Research Fellow, Michigan Hydrogen Ecosystem Development

The MI Mobility Fellows (MMF) Program is a 11-month, highly selective fellowship designed to strengthen Michigan’s transportation and mobility ecosystem. Fellows from across the country are placed in host organizations where they gain hands-on experience addressing real mobility challenges. This program aims to make Michigan’s mobility future more inclusive, accessible, and sustainable—improving the way people, goods, and ideas move across the state. 

Program Duration: December 1, 2026 – November 12, 2027

Fellow Compensation: $60k per year + benefits 

Organization Name and Website: NextEnergy – www.nextenergy.org 

Organization Location (City and State): Detroit, Michigan 

Supervisor Name and Title: Eric Lee, Director of Research and Technology Commercialization 

Position Title: Research Fellow, Michigan Hydrogen Ecosystem Development 

Position Description and objectives/goals: The MI Mobility Fellow will support NextEnergy’s Michigan Hydrogen Ecosystem Development initiative, conducting secondary research to accelerate the growth of Michigan’s hydrogen economy. This position is hosted by NextEnergy in collaboration with the Hydrogen Exchange Group (HX), which will work alongside NextEnergy to help define and guide the Fellow’s activities and provide strategic guidance, market intelligence, and subject matter expertise. The work is being conducted in partnership with the City of Detroit and directly supports the City’s hydrogen development efforts—including the Detroit Hydrogen Ecosystem Coalition and the City’s Office of Mobility Innovation—to strengthen Detroit’s position as a leading center for hydrogen mobility innovation. Working under the direction of NextEnergy, the Fellow will investigate global hydrogen deployments, projects, and best practices; research hydrogen startups and innovations to identify high-priority attraction and deployment targets for the City of Detroit and the State of Michigan; and maintain an ongoing synopsis of public funding opportunities that support the sector, including building a funding web scraper and opportunity summary template. The Fellow will also help shape incubator and accelerator service offerings by completing SWOT analyses of best-in-class programs, and will document progress through public-facing reporting and publications. The Fellow will engage private- and public-sector partners through weekly and monthly program meetings and community outreach sessions highlighting hydrogen activities. 

Objectives/Goals: • Deliver research reports that give the ecosystem a clear understanding of the global hydrogen landscape and best practices. • Identify and prioritize hydrogen application and startup targets for attraction and deployment programs. • Establish a repeatable process for tracking public funding opportunities relevant to the sector. • Support the creation of a differentiated incubator/accelerator service offering. • Document and publish progress so outcomes are transparent and available to the public. 

Skills/Background Preferred (Technical or otherwise - a list is fine): • Experience in web-based research, analysis, and report writing • Strong business acumen • Genuine interest in clean energy, technology, and mobility • Naturally inquisitive and self-directed • Academic background in engineering, business, or public policy 

Primary Working Location: NextEnergy Center, 440 Burroughs Street, Suite 370, Detroit, MI 48202. Fellow may also travel to partner sites and community outreach sessions as needed. 

Is a hybrid schedule offered? Yes. A hybrid schedule is offered, with a minimum of two days onsite per week (may increase based on project needs). 

Primary Working Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM 

Any other useful information (links, reports, etc.): This host site is a partnership between NextEnergy and the Hydrogen Exchange Group (HX), delivered in collaboration with the City of Detroit, and aligns with the City’s broader hydrogen development work to attract innovative companies, funding, and long-term economic activity to the region.