DOE Scholars Program

About the DOE Scholars Program

• What kind of program is the DOE Scholars Program? What is its purpose?

  The DOE Scholars Program is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)-wide program that complements other DOE workforce development initiatives. The program is designed to promote DOE's strategic objectives of creating a pipeline of highly qualified participants in disciplinary fields that support programs in mission-critical areas.

• Where can I learn more about the U.S. Department of Energy and its mission?

  Visit the DOE website for a comprehensive look at the department and its programs.

• What kinds of opportunities are available through the DOE Scholars Program?

  The DOE Scholars Program offers opportunities to undergraduate and graduate students, and recent graduates to receive hands-on experiences that provide them with an understanding of the mission, operations, and culture of DOE. Scholars may be assigned to research, technical or policy-related projects.

• How do I apply for the DOE Scholars Program?

  ORISE offers Zintellect as a tailored, user-friendly platform for applying to opportunities within the DOE Scholars Program. Eligibility requirements may vary by opportunity. To be considered, applicants must meet the specific eligibility criteria outlined in the opportunity description on Zintellect.

• What disciplines are needed for the DOE Scholars Program?

  To be eligible for consideration, you must be pursuing or have completed a degree in a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) discipline, or a field that supports the DOE operations mission. This includes, but is not limited to, areas such as communications, management, business, and law. Additionally, sponsor-specific opportunities may have unique requirements, including degrees in specific disciplines tailored to the needs of the sponsoring office or project.

Eligibility

• Who can participate in this program?

  The DOE Scholars Program is open to individuals who meet the following general eligibility requirements. Please note that sponsor-specific opportunities may have additional criteria, and applicants must meet the specific requirements listed for each opportunity in Zintellect.

  General Eligibility Requirements:

  • Be a U.S. Citizen and at least 18 years old.
  • Meet one of the following conditions:
    • Be currently enrolled in or have completed an undergraduate (B.A., B.S., or equivalent) or graduate (M.S., DVM, Ph.D., or equivalent) degree within five years of the intended start date in a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) discipline or a field supporting the DOE operations mission (e.g., communications, management, business, law).
    • Be a U.S. military Veteran who has been honorably discharged and/or medically discharged due to a service-connected disability, and who earned a college degree in an appropriate discipline within ten years of the desired start date.
    • Have completed a qualifying certificate program within one year of the desired start date. The certificate program must be offered by an accredited academic institution, be in an appropriate STEM discipline, and complement or relate to a prior degree earned (bachelor’s degree or higher).
• Can I apply if I am not a citizen of the United States?

  You must be a U.S. citizen at the time of application. No exceptions are allowed and proof of citizenship is required upon selection.

• What if I can only participate for a portion of the appointment period due to other commitments?

  Participation requires a commitment for the duration of the appointment period. You should plan to be at the facility for the specified term and avoid obligations that will interrupt your appointment.

• Is there a Veterans preference?

  Eligibility requirements have been expanded for Veterans who have been honorably discharged or who are disabled service members to allow them the opportunity to use the technical and leadership skills they gained during their military tenure and to assist them in the transition to civilian status.

Application and Selection

• When is the application deadline?

  Multiple opportunities are available throughout the year, with application deadlines varying based on the specific requirements of each opportunity. Deadlines are provided within the details of each opportunity in Zintellect. We recommend visiting this site frequently to stay updated on available opportunities and their respective deadlines.

• Do my transcripts need to be official?

  To apply, you may upload unofficial transcripts or copies of the student academic records printed from internal institutional systems. If selected, you will have to provide copies of official transcripts before you can start an appointment.

• How will I know when my application is complete?

  You will know that your portion of the application is complete when you are able to submit it. Zintellect will stop you from submitting it if any required information is missing, and will let you know what to fix. The application however is not considered complete until a recommendation has been submitted on your behalf. You can check the status in your Zintellect dashboard.

• Is my online application data secure?

  Absolutely. ORISE follows all federal rules and regulations regarding personally identifiable information and data collection.

• May I update my application after I have submitted it?

  Yes. Editing an application requires you un-submit your application. You must submit your application again before the opportunity closes to be considered for the opportunity. 

• How do I request recommendations?

  You will enter your recommender’s contact information in Zintellect, and requests will be sent automatically when you submit your application. There is also a “send now” button that you can use to send the requests before you submit your application. It’s a good idea to let your recommender know to watch for an email from zintellect@orau.org.

  You can view the status of your recommendation and resend your recommendation requests from the application card on your dashboard after the application is submitted.

• Can I request more than one recommendation?

  You may request more than one recommendation but only the first one received will be attached to your application.

  If you fear that your recommendation will not be available to submit a recommendation by the deadline, we highly encourage you to consider adding a new recommendation!

• Can the recommendations be used for more than one opportunity?

  If you have previously requested a recommendation from someone, they will receive another request for the new opportunity. They will have the option to either reuse the prior recommendation or customize it specifically for the new opportunity.

• Can my recommenders email a letter to you?

  All recommendations must be submitted via Zintellect. If your recommender has problems submitting a recommendation on your behalf, please ask him/her to contact us at DOEScholars@orise.orau.gov.

• How does the selection process work?

  Your application will be reviewed by the staff of the sponsoring/hosting facilities. They are looking for a match between their available projects and your educational background, experience, interests, skills and career goals.

• When and how will I be notified if I am selected?

  Sponsoring offices may choose to start reviewing applications and making selections as soon as applications are received. Hence, you should not wait until the last minute to submit an application.

  Most selections for summer appointments will be made by April 30, but the selection process may extend through May. 

  ORISE will send a letter of appointment via Zintellect. Hosting office/site representatives, including potential mentors, do not have the authority to offer or guarantee a DOE Scholars appointment. Only ORISE, on behalf of DOE, can offer an appointment through the DOE Scholars Program.

• Do I have to have health insurance coverage to apply or can I wait until I'm selected to acquire it?

  Your appointment cannot begin until you have provided proof of health insurance coverage.

• What are the chances of getting selected?

  The number of appointments available each year varies. One thing is clear: if you do not apply, you would not have the chance to be selected.

Appointment Information

• When do the appointments start?

  Appointments can start at any time during the year. Generally, summer appointments begin in June, but early starts may occur at sponsoring office request and depending on the candidate’s availability.

• If I have a conflict with the starting date, may I arrange to start my appointment earlier (or later)?

  You can talk with your assigned mentor about adjusting your appointment dates if there are conflicts with your class schedule, issues with housing, or other reasons that the appointment dates (given in your letter of appointment) won't work for you.

• How long do the summer appointments last?

  Typically, summer appointments are for 10 weeks but may be extended depending on the sponsoring office needs, funding and candidate’s availability.

• Where are the appointments located?

  Available appointments will be determined by sponsoring DOE offices/facilities. Locations vary by year depending upon sponsoring office needs and available funding. See potential locations.

• Do I get to choose my location?

  You can indicate your preferences for a specific area or location in your application. These preferences will be considered during the selection process.

• Will I be required to have my personal vehicle at the site?

  Some of the appointments are located in areas without public transportation and having your personal vehicle may be needed. You are responsible for your own daily transportation to and from your appointment site.

• By participating in this program, do I become an employee of the ORISE, the host site, or DOE?

  No, you will not enter into an employer/employee relationship with ORISE, the host site, or DOE. You will be considered an educational program participant. You are not eligible to receive any employment-related benefits, such as paid vacation or sick/medical leave or unemployment compensation.

• Do I have to prepare a report or give a presentation at the end of my appointment?

  You may be asked to participate in seminars, poster sessions, and symposia during your appointment. You may also be asked to submit a final report to your mentor.  In order to document the effectiveness of the program, you are required to submit a pre- and post-internship survey to assess the effectiveness of the program in meeting objectives and document your experience.

• What should I expect from my mentor?

  Your mentor should provide the following:

  • On-going technical guidance and advice
  • Appropriate materials, equipment, technical and clerical support, and office space
  • A nurturing and stimulating intellectual atmosphere

General Questions

• Are there other educational programs managed by ORISE that I might be eligible for?

  You may review eligibility and general program information for other education and research opportunities in Zintellect.

• If I have questions, whom should I contact?

  Please visit the Contact page for more information.