fellowship is a special academic distinction for a doctoral student or postdoctoral researcher. It is rare that a research fellowship is awarded to a Master’s student, particularly in the Social Sciences. But then, Alexander Smith is a rare student.

In the summer of 2011, Alexander Smith was nominated by Georgia Tech to serve as a Grid Innovation Leaders Fellow at Oak Ridge National Laboratory, in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. He was among only three Georgia Tech students to be invited to participate in this prestigious summer research fellowship at Oak Ridge National Laboratory.  Under the mentoring of Stanton W. Hadley, Alex studied demand response energy programs in an effort to contribute to the modernization of the U.S. electricity infrastructure.  As Alex explains: “Energy demand response programs have considerable potential as an incremental policy measure to reduce information asymmetries in the electricity market, mitigate wholesale electricity price volatility, reduce cost-ineffective generation investments by public utilities, prevent electricity shortages due to over-congestion of the transmission grid, and contribute to reductions in carboon emissions.”

Alex’s summer 2011 research experienced proved so successful that Oak Ridge National Laboratory has invited him to serve as a GIL Fellow during the spring and summer of 2012.  Alex Smith is looking forward to a career in energy research. He intends to begin doctoral studies in the fall of 2012. 

Opportunities like a Grid Innovation Leaders Fellowship are rare indeed. Being a student at Georgia Tech gave Alex Smith access to this great research fellowship, as Georgia Tech has maintained a strong research collaborative relationship with Oak Ridge National Laboratory for decades. In fact, Alex’s adviser, Dr. Marilyn Brown, previously served as the Director of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy Program at Oak Ridge National Laboratory. 

A strong international network of research collaborations, globally renowned Energy experts, superb mentoring, access to national laboratories, early research experiences in undergraduate and graduate programs–these are just a few of the many strengths of the School of Public Policy at Georgia Tech. The School of Public Policy leverages its full network and resources to provide students with a superior education, world-class research experiences, and excellent career opportunities.