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Graduate Student Opportunities

Advanced Short-Term Research Opportunity (ASTRO)

The ORNL Advanced Short-Term Research Opportunity Program is a highly selective program and offers challenging short-term research opportunities to recent recipients of master’s and doctoral degrees to conduct research in areas that support ORNL missions in the basic and applied sciences, energy, and environment. Appointments are available in all current research and development programs at the laboratory. There are no citizenship requirements. The program will accept applications at any time. Appointments are for six months and may be renewed one time for up to three months.

Higher Education Research Experiences (HERE) for Students

This program is open to both U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents who have completed a BS within the past year, plus master’s and Ph.D. students performing thesis or dissertation research. Applications are always accepted; however, the preferred dates are February 1 for summer, June 1 for fall, October 1 for winter/spring. Opportunities are available for 10 to 12 weeks during the summer term; some sabbatical appointments 6 to 12 months, plus some intermittent appointments.

Department of Energy Pre-Service Teacher Internships (PST)

The PST is a great program for undergraduate students studying to be K-12 teachers. Opportunities to participate in educational training and research relating to preparation for teaching K-12 science, mathematics, and technology education. This program is open to both U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents during the summer term for 10 weeks. Students in a post-graduate program preparing for a teaching certificate are eligible.

Nuclear Engineering Science Laboratory Synthesis (NESLS)

This cooperative research initiative is geared toward students in physics and nuclear engineering. There are no citizenship requirements. Summer applications must be received by March1 for a 10-week appointment.

NRC Historically Black Colleges and Universities Student Research Participation

This program is open to undergraduate and graduate students from Historically Black Colleges and Universities for work being conducted by the NRC or grants. Applicants must be either U.S. citizens or legal permanent residents. Summer appointments are for 10-12 weeks with some part-time options.

University Radioactive Ion Beam (UNIRIB) Consortium

This program offers opportunities for basic research on rare, short-lived atomic nuclei. There are no citizenship requirements and applications are accepted throughout the year.