Capabilities
World-class research facilities offer unique opportunities to the future generation of scientists and engineers. Let Oak Ridge Associated Universities (ORAU) help you find the best students and faculty members whose interests complement your scientific research.
We've been doing just that for a long time. Since 1946 in fact. We manage science education programs for more than 12 federal agencies. Opportunities include:
- Undergraduate scholarships
- Graduate fellowships
- Postgraduate internships
- Postdoctoral fellowships
- Faculty and student research participation programs
- K-12 student and teacher programs
- Science education events
We Offer a Comprehensive Package of Services
Whether you have a program already in place, or you need help establishing one, we offer a full range of services:
- Design and implement a scholarship, fellowship, internship, or research participation program that meets your unique workforce development needs and goals
- Recruit participants nationally, including special outreach to target Historically Black Colleges and Universities and other Minority-Serving Education Institutions, by:
- Partnering with professional associations, student associations and chapters, colleges and universities, ORAU member universities, and campus career centers
- Attending professional associations; meetings and conferences
- Advertising in journals and magazines; direct mail
- Creating a strong Web presence
- Establishing a bilingual, multicultural diversity recruitment team
- Fostering personal relationships with key individuals at colleges and universities
- Process applications and facilitate selections
- Match your laboratories' research needs with the skills and goals of applicants
- Make stipend and other authorized payments to participants
- Mentor the mentors [read about our successful online mentor training]
- Provide follow-up evaluation of the programs
- Assess science and technology workforce needs
- Promote the study and use of educational technologies in learning
Our efforts yield results. Participants are far more likely than similar individuals to:
- Pursue higher level degrees
- Complete graduate degrees in specialty fields of interest to sponsors
- Pursue research careers in areas of interest to sponsors
- Accept employment positions at federal research centers
- Refer others to programs administered by ORAU
- Emphasize active, inquiry-based learning in their teaching
We Set Challenging Minority Recruitment Goals
We pride ourselves in our ability to recruit minority students who are typically underrepresented in science and technology fields. We feature a diverse recruitment team and innovative partnerships with our nation's Historically Black Colleges and Universities and other Minority-Serving Education Institutions.
When you look at our participants, you can see that we have been successful:
- 47% of undergraduates are women
- 50% of graduate students are women
- 23% of undergraduates are underrepresented minority students
- 16% of graduate students are underrepresented minority students
- 9% of postdocs are underrepresented minority students
- Minority-serving education institutions are well represented
Women and underrepresented minorities in our programs exceed that in U.S. science and engineering degree programs.
We Keep Getting Better
Just because we've been doing this for 60 years doesn't mean we can't improve. We continuously fine-tune our processes for each phase of managing your program, taking advantage of emerging technologies. Examples include:
- Wide penetration of Web-based program promotion and recruitment
- Integrated electronic application, selection, and participant data management system
- Online training for mentors
- Assessment of workforce issues and analysis of program impacts
- Research on the use of educational technologies and learning
These efforts guarantee you the most effective and efficient program. And they help to ensure the participants have a valuable educational experience.
