UW SER Accepting Applications for Second Critical Minerals Leadership Academy

The University of Wyoming School of Energy Resources (SER) will host the second Critical Minerals Leadership Academy (CMLA) Sept. 15-23 in Laramie.

Sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy's National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL), the CMLA assembles future leaders with diverse backgrounds to build a strong domestic critical minerals network and contribute to the buildout of critical minerals industries.

"We are so pleased to be hosting this event for the second year in a row," says SER Acting Senior Director of Research Erin Phillips. "By providing this platform, we aim to further expand our network of critical mineral professionals and foster the multidisciplinary collaboration necessary to secure our energy future."

Convening its trademark interdisciplinary faculty, the CMLA 2026 program will consist of lectures, workshops and field excursions in Wyoming, highlighting conventional and unconventional critical mineral research and development.

"This academy is a direct response to the urgent need for a workforce capable of navigating the complexities of modern resource management," Phillips says. "Aligning our research and professional training with federal goals ensures that we are not only meeting current industrial demands but also are positioning the United States as a global leader in sustainable and secure mineral production."

Tailored for graduate students and early-career professionals committed to the critical minerals supply chain, the academy invites candidates from a broad spectrum of disciplines, ranging from geology and engineering to data analytics, business, law and social science.

Selection for the program is highly competitive, with evaluations centered on an applicant's demonstrated interest and professional experience in critical minerals-related topics. To be eligible for acceptance, all applicants must hold U.S. citizenship.

Applications are now being accepted, with priority given to those submitted by June 21. Additional program details and the application form are available at https://www.uwyo.edu/ser/research/critical-mineral-leadership-academy/index.html.

About NETL

NETL is a U.S. Department of Energy national laboratory dedicated to innovating and accelerating the nation's energy solutions in hydrocarbons, geothermal energy and critical minerals production. The lab further strengthens its impact by engaging with industry, academia and other stakeholders through four strategically located Centers of Excellence: coal, critical minerals and advanced alloys, oil and gas, and geothermal. With research sites in Albany, Ore.; Morgantown, W.Va.; and Pittsburgh, Pa., NETL operates as one laboratory to create advanced energy technologies that support the Department of Energy's mission and enable affordable, reliable and secure energy to fuel human prosperity.