Fifteen graduate students have been selected as the 2017 participants in the Duke Graduate School’s Emerging Leaders Institute. The program helps develop competencies in communication, self-awareness, professional adaptability, interdisciplinary teamwork and leadership.

Two students are Bass Connections team members.

Meghan O’Neil is a Ph.D. candidate in the English Department. Her research and teaching interests are broadly interdisciplinary, ranging from contemporary literature to cultural geography to the philosophy of history. An enthusiastic believer in collaboration and mentorship across disciplines, Meghan helped design, facilitate and lead two Bass Connections projects, NC Jukebox and Exploring the Intersection of Energy and Peace-building through Film. She serves as co-chair of the Bass Connections Student Advisory Council, where she advocates for innovative approaches to graduate and undergraduate education.

Ali Daraeepour is a Ph.D. candidate in the Nicholas School of Environment who took part in the Bass Connections project Modeling Tools for Energy Systems Analysis. His research focuses on the evolution of electricity market design to enhance the grid integration of intermittent renewable energy resources and power system efficiency. Previously, he worked as an engineer and consultant in projects addressing the engineering, investment and efficiency challenges of regional and national power system stakeholders in Iran. Ali is interested in the economic and investment implications of energy and environmental regulations in the electric energy sector.

Learn More

• Explore benefits for graduate and professional students of Bass Connections participation.
• Apply for 2017-2018 project teams by February 17.
• Current and past team members, apply for follow-on research funding by March 10.