Internship Spotlight: William Zhang ’25, U.S. Department of Energy
William Zhang ’25 says his internship researching the future of electric aviation inspired him to pursue a career in public service.
We asked rising second-year MBA students to check in from their summer internships, where they applied the lessons of their first year at Yale SOM.
Internship: U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Advanced Project Research Agency (ARPA-E), Washington D.C.
Hometown: Princeton, NJ
Pronouns: He/him/his
The SOM class you’re using on the job: Renewable Energy Project Finance and Operations Engine
Go-to work lunch: A sandwich from Potbelly
After-work routine: Bike around D.C. before heading home
Favorite thing about internship city: Washington, D.C., is a city with significant attractions that are inspiring, magnificent, and solemn. I would highly encourage people to walk around the national mall to visit all the war memorials, or check out museums such as the Library of Congress, the National Archives, the National Museum of African American History and Culture, and the National Portrait Gallery.
My journey to ARPA-E was not straightforward, as I didn’t know about the agency before arriving at Yale. However, I had always envisioned a career in public service. During my undergraduate years, I was inspired by reading about the diplomatic careers of former Secretary of State James Baker and former ambassador and current CIA director William Burns. I was in awe of the positive impact they had on the world through their public service. Additionally, recent government policies, such as the CHIPS and Science Act and the Inflation Reduction Act, demonstrated the growing interconnection between government and business decisions. This made me realize the importance of understanding the motivations and functions of different government agencies.
At Yale, there were numerous opportunities for students to engage in government-related internships and projects. The vast network of Yale students, professors, and alumni provided me with a deeper understanding of various government roles and processes and enabled me to connect with people working in the public sector. I personally benefitted from speaking with alumni from Yale College, SOM, and the Jackson School of Global Affairs when recruiting for government positions. Ultimately, I chose to intern at ARPA-E as a summer scholar due to my background in energy consulting and my admiration for the agency’s mission to fund and promote high-impact, early-stage energy technologies that are too risky for private investment.
ARPA-E funds and supports researchers and startups that are developing key technologies for fully electric flight. Electric aviation has the potential to transform the aviation and energy industries by boosting regional and urban air travel, eliminating direct aircraft emissions, and advancing electrification across airports and the aviation value chain. In my internship, I am assessing the market feasibility and potential commercial impact of electric aviation, particularly focusing on battery- and hydrogen-powered aircraft. My daily responsibilities include researching new aviation technologies and business models, connecting with DOE experts and key stakeholders in the electric aviation space, and synthesizing gathered information in models. Overall, my project aims to quantify the business impact of electric aircraft and understand the challenges and constraints of fully adopting electric aviation.
I have thoroughly enjoyed my experience at ARPA-E and working within the U.S. government. This role has inspired me to pursue additional government and public-sector opportunities. In the coming school year, I will be undertaking a part-time internship with the U.S. Department of State to track and analyze emerging technologies worldwide. I highly recommend that business students consider government roles, as the impact you can have and the perspectives you can gain are significant and invaluable.