Meet the 2024 Molchanov Scholars
September 3, 2024
This summer, seven undergraduate students were paired with environmentally focused internships across the state where they gained hands-on, professional experience. These opportunities were made possible by the Pavel Molchanov Scholars Program, an endowed internship at UNC’s Institute for the Environment.
Funded by a $1 million gift from Pavel Molchanov in 2019, each scholar is provided with a $5,000 stipend to support their summer employment. Through the program, students gain experiential training and exposure to environmental careers.
Molchanov Scholars are empowered to address complex environmental challenges by developing collaborations between academic fields, public and private partners and the community at large. They spend their summer creating positive change with environmentally focused small businesses, non-profit organizations and government institutions in North Carolina.
Pavel Molchanov is a director and equity research analyst at Raymond James & Associates where he researches oil, gas, renewables, and clean technology. He became a member of the UNC Institute for the Environment Board of Visitors in 2019. Molchanov also serves as a member of the advisory board at Cool Effect, an environmental project-funding charity.
Meet the 2024 Molchanov Scholars!
Tayton Alvis ’25
Mainspring Conservation Trust
📍Franklin, North Carolina
“The natural world gives me a sense of awe and discovery, and I want to help preserve it for its innate beauty.”
I worked as a fish biomonitoring technician at Mainspring Conservation Trust this summer. Every day, I suited up in waders and get knee-deep in creeks throughout the Little Tennessee Watershed so that we could catch and count fish.
We caught fish using a method called electrofishing, where you pass a low-strength electrical current through the water to stun fish so that they can be easily captured. This fish data is used to calculate an Index of Biological Integrity (IBI) score, which gives us an idea of how healthy the stream system is. Mainspring Conservation Trust has conducted fish surveys for over 30 years and maintains one of the largest fish monitoring databases in the world for a watershed of this size.
I have enjoyed this experience because it has given me a real sense of place in southern Appalachia and furthered my appreciation for this beautiful and diverse area. I first came to the highlands plateau through the UNC Institute for the Environment’s Highlands Field Site program, and through my summer work I have been able to strengthen many of the relationships and connections that I made in the fall.
My ideal career would have me working to preserve and restore biodiversity throughout the southeastern U.S., focusing mostly on aquatic ecosystems. The natural world gives me a sense of awe and discovery, and I want to help preserve it for its innate beauty. For others looking to start a career in conservation, I recommend seeking out (paid) personalized experiences that allow you to make connections with people who are willing to help you learn and grow. Through experiences like the Molchanov Scholars program, I have met so many scientists that I have forged genuine friendships with.
Nicole Coursey ’26
Joules Accelerator
📍Charlotte, North Carolina
“If you are interested in learning more on a specific topic, ask for help and pursue that interest — you never know if you’ll find a new career path you had never even considered.”
As a climate-tech accelerator, Joules Accelerator works to help support startups working in the climate space, focusing primarily on companies that develop grid-based and energy technologies. I was a business development intern at Joules, but also created social media marketing content. Some of my work included identifying promising companies for Joules’ upcoming Cohort 14 and learning about the grant application process.
The most fulfilling part of my internship was learning about the state of climate innovation, specifically the technologies that will revolutionize the electric grid. During my internship, I learned how to stay up to date on the ever-evolving world of climate, whether that be through daily news articles or podcasts.
From my experience, I am taking away an understanding of how climate accelerators, like Joules, support startups and perform daily tasks. From meeting with startups, to planning conferences and making social media marketing materials, there are so many pathways for someone working at a smaller company like Joules.
In the future, I’d love to work in either business development or marketing at a company working in the climate innovation space. I want to work at the forefront of fighting climate change, whether that be at a 3rd party incubator or accelerator, like Joules, or at an innovative startup developing climate solutions.
My advice to those interested in climate-tech is to learn different skills. From my time at Joules, I learned you can’t be good at just one thing, especially when working in a small team. Try to gain skills in different areas — this way you can set yourself up for many different roles. Also, be inquisitive! If you are interested in learning more on a specific topic, ask for help and pursue that interest — you never know if you’ll find a new career path you had never even considered.
Stella Ervin ’26
NC Clean Energy Fund
📍Raleigh, North Carolina
“I have an immense appreciation for the people dedicating their careers to making North Carolina a greener and safer place for all of its residents.”
This summer, I was a health and safety intern at the NC Clean Energy Fund, a non-profit operating on the green bank model. In this role, I researched the scope of barriers across N.C. preventing low-wealth homes from accessing weatherization improvements and their health and safety benefits. This research included interviews with practitioners, policymakers and thought leaders in the energy efficiency and home safety space across N.C. The data I collected through interviews shaped my literature review and recommendations on ways to reduce barriers to accessing weatherization upgrades in N.C.
The most fulfilling part of my internship was getting to meet many of the brightest minds across NC working to bolster access to weatherization benefits. Each conversation gave me a new perspective on my research and pointed me in a new direction. I have an immense appreciation for the people dedicating their careers to making North Carolina a greener and safer place for all of its residents.
The most immediate result of my experience is my newfound understanding of the relationship between energy and home health and safety. The energy space is so vast, and it often feels like there is an endless amount of information to take in. It was nice to spend a summer specializing in such a niche topic. By the end of the summer, I (almost) felt like an expert!
Ultimately, I would like to pursue a career within the field of green finance. Whether that be at a green bank, at a climate tech startup, or wherever the future may take me, I would love to direct capital towards fighting climate change. I think my best piece of advice is to find a mentor who can help guide your career. Talking to professors, attending lectures and networking events, or reaching out to people in your desired field on LinkedIn are all great ways to build your network and potentially find a mentor. Also, get serious about building your network. Having a strong network is a game-changer, especially as a college-student.
Paul Hollis ’25
Strata Clean Energy, LLC
📍Durham, North Carolina
“This hands-on experience provided insights that go beyond classroom learning, effectively preparing me for a career in this field.”
During my internship as a procurement intern at Strata Clean Energy, I had the opportunity to work with various departments on an optimization project that could significantly streamline the company’s processes.
This experience was incredibly fulfilling as I got to witness firsthand the intricate details involved in developing a critical initiative for the company. My time at Strata has also allowed me to gain a comprehensive understanding of the clean energy industry and its internal workings. I’ve had the opportunity to interact with high-ranking officials within the company and learn about their departments and responsibilities. This hands-on experience provided insights that go beyond classroom learning, effectively preparing me for a career in this field.
I aspire to pursue a career in renewable energy development due to my passion for the environment and the exciting potential of this rapidly growing industry. My college education sparked my interest in renewable energy, and I believe it is a field where I can make a significant impact.
For those interested in this field, I recommend exploring various roles and responsibilities to find what suits you best, as the industry is still evolving with many emerging positions. Additionally, engaging with experienced professionals can provide valuable insights and knowledge about the industry’s dynamic nature.
Eloise MacLean ’25
Sound Rivers
📍Raleigh, NC
“We can learn so much when we integrate ourselves into nature and allow our curiosities to run free.”
This summer, I was a water quality intern for Sound Rivers, a non-profit that protects and maintains the Neuse and Tar-Pamlico River watersheds. In this role, I oversaw and produced our weekly Swim Guide in the upper Neuse. This entailed organizing volunteers to collect water quality samples, collecting samples myself, processing and analyzing samples for E. Coli, and communicating results via our website and social media.
In addition to the Swim Guide, I assisted their team in investigating and alleviating other water quality concerns. This included taking turbidity samples, investigating perpetually “dirty” water, clearing trash traps, and more.
Arguably, the most fulfilling part of this internship were the connections I formed with people from different walks of life. Working with volunteers, Sound Rivers’ staff and other community members helped me appreciate my place in this world and reminded me that I am not even close to alone in my desire to work for the protection of our planet. I feel like this internship gave me a sense of confidence, as well. I was given so many opportunities to learn and practice skills from interpersonal interaction to working with lab equipment.
I plan to continue pursuing a career in conservation. I’m interested in mitigating the impacts of human activity on our ecosystems through environmental consulting. My primary interest is in establishing better harmony between nature and human lifestyles.
If I were to give advice to anyone interested in this field of study, it would be to get outside! We can learn so much when we integrate ourselves into nature and allow our curiosities to run free. It is also so important to have an open mind and be eager to hop on opportunities that come your way. Environmental science can be applied so broadly, and you’ll only know what you do and don’t like by testing different things out!
Levi Mellin ’25
NC Clean Energy Fund
📍Raleigh, North Carolina
“The sustainability space is rapidly changing every day — a solution that worked yesterday may not work today or tomorrow.”
This summer, I interned for the North Carolina Clean Energy Fund (NCCEF) as a finance intern. My role was to build financial models and develop educational materials for a financing program that helps nonprofit organizations utilize elective pay, a tax credit program which facilitates the integration of renewable energy investments.
The most fulfilling part of my experience was seeing the impact NCCEF created for the communities we serve. The core mission of the NCCEF is to accelerate investments in clean energy solutions in North Carolina, particularly to benefit underserved populations. Through a technical lens, I gained experience building financial models, project management and clean energy financing. However, the knowledge I gained from working with the NCCEF staff and interns by asking challenging questions and exposing myself to new ways of thinking about sustainability was most memorable.
I plan to pursue a career at the intersection of sustainability and businesses with the goal of benefiting underserved populations. My interest in entrepreneurship and finance fits in this space as innovation is needed to ensure everyone has access to and can be a part of the clean energy transition. At the end of the day, I want to help people. I see sustainability as the perfect space to create a positive impact in the communities I care about.
I would advise those interested in pursuing my field of study not to be afraid to challenge existing ideas. The sustainability space is rapidly changing every day — a solution that worked yesterday may not work today or tomorrow. Exposing yourself to the wide breadth of disciplines in the clean energy and sustainability field will allow you to bring a unique skill set to internships, jobs and communities to help develop innovative and creative solutions no matter where you are in your education or career.
Sierra Stubbs ’26
NC Conservation Network
📍Raleigh, North Carolina
“One of the most fulfilling parts of my internship was connecting seemingly separate facets of the environment through the overarching theme of improving quality of life for North Carolina residents.”
I interned with the North Carolina Conservation Network on their State of the Environment (SOE) report team. I analyzed indicators of environmental quality data in North Carolina. My day consisted of quantitative and qualitative data collection, ranging from water quality observations to public health indicators. I created graphic visualizations and wrote reports with the team.
One of the most fulfilling parts of my internship was connecting seemingly separate facets of the environment through the overarching theme of improving quality of life for North Carolina residents. A long-term impact of this internship is the data I helped analyze and my writing in the SOE report will be used to inform and potentially influence environmental state policy. I also found it fulfilling to collaborate with a team that encouraged me to think differently about environmental conservation.
From my experience, I’m taking away a deeper perspective of how interdisciplinary research and data analysis can link environmental and public health policy initiatives. Additionally, I’ve developed technical skills in data collection, analysis and visualization. While crafting the SOE report, I have learned the importance of effective communication and how to better tailor educational resources to various audiences.
Ultimately, I want to pursue a career in environmental engineering focusing on water-sensitive urban design with an emphasis on public health. This field excites me because it combines my passion for environmental sustainability with my interest in creating healthier, more resilient urban spaces. Integrating water-sensitive design into regional planning can address critical issues like water management, climate resilience and public health, ultimately leading to more sustainable and livable communities.
I would encourage others pursuing environmental engineering or environmental health to keep up with the latest research, trends and technology to help you make informed decisions about what facet you’d like to pursue. Additionally, build relationships with professionals to learn more about career opportunities and gain valuable insights into their expertise.