Grant Opportunities
Supporting the Education of Next Generation Experts
The Clean Fuels Foundation has one grant program available to university students to support their education. The Beth Calabotta Sustainability Education Grant helps prepare students to step into new roles in a highly competitive workforce while strengthening innovation in the biomass-based diesel and agriculture industries.
Beth Calabotta Sustainability Education Grant
The Beth Calabotta Sustainability Grant was established in 2018 to help deserving full-time students interested in science, research and biodiesel sustainability. This $3,000 grant provides financial aid to one student studying initiatives that promote or support the use of biodiesel or renewable diesel. A portion of the financial award should be used to cover the recipient’s costs to attend and participate in Clean Fuels Alliance America’s Sustainability Workshop and related pre-and post-activities.
The Sustainability Workshop, sponsored by the Foundation, focuses on technical issues associated with sustainability and land use change (LUC) as they relate to the production of clean fuels. The workshop has been integral in determining the Foundation’s funding and research priorities. The next event is scheduled for April 27-29, 2026, in Kansas City, Missouri.
The Clean Fuels Foundation is pleased to announce Janice Shiu as the 2026 Beth Calabotta Grant winner! Shiu is a graduate student at the University of Illinois Urbana–Champaign, pursuing a degree in Computer Science and conducting research that applies statistical and artificial intelligence (AI) methods to improve the reliability and resilience of soybean and corn yields in the U.S. Midwest—key feedstocks for biomass-based diesel. In addition to Shiu’s knowledge of the clean fuels industry, she showed a direct connection to the Sustainability Workshop making her a top candidate in the selection process.
The application for the 2027 grant will reopen in September.
About Beth Calabotta
Beth served as the Foundation’s most influential director for over 10 years playing an integral role in advancing the Foundation’s research and education efforts. The Beth Calabotta Sustainability Education Grant was established in 2017 to memorialize Beth for her lifetime achievements and dedication to biodiesel sustainability and research. Beth was an advocate for student development and sustainability.
The Foundation’s grant allowed me to network with leading industry professionals at the forefront of advancing low-carbon clean fuels and gave me the opportunity to explore this work as my potential career. After attending the Sustainability Workshop and completing my PhD earlier this year, I decided to join the team at MARC-IV Consulting in their efforts to accelerate the adoption of clean fuels as a Diesel Engine and Low Carbon Fuels Integration Specialist.