Information for Applicants
Applications are accepted from recent graduates and early career energy professionals. Review the applicant information and program details below for more information and contact ORISE with any additional questions.
Innovator Fellows will have a hands-on learning experience participating on projects that the Host Institutions identify as critical to advancing solutions that will help modernize the power system, improve energy infrastructure for transportation and industry and make the U.S. power system more reliable, affordable, and resilient. Innovator Fellows can spend up to two years participating in the program.
Additional Information
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Who should apply?
The fellowship is open to recent graduates of bachelor's, master's, or doctoral degree programs and mid-career professionals
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Fellowship candidates must demonstrate an interest in modernizing the power system, improving energy infrastructure for transportation and industry, and making the U.S. power system more reliable, affordable, and resilient. Fellows serve one-year terms and have the option to renew for a second year. Fellows receive a competitive stipend with health benefits and professional development allowance.
Eligible Candidates must be:
- Recent Bachelor’s, Master’s and Doctoral graduates, as well as applicants with technical or research post-degree experience in a field related to the advancement of clean energy.
- U.S. Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident at the time of application.
- At least 18 years old by the time the appointment begins.
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EIF Review Process
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- ORISE conducts initial reviews of all candidate applications for completeness and minimal requirements according to program criteria.
- ORISE may conduct a 15-minute interview with a candidate for clarification purposes.
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Application Requirements
Required Application Materials for Applicants
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A Complete Application Consists of:
- Complete Zintellect profile and responses to opportunity specific application questions.
- Up to 5 of your most preferred Host Institution projects. If required by the Host Institution, you must be willing to relocate to the Host Institution's area.
- Transcripts/Academic Records - Recent unofficial transcripts or copies of the student academic records printed by the applicant or by academic advisors from internal institutional systems may be submitted to complete the application, if a copy of the official transcript is not available at the time of application. Transcripts/Academic Records must include the name of the academic institution, name of the student, completed/in progress coursework and grades. If you are selected, you will be required to provide a copy of your most recent official transcript showing proof of degree before the appointment can start.
- Current Resume/CV (two-page limit), including academic history, employment history, and relevant experiences.
- One Academic or Professional Recommendation: The recommendation should address a candidate's academic record and potential for success as a fellow, as indicated by communication, motivation, and collaboration skills, and must be submitted through Zintellect. Although only one recommendation is required, you are encouraged to enter more than one contact to request a recommendation since you need at least one recommendation in the system to count as part of the completed application. Applications without a recommendation will not be reviewed.
NOTE: All documents must be submitted through Zintellect, and must be in English or include an official English translation. Documents must have all social security numbers, student identification numbers, and/or dates of birth removed (blanked out, blackened out, made illegible, etc.) prior to uploading into the application system. Incomplete applications will not be considered. Supporting materials must be uploaded as PDF files to ensure the document can be searched by Zintellect’s search engine. Documents sent by email, postal mail, or fax will not be considered.
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Selection Criteria
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Merit Review Criteria
- Degree to which the candidate has the training and qualifications required to undertake the type of project in which they have indicated interest.
- Degree to which the candidate's application is clearly articulated, with appropriate levels of technical sophistication.
- Degree to which the candidate is highly motivated and takes initiative.
Program Policy Factors
- Applications may be selected to ensure diversity of the overall Fellows class (e.g., geographic diversity, educational diversity in terms of degree levels and fields of study, and a diversity of colleges and universities).
- Applications may be selected that best reflect and support local communities in their Host Institution's jurisdiction or service territory.
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Host Institutions
Recent graduates gain hands-on experience supporting critical energy organizations at one of the Host Institutions. Host Institutions will be updated soon.
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In the application, you will select up to 5 of your most preferred Host Institution projects. If required by the Host Institution, you must be willing to relocate to the Host Institution's area.
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How to apply
The application for Fellows will open on March 31, 2025. Date subject to change. If you have questions about the fellowship, please contact DOE-RPP@orise.orau.gov
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Important dates
All dates are subject to change.
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- Fellow candidate application opens: March 31, 2025
- Fellow candidate application closes: April 18, 2025
- Fellow start date period: mid-July through August 2025
- Onboarding webinars (attend one of three): end of July to end of August 2025
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Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the questions most commonly asked by applicants.
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- A class is the group of all Fellows selected under one application window.
- The 2025 class of Fellows will be comprised of those who are successfully matched to a Host Institution following their application to the program. The Fellow application opens March 31, 2025, and closes April 18, 2025. Fellow appointment start date period is mid-July through August 2025. Dates are subject to change.
Any degrees in progress must be completed prior to the start of the fellowship appointment start dates. The appointment start date period for the 2025 class is mid-July through August 2025.
The fellowship candidate must be a U.S. citizen or legal permanent resident (LPR) residing in the U.S. at the time of application and throughout the appointment period. Even if remote, Fellows must reside within the U.S. Evidence of this status must be submitted at the time an appointment offer is accepted.
An appointment involves a full-time commitment during the Host Institution's business hours, and throughout the appointment period.
Yes. The matching process is based on mutual agreement. If a project or geography is not a fit for a given candidate, then the candidate should not select it in their application.
- The person providing your reference should be in a position to speak to your ability to contribute to the program. This should be a professional or an academic reference from a person in a supervisory role (e.g., manager, professor, teacher’s assistant).
- Note that fellowship candidates are asked to provide the name and contact information for their reference person in their application; candidates may submit their application prior to receipt of the reference.
- An appointment in principle involves a full-time commitment to on-site participation at the Host Institution throughout the appointment period. Prior experience has clearly shown that in-person collaboration makes for a higher quality fellowship experience for both parties.
- Given that many Host Institutions have moved to hybrid in-office arrangements in the wake of the COVID pandemic, the expectation is that a Fellow would follow their Host Institution's policies for days in the office versus remote participation from home.
- Full-time remote participation in the fellowship will be considered on a case-by-case basis only, upon request from the Host Institution.
- Annual stipends are determined by the highest degree level received and the years of relevant professional experience by the fellowship appointment start date, ranging from 1 year (lowest) to 10 years (highest):
- Bachelor's: $59,966 - $77,955
- Master’s: $66,036 - $85,844
- PhD: $86,962 - $113,047
- Stipends are non-negotiable and not determined by location.
- Years of relevant professional experience is based on the Fellow’s application and resume.
- The annual stipend rate is determined once a Fellow and Host Institution has matched and is provided through an offer letter.
- If the fellowship is renewed for a second year, the annual stipend rate is increased by one year of professional experience.
- Stipends are paid directly to the Fellow at the end of each month by ORISE.
- In addition to the annual stipend, EIF offers:
- Allowances to help cover relocation or host site visit costs, conferences, training and training material, and project related expenses.
- Individual medical, dental, and vision insurance.
Participants are selected by the program coordinator. ORISE staff will prescreen applications to ensure that all required materials have been received and that the participant has attained the required educational level, but are not otherwise involved in the selection process.
If you have applied for a specific project, the mentor for that project will determine how long applications will be accepted and how long the review process will take. Once the mentor has selected a candidate, there are several steps that must be completed before the candidate can receive an appointment letter.
Please ensure that all of the necessary application materials have been received and that you have obtained the necessary educational qualifications. Successful applicants generally apply for a specific project. Please review the current opportunities that are available.
All ORISE appointments must be approved by the program coordinator. ORISE will send an appointment letter once this approval is received and the funding for the appointment is in place.
We strongly discourage this. Only ORISE is authorized to offer you an appointment and you should not relocate or resign from your current position until you have received an appointment offer from ORISE.
No. The fellowship is an educational experience, and the annual stipend is provided to offset the cost of living. Fellows are considered a program participant and will not enter an employer/employee relationship with DOE, ORISE, their Host Institution, or any other office or agency.
Yes. The fellowship appointment is for one year, renewable for a second if all parties agree to continue.
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Diversity Inclusion/Culture
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Diversity in STEM refers to increasing the representation and cultivating the talents of people from all backgrounds in science, technology, engineering, and math fields, especially underrepresented students of color and those from low-income and first-generation to college backgrounds to enter clean energy industries. Diversity in STEM is important because diverse teams bring a variety of perspectives and experiences, which can often lead to more innovative solutions and increased success and competitiveness. Applicants may explore the EERE website to learn more about diversity in STEM program. Applicants may also explore the Executive Order on Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government issued January 20, 2021.
ORISE administers STEM internship and fellowship programs on behalf of the U.S. Department of Energy and other federal agencies. The diversity of these programs enables individuals—whether undergraduate, graduate, postdoctoral, or faculty—to conduct collaborative research at national laboratories or one of more than a dozen federal agency partners nationwide. Interested applicants can review and apply to hundreds of postings for paid internships and fellowships that best meet their individual career interests and educational advancement needs on Zintellect. Recruiting/Outreach events, including a focus on enhancing connections and recruitment for underrepresented groups, are offered regularly by ORISE to provide candidates the opportunity to speak with program staff, mentors, and current/alumni participants to learn more.
ORISE champions diversity, promotes creativity, rewards excellence, and encourages respect and an acceptance of differences. To support this commitment, ORISE operates a strong diversity program that includes training, educational programs, and awareness events for its employees and the community and is dedicated to recruiting and preparing the next generation of our nation’s scientific workforce.
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