Four Stanford graduate students — Akshay Rao Ph.D. ’26, Edward Apraku Ph.D. ’26, Jimin Zhou Ph.D. ’26 and Juliet Nwagwu Ume-Ezeoke Ph.D. ’26 — were named Siebel Scholars in recognition of their groundbreaking work in energy science.

Founded in 2000, the Siebel Foundation honors top graduate students from leading universities worldwide each year. This year the foundation selected 78 scholars, including 19 from Stanford’s graduate schools, based on their academic excellence and leadership potential. Each scholar receives a $35,000 award to fund their final year of study. 

“I’m grateful to the Siebel Foundation for this scholarship. It’s an honor to be named alongside this network of scientists across the country.” Rao wrote to The Daily.

Though their research interests vary across the energy spectrum, each scholar followed a distinct path that led them to Stanford. From early interests in sustainability to hands-on work in clean energy, each scholar’s journey reflects a shared drive to address the world’s most pressing climate and energy challenges.

Rao, an environmental engineering Ph.D. student, had an early interest in energy science that grew from curiosity about climate and sustainability. At Stanford, he studies how large power users, such as data centers and water treatment plants, can shift their electricity use to act as “virtual batteries” that balance local grids. 

Another awardee, Apraku, has been researching the removal of environmental pollutants with polymeric materials and the electrochemical conversion of wastewater pollutants to fertilizer since he came to Stanford. Apraku currently works at Tarpeh Lab, which conducts research on resource recovery from wastewater.

“I was nervous to join a Chemical Engineering lab, but realized quickly that the intersection of chemistry, energy, and environmental systems is exactly where many sustainability challenges and solutions lie.” Apraku wrote to The Daily. “I am grateful that I joined a lab exploring this intersection.”

Apraku’s experience working at Tarpeh Lab continues to drive his research at Stanford, where he explores design technologies that reduce emissions, recover resources and make solutions accessible to the communities most affected by climate and energy inequities. 

Zhou, a fifth-year Ph.D. candidate in the department of energy science & engineering, researches underground hydrogen storage research. Prior to Stanford, Zhou worked at Chevron as a reservoir engineer, focusing on oil and gas projects.

“I was actually born at Stanford. My parents also worked on very similar research back in the day,” Zhou said. “Oil and gas, petrochemicals … steered my general interest in undergrad, as well as my masters, and when I moved back to California, I remained in that industry.”

Zhou’s research highlights hydrogen’s growing role in the future energy mix. While it’s already part of everyday industrial processes, its potential to generate clean electricity could have a major impact on the transition to sustainable energy.

For Nwagwu Ume-Ezeoke, the path to energy science began with people. Originally from Nigeria, she earned her bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering and is now pursuing a Ph.D. in civil and environmental engineering, where she focuses on developing tools for more energy-efficient housing.

“I would say that I became interested in energy through an interest in community,” Nwagwu Ume-Ezeoke said. “I wanted to help communities design and take ownership of their cities and things that were around them.”

During her undergraduate years, she was an active member of Engineers Without Borders, where she traveled to the Dominican Republic to help a local community design and build a water sanitation system — an experience that deepened her commitment to sustainable infrastructure.

Reflecting on the recognition, Zhou emphasized the collective effort behind each scholar’s success.

“This award, though it’s given to only a few individuals, the work that was done to be appointed this was carried out and helped by a lot of other people too, Zhou said. “I’d like to acknowledge the camaraderie and help I’ve received from family, friends and labmates over the years, who have kept me sane through it all.”