Since launching our research in 2023, the Climate Jobs Institute has relied on more than reports and data to advance a just clean energy transition — we’ve relied on people. In particular, we’ve relied on graduate students who bring curiosity, rigor, and a deep commitment to understanding how climate policy affects workers and communities on the ground.
As an applied research institute at the University of Illinois, mentoring student researchers is central to our mission. Our work sits at the intersection of clean energy, labor policy, and workforce development — and preparing the next generation of researchers and policy thinkers to do this work thoughtfully and responsibly is as important as the research itself. Through hands-on projects, close mentorship, and exposure to real-world policy questions, our Graduate Research Assistants gain experience while making meaningful contributions to Illinois’ clean energy transition.
This fall semester, the Climate Jobs Institute’s team of Graduate Research Assistants made extraordinary contributions across clean energy, workforce development, and federal policy research. Their work strengthened our research and advanced our mission to support a just and effective clean energy transition in Illinois and beyond.
We’re proud to highlight the contributions of Ramya Kumaran, Zichang Liu, Bernard Dzamah-Kumah, and Eva Fischer, whose efforts helped move several major projects forward.
If you’re interested in joining the Climate Jobs Institute as a Graduate Research Assistant, you can learn more here.
Advancing Solar Research and Job Quality Analysis
Ramya Kumaran played a central role in advancing our solar job quality research. She led the coding process for our analysis and conducted interviews with workers that will directly inform future policy design recommendations.
Ramya also finalized the Public Schools Carbon-Free Assessment Program survey and launched participant recruitment — foundational steps in understanding how schools are using the state’s program and whether they’re implementing recommended changes. This work lays critical groundwork for evaluating how clean energy investments are translating into real-world outcomes for Illinois schools.
“I have appreciated how being a part of CJI has allowed me to apply my research methodology training towards the context of community- and worker-centered Illinois clean energy policy efforts,” Kumaran said. “It has been an amazing experience to be involved in research projects directly tied to policy within my home state.”
Meanwhile, Zichang Liu, alongside postdoctoral research associate Hesong Yang, contributed significant policy analysis this semester. Together, they drafted a policy brief examining how solar adoption affects household electricity bills — an essential question for understanding affordability and equity in the clean energy transition. They also began assessing the employment impacts of utility-scale solar and wind, helping build a clearer picture of workforce changes across the clean energy economy.
“I received great feedback and support from the CJI team,” Liu said. “CJI does an excellent job of combining quantitative and qualitative research, which has helped me view policies from a different perspective and conduct analysis with broader considerations. I enjoyed working here and am thankful for the opportunity.”
Strengthening Federal Policy and Energy Transition Research
Our recent federal policy report, Federal Rollbacks, Local Impacts: Solutions to Support the Illinois Clean Energy Workforce as Federal Tax Credits Expire, was powered in large part by Bernard Dzamah-Kumah and Eva Fischer. Both coded data and authored major sections of the report, ensuring that our policy recommendations are grounded in strong evidence and presented with clarity.
Bernard also completed a cross-agency comparison of coal mine closure dates using the Mine and Safety Health Administration, Energy Information Administration, and Illinois Department of Natural Resources datasets, providing a more accurate picture of coal mine closures in Illinois. This analysis is helping inform the Illinois Coal Workers & Communities Listening Project, which centers the experiences of workers and communities affected by coal’s decline.
“Working at CJI as a research assistant was a constant learning experience for me,” Dzamah-Kumah said. “I had the opportunity to build new research skills while working on projects that addressed real issues around clean energy jobs, labor, and workforce development in Illinois. As a planning student, it was especially fulfilling to see how research can directly inform policy and practice. I also deeply valued the mentorship and guidance from the team, which helped me grow both as a researcher and as a professional.”
In addition, Bernard conducted background research on clean energy manufacturing in Illinois — another key contribution to our broader energy transition analysis.
Expanding Regional Workforce and Commercial Electrification Insights
Eva also played a major role in strengthening our regional workforce resources. She updated our regional clean energy jobs data packets, revising them for clarity, accuracy, and usability. An updated version of these packets will be published soon.
Eva also conducted research for our commercial electrification case studies, helping us better understand how businesses across sectors are navigating electrification opportunities and challenges. Her work adds valuable on-the-ground context to our building electrification research.
Meet the Researchers Behind the Work
Eva Fischer — Graduate Research Assistant
Eva graduated in December with a master’s degree from the School of Labor and Employment Relations at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. She is passionate about the intersections of labor, workforce development, and public policy. Outside of research, she enjoys reading and rock climbing.
Bernard Dzamah-Kumah — Graduate Research Assistant
Bernard is a master’s student in Urban and Regional Planning, specializing in economic development and transit planning. His research interests include policy reform, governance challenges, community engagement, and strategies for equitable job creation. Bernard has accepted another research position in Urban and Regional Planning.
Zichang Liu — Graduate Research Assistant
Zichang is a fifth-year Ph.D. student in Economics studying urban and labor economics. Her research focuses on how infrastructure investments shape workforce decisions and daily life across regions. Zichang will continue her contributions this semester.
Ramya Kumaran — Graduate Research Assistant
Ramya is a Ph.D. candidate in Educational Psychology (QUERIES). With a decade of experience in program evaluation across sectors, she explores how collaborative spaces can be designed to support culturally responsive, future-oriented evaluation practices. Ramya will continue her contributions this semester.