Through intensive, hands-on training sessions, students participating in the CEED & WE@UCLA Solar Technical Academy will learn valuable skills from leading innovators, researchers, and professionals in the solar energy sector. These hands-on training sessions will strengthen students’ technical, analytical, critical thinking and communication skills to meet the challenges of climate change. Through a 1.5-hour orientation and four 2-hour in-person sessions taking place during Spring 2024, students participating in this program will walk away with tangible skills and a greater understanding of today’s technical challenges for solar energy.

To be considered for the program, applicants must submit a one-page essay. 

This program is open to all students who meet the eligibility requirements below.

Eligibility: Must be US Citizens or Permanent Residents; Must be enrolled at UCLA Samueli Engineering during Spring quarter 2024 as a 2nd Year, 3rd Year, 4th Year, or 5th Year undergraduate student; Must have MATLAB experience; and Must be  majoring in one of the following disciplines: 

- Chemical Engineering

- Computer Engineering

- Computer Science & Engineering

- Electrical Engineering

- Materials Science & Engineering

A note on the application: Demographic and personal background questions help us to learn more about our candidate pool. The information will be kept confidential and will not be shared with industry partners.

Class level and major are being collected for data analysis purposes and will be reported in aggregate.

Application Deadline: Friday, February 23rd at 11:59 p.m.

 
Session Dates

      (Week 1) Monday, April 1 Mandatory Participant Orientation (Virtual, 6-7:30 p.m.) Audio and visual capability is required

(Week 1) Wednesday, April 3 Introduction to the Physics of Solar Cells and Spectral Design (In-person, James West Alumni Center, 6-8 p.m.)

(Week 2) Wednesday, April 10 Angle of Sunlight and Luminescent Solar Concentrators (LSCs) (In-person, Boelter Penthouse, 6-8 p.m.)

(Week 3) Wednesday, April 17 Fabrication of Advanced Luminescent Solar Concentrator Designs for Chosen Application (In-person, The Eisler Lab, 6-8 p.m.)

(Week 4) Wednesday, April 24 Characterization and Analysis of LSC Modules for Chosen Applications & Graduation (In-person, James West Alumni Center, 6-8 p.m.)

To successfully complete the program, participants must attend all five sessions.

***DEADLINE: Friday June 6th, 2025 at 11:59PM****
***DOUBLE SUBMISSIONS WILL BE DELETED AUTOMATICALLY BY THE SYSTEM***

 Founded in 2018, The Benjamin Graham Value Investing Program equips undergraduate economics students with an unparalleled education in finance and investing. Students participating in this two-year program will be able to understand the full set of fundamental economic and strategic forces that favor or disfavor a particular investment opportunity from both a theoretical and practical perspective. A cohort of 40-45 students is selected annually to participate in the following 2-year commitment (**Accepted seniors may complete year 1 and year 2 simultaneously under a compressed program):

• Year 1: The Value Investing Concentration, taking place throughout the 2025-2026 Academic Year, is taught by real-world practitioners known as “Investors in Residence”.  This industry-based curriculum prepares students through applied research projects, financial modeling, and group projects in five required core courses: EC-167 History of Financial Crises (Fall), EC-168 Introduction to Value Investing (Fall), EC-169 Applied Value Investing (Winter), EC-106S Competitive Strategy (Spring), EC-177 Field Projects in Investing (Spring), & 2 Approved ECON electives (any quarter).  
   
• Year 2: The Simon Fellowship, taking place throughout the 2026-2027 Academic Year, offers our senior students a unique “full circle” experience, allowing them to contribute significantly to the UCLA business community while honing their own skills in finance and investing. As Simon Fellows, students embark on a journey to build their community service profile with a focused mission: to illuminate the path for underclassmen towards careers in finance and investing.
  
   

Students who meet the following requirements are encouraged to apply:
 

• Satisfactory completion of the lower division requirements for the Economics, Business Economics, or Mathematics/Economics Majors
• Satisfactory completion of following courses is required before commencing the concentration: MGMT 1A - Principles of Accounting I, MGMT 1B - Principles of Accounting II. These pre-requisites are strictly enforced and must be completed before the start of Fall 2025.
• Satisfactory completion of following courses is strongly recommended before commencing the concentration in Fall 2025: ECON 101 - Microeconomic Theory. If not possible, ECON 101 may be a concurrent course during the concentration year.
• Non-majors are welcome to apply but are encouraged to complete the above requirements.

If you are interested in joining the Benjamin Graham Value Investing Program, we encourage you to apply below. For any questions regarding the Program’s requirements or eligibility, please contact Humberto Merino-Hernandez ( hmhernandez@econ.ucla.edu)


What is Value Investing?

 Value investing is a time-tested and proven investment methodology that is fundamentally different from conventional security analysis. Founded by super-investors Benjamin Graham and Warren Buffett, Value Investing focuses on determining the intrinsic value of a company based on its current and historical financial statements. An investment is worthwhile only if there is a strong set of competitive advantages within the business and if a significant margin of safety exists between the company’s intrinsic value and its market price.


How will this program help my investment career?

 A student graduating from this program will understand the full set of fundamental economic and strategic forces that favor or disfavor a particular investment opportunity. Thus, students will be prepared for a wide range of careers within private equity, distressed debt firms, and actively managed mutual funds. Courses are taught by our “Investors in Residence,” a series of guest lecturers including C-suite executives from some of the nation’s largest endowments, hedge funds, mutual funds, and private equity firms. Additionally, the core courses include a Financeable subscription where students hone their accounting, finance, and Excel skills through interactive modeling modules.

How To Apply – Value Investing Concentration

Application Requirements:

     · Online Application Form (Submittable)

     · Cover Letter (1-Page)

     · Resume (1-Page)

     · Unofficial Transcript

     · Essay Response 1 (1-2 Pages): Describe your academic and career interests, and explain how and why the Value Investing Program would help you explore these areas.

   · Essay Response 2 (1-2 Pages): Reflect on a time when you have significantly contributed to the personal or professional growth of an individual or a group. Describe your role in this development process, focusing on mentorship or other forms of support you provided. As a Simon Fellow, how do you envision applying your experiences and insights to foster the growth of younger students within this context?


Application Timeline:

 - Friday, May 2nd, 2025 at 12:00AM - Application Goes Live

-  Friday June 6th, 2025 at 11:59PM - Application Due



Application Review:

     · Student applications will be reviewed by the Value Investing Program admissions committee.

     · At the admissions committee discretion, phone/in-person interviews may also be scheduled.

     · Students will be notified of their acceptance on Friday, June 20th, 2025 by 11:59p.m. via email. All decisions are final.