Click Apply below

The Education Collaboration at ORNL Program is offering opportunities to participate in projects and activities at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL). ORNL provides opportunities for recent graduates, as well as currently enrolled undergraduate and graduate students, and recently separated veterans, to engage with ORNL projects, connect with ORNL researchers, and technical and professional staff. 

ECO Program Details

• Stipend (paid biweekly) 
  • A stipend will be provided to participants
• Housing Allowance (paid biweekly with stipend)
  • A housing allowance may be provided to participants pending coverage by home institution or other grants
• Travel
  • Eligible participants whose permanent address is more than 50 miles from ORNL may receive a travel reimbursement for round-trip transportation expenses to and from ORNL
• Length of Appointment
  • Appointment duration may depend on the availability of the participant and at the discretion of ORNL as the hosting facility. Appointments will not exceed one year but may be renewed upon appropriate review.

Eligibility Requirements

To be considered for this opportunity, at the time of application, applicants must:

• Be 18 years of age or older by desired start date

Meet one of three criteria noted below (Note: Postdoctoral applicants are not eligible for the ECO program):

• Applicants may be currently enrolled as a full-time undergraduate or graduate student in a degree-seeking program at an accredited college or university (including accredited community colleges).
• Applicants may also be a recent graduate (eligible degrees: associate or bachelor's or master’s) from an accredited institution. The time period between receipt of the degree and starting the appointment must be four (4) years or less. 
• Applicants may be a veteran, or separating veteran, of the United States Armed Services who has received their DD-214 no more than four (4) years prior to the start date of the internship (to be verified with a DD Form 214 and a high school diploma or GED). 

Please note, in almost all instances, graduate students pursuing a Ph.D. will be directed to use the GRO program, not ECO-S. Master's students whose visit to ORNL will be related to a thesis or capstone project will also be directed to GRO, and most others to RSI. If you have questions about which program is most appropriate for your circumstances, please email education@ornl.gov. 

Preferred Qualification

Have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.00 on a 4.00 scale at the time of application (undergraduate and graduate combined OR graduate GPA alone)

Application Review and Appointment Offer Process

• Applications are reviewed for compliance by Office of Research Education (ORE) staff and ORNL researchers and/or technical/professional staff with an available project. 
• Selections and appointment offers will be made on a rolling basis.
• Selected applicants must respond to their offer within seven (7) days of receipt of the offer.

Contingencies

• All awards and active participation in the program are contingent upon security access approval to Oak Ridge National Laboratory, agreement with the Terms of Appointment, and completion of all contingencies in the offer letter. All contingencies of an appointment offer must be met before the applicant can begin an appointment.
• Students are subject to DOE clearance approval for laboratory access.
• Participants are required to have coverage under a health insurance plan for the duration of the appointment period and must provide proof of such coverage. It is your responsibility to secure insurance coverage before arriving at the appointment site.

The complete application requires:

• Profile information
• Educational details (i.e. dates of attendance/graduation, GPAs, majors, etc.)
• Relevant experience
• Awards and honors
• Statement of purpose: goals, experience, skills, and personal information
• Research areas of interest
• An updated resume or CV (.pdf upload)
• Academic records - For this opportunity, an unofficial transcript or copy of academic records may be submitted showing name, school name, current/enrolled classes, and GPA (.pdf upload).
• One Recommendation - The application will be considered incomplete and will not be eligible for review and consideration until one recommendation is received. Applicants will provide contact information for recommenders, including current email addresses. Applicants are encouraged to request multiple recommendations and begin contacting recommenders immediately upon submitting an application. Recommendation letters will be uploaded in Zintellect and should address the applicant’s academic record and potential for success in a STEM internship, as indicated by intellectual merit, research/technical, communication, and teamwork skills. Recommenders cannot be a family member. The first recommendation received via Zintellect will meet the program requirement.

All documents must be submitted via Zintellect. All application components must be completed and received in the system in order to be considered.

Nature of Appointment

The participant will not enter into an employee/employer relationship with ORISE, ORAU, DOE, or any other office or agency.  Instead, the participant will be affiliated with ORISE for the administration of the appointment through the ORISE appointment letter and Terms of Appointment. For more information on the Education Collaboration at ORNL Program, please contact Office of Research Education (ORE) staff at internship-coord@ornl.gov. #Li-DNI

• Degree: High School Diploma/GED, Associate's Degree, Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, or Doctoral Degree received within the last 48 months or currently pursuing.
• Discipline(s):
  • Business (11 )
  • Chemistry and Materials Sciences (12 )
  • Communications and Graphics Design (6 )
  • Computer, Information, and Data Sciences (17 )
  • Earth and Geosciences (21 )
  • Engineering (27 )
  • Environmental and Marine Sciences (14 )
  • Life Health and Medical Sciences (51 )
  • Mathematics and Statistics (11 )
  • Other Non-Science & Engineering (13 )
  • Physics (16 )
  • Science & Engineering-related (2 )
  • Social and Behavioral Sciences (30 )
• Age: Must be 18 years of age
• Veteran Status: Veterans Preference, degree received within the last 120 month(s).

I certify that all information I have provided is correct and accurate to the best of my knowledge.

I also confirm that one of the following is true:

• I am currently enrolled as a full-time undergraduate or graduate student in a degree-seeking program at an accredited college or university (including accredited community colleges) at the time of application.
• I am a recent associate, bachelor's, or master's graduate from an accredited institution (including recent graduates currently enrolled or planning to enroll in graduate studies). The time period between receipt of an undergraduate or graduate degree and starting the ECO appointment must be four years or less.
• I am a recently discharged veteran of the United States Armed Forces with honorable discharge (form DD-214). U.S. citizenship or Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) status is required in this case.
• I have a 3.00 GPA in the current academic program or recent degree (unless entering as veteran)