Ben Sharpe, UC Davis

For me, landing in a PhD program was not the result of a jump - rather, it was more of a fortunate fall. After finishing BS and MS degrees in civil engineering, I was very excited to take on a full-time overseas engineering position in the oilfield services industry. In July of 2005, I was in a catastrophic accident, and surgeries, recovery, and rehab dominated the next year of my life. Feeling so incredibly blessed to just be alive, I knew that I would not be satisfied with returning to my previous career path. I spent months thinking about different career options within civil engineering and construction but the thought of pursuing a PhD never crossed my mind until one of my physicians suggested that doctorate studies just might offer the fulfillment I was seeking. Almost immediately I started looking for graduate programs that excited me. My work in the oil and natural gas industry had sparked my interest in energy, but I felt that petroleum dependence was a daunting global problem and that there was so much work to be done to transition to a less fossil-fuel dependent world. The Institute of Transportation Studies at UC Davis was a perfect fit because the program has allowed me to thoroughly explore my interests in beyond-fossil energy systems and greenhouse gas abatement strategies. In the summer prior to starting my graduate work at UC Davis, I was fortunate enough to be a part of the AGEP program. The AGEP program was extremely valuable in my transition to a new academic environment. Weekly seminars, workshops, and a structured grant-writing experience were all invaluable in preparing me for the rigors of coursework and research. Moreover, the AGEP community is a terrific social network, and the friendships that began that first summer have become an important part of my UC Davis support system.