Renewable Fuels Students Can Win $3,000 Grant

U.S. citizen students in biodiesel and sustainability research can apply for the award before January 25, 2027.

Updated on Nov. 3, 2026 in Scholarships

Bold flat-color editorial illustration of a glass flask holding amber renewable fuel beside golden seeds on a cream background. — The Clean Fuels Alliance Foundation is accepting applications until January 25, 2027 for a $3,000 grant to a U.S. student studying biodiesel and sustainability. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

The Clean Fuels Alliance Foundation has opened applications for the Beth Calabotta Sustainability Education Grant, which offers a $3,000 award to one student scientist. Janice Shiu was named the 2026 grant recipient.

Why it matters

The grant supports students pursuing research in biodiesel, renewable diesel, and related sustainability fields, giving a funded path to travel, workshop attendance, and academic expenses. The application window is open now, with a January 25, 2027 deadline.

The Beth Calabotta Sustainability Education Grant pays $3,000 to one student scientist and is open to U.S. citizens. Applicants must submit two references, and the application deadline is January 25, 2027.

The players

Clean Fuels Alliance Foundation

The foundation that administers the Beth Calabotta Sustainability Education Grant for student scientists in renewable fuels and sustainability fields.

Janice Shiu

The 2026 recipient of the Beth Calabotta Sustainability Education Grant.

Colin Huwyler

President of Optimus Technologies and chair of the foundation's scholarship committee.

The details

Applicants complete the application on the Foundation website, where they indicate a relevant research area such as biodiesel and renewable diesel research, feedstock and fuel production, sustainability engineering, product lifecycle assessment, industrial ecology, or general energy studies. Once selected, the recipient uses the $3,000 for travel and for attending the Clean Fuels Alliance America Sustainability Workshop, with any remaining funds applied to academic expenses. The winner is announced in February 2027 and must take part in the workshop held April 26-28, 2027 in Kansas City, Missouri.

August: U.S. biodiesel capacity fell by 65 MMgy.
October 30: EIA released capacity data.
2018: The Beth Calabotta grant was established.
2026: Janice Shiu was named the grant recipient.
January 25, 2027: Application deadline; winner announced February 2027.

Education Landscape

The grant is one of several industry-funded awards that connect students to specialized fields where employers and trade groups seek trained talent. It sits within a broader pattern of sector-specific scholarships that offer targeted funding rather than general aid.

If you are a U.S. citizen studying biodiesel, renewable diesel, or sustainability engineering, this grant offers $3,000 plus two references to submit by January 25, 2027. Questions about how a scholarship interacts with your other financial aid are best directed to your school's financial-aid office.

The takeaway

Sector-specific grants like this one reward students who plan a career in renewable fuels, so check eligibility early and assemble your two references well before the January 25, 2027 deadline. Ask your school's financial-aid office how any award affects your other aid before you commit.

What happens next

The application deadline is January 25, 2027, the winner is announced in February 2027, and the recipient must attend the workshop April 26-28, 2027 in Kansas City, Missouri.