Information for Applicants

Applications are accepted from current students, recent graduates, and U.S. college/university faculty with participants selected by the HHS mentor. Review the applicant information and program details below for more information and contact ORISE with any additional questions.

Additional Information

  • Eligibility

    The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Research Participation Programs are educational and training programs designed to provide college students, recent graduates, and university faculty opportunities to participate in project-specific HHS research and developmental activities.

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    Because of the educational nature of these programs, participants must fall into one of the following categories:

    1. Students must be enrolled in an accredited U.S. college or university pursuing a degree in a science, technology, engineering or math (STEM), and must maintain satisfactory progress in academic coursework.
    2. Postgraduates must have received their degree in an appropriate STEM discipline within five years of the appointment start date, or must complete all requirements for such a degree prior to the desired start date.
    3. Faculty must be full-time faculty from an accredited U.S. college or university.

    Established scientists interested in new research training activities will be considered on a case-by-case basis by the HHS program coordinator and ORISE management staff if there is an opportunity posting that requires an established scientist.

    Applications will be considered without regard to race, color, age, sex, religion, national origin, mental or physical disability, genetic information, sexual orientation, or covered veteran’s status.

    The Homeland Security Presidential Directive-12 (HSPD-12) mandates a background check be completed for both U.S. citizens and foreign nationals. Foreign nationals must have resided in the U.S. for at least three (3) of the past five (5) years in order for HHS to be able to complete a background check. If the background check cannot be completed by the time the appointment is to start, the candidate may be denied the appointment.

    The program is typically open to qualified U.S. citizens, foreign citizens who are eligible to participate as J-1 Exchange Visitors, and foreign citizens eligible for other visa categories approved by HHS and ORISE. However, a few HHS offices may only appoint U.S. citizens due to the sensitive nature of the research performed and/or restricted facility access. Any such restrictions will be clearly stated in the project description of the opportunity posting. For more information on eligibility requirements for non-U.S. citizens, please see Guidelines for Non-U.S. Citizens.

  • Prior to Starting the Appointment

    Although the mentor may have selected the candidate for a project, there are additional steps to follow before the candidate can be cleared to begin the appointment.

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    Required Application Materials

    • ORISE application through Zintellect
    • Current résumé
    • Unofficial transcript is required for an application. If selected for a fellowship, an official transcript will be required.
    • One reference from persons who are familiar with the candidate’s educational qualifications (including a reference from a current or past faculty member if possible)

    The general steps are outlined below:

    • HHS mentor submits the selection to the HHS program coordinator. HHS approval processes may vary from center to center, so please contact the HHS program coordinator for more information on HHS’s internal processes.
    • All candidates must accept the appointment offer from ORISE prior to reporting to the facility to ensure that they will be eligible to receive a stipend. The appointment letter addendum will outline any contingencies that must be met prior to starting their appointment.
    • All participants are required to have health insurance in place no later than the first day of the appointment and maintain health insurance throughout the duration of the appointment.
    • Selected candidates who are U.S. citizens or Lawful Permanent Residents must verify their citizenship before starting the appointment.
    • Selected candidates who are not U.S. citizens or Lawful Permanent Residents must consult with ORISE immigration staff upon acceptance of the appointment to ensure they have the authorizations necessary for participation. Selected candidates cannot start their appointment until the ORISE immigration staff have notified they are cleared to start. Also, see Guidelines for Non-U.S. Citizens for clarification on the types of authorizations acceptable for the program.
    • On the date the participant begins, the HHS program coordinator must certify that the candidate reported to the facility. Once all of these steps are complete, ORISE will begin stipend payments.

    HHS requires ORISE participants to read and sign their HHS Education and Training Agreement within 30 days of his/her start date, setting forth the conditions and expectations for his/her educational appointment at the agency.

  • Host Facilities

    The mission of HHS is to enhance the health and well-being of all Americans, by providing for effective health and human services and by fostering sound, sustained advances in the sciences underlying medicine, public health, and social services. Several groups within HHS host ORISE participants.

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    • Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA)
      The Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority (BARDA) provides an integrated, systematic approach to the development of the necessary vaccines, drugs, therapies, and diagnostic tools for public health medical emergencies such as chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) accidents, incidents and attacks; pandemic influenza (PI), and emerging infectious diseases (EID). BARDA promotes the advanced development of medical countermeasures to protect Americans and respond to 21st century health security threats.
    • Office of the Assistant to the Secretary for Health (OASH)
      The Office of the Assistant to the Secretary for Health (OASH) oversees the Department’s key public health offices and programs, a number of Presidential and Secretarial advisory committees, 10 regional health offices across the nation, and the Office of the Surgeon General and the U.S. Public Health Service Commissioned Corps.
    • Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA) 
      The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) provides equitable health care to the nation’s highest-need communities. Our programs support people with low incomes, people with HIV, pregnant people, children, parents, rural communities, transplant patients, and the health workforce.
    • Office of the Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE)
      The Assistant Secretary for Planning and Evaluation (ASPE) advises the Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services on policy development in health, disability, human services, data, and science; and provides advice and analysis on economic policy. The ASPE leads special initiatives; coordinates the Department's evaluation, research, and demonstration activities; and manages cross-Department planning activities such as strategic planning, legislative planning, and review of regulations. Integral to this role, the ASPE conducts research and evaluation studies; develops policy analyses; and estimates the cost and benefits of policy alternatives under consideration by the Department or Congress.
    • Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
      The Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality's (AHRQ) mission is to produce evidence to make healthcare safer, higher quality, more accessible, equitable, and affordable, and to work within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and with other partners to make sure that the evidence is understood and used.
    • Indian Health Service (IHS)
      The Indian Health Service (IHS) is the principal federal health care provider and health advocate for Indian people, and its goal is to raise their health status to the highest possible level. The IHS provides a comprehensive health service delivery system for approximately 2.6 million American Indians and Alaska Natives who belong to 574 federally recognized tribes in 37 states.

  • Guidelines for Non-U.S. Citizens

    In this section you will find information which is intended to be used as a guide. If selected to participate, ORISE Immigration Services is required to verify your immigration status eligibility.

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    There are various types of immigration statuses that allow foreign nationals to participate in some Research Participation Programs where U.S. citizenship is not required. Generally, participants are not required to hold U.S. citizenship. However, a few HHS offices may have restricted areas that may only allow U.S. citizens access due to the sensitive nature of the research performed.

    For more information please visit the ORISE Immigration website.

  • Frequently Asked Questions

    Answers to the questions most commonly asked by applicants.

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    Participants receive a monthly stipend to help defray living and other expenses during the appointment. Stipend rates are determined by HHS, and are based on the participant’s educational level. Some mentors may also award relocation, a travel allowance, and/or a health insurance stipend.

    Every participant is required to have health insurance on the first day of the appointment and throughout the duration of the program. Participants may not be present at HHS facilities if their insurance coverage lapses.

    Individual, individual plus one, or family insurance coverage may be purchased through ORISE, or participants may obtain another insurance plan from the company of their choice.

    Non-citizens with appropriate immigration statuses are eligible for most HHS appointments. Generally, participants are not required to hold U.S. citizenship. However, a few HHS offices may have restricted areas that may only allow U.S. citizens access due to the sensitive nature of the research performed.

    If you anticipate receiving your degree shortly, then you may apply. If you are selected, you will be required to show proof of degree completion before beginning the appointment.

    Initial appointments are usually made for a maximum of one year. They may be extended up to a maximum total of five years, based upon program needs, funding availability, and participant eligibility. Shorter appointments are also available, based upon program needs and candidate availability. Many project descriptions state the expected duration of the appointment.

    One reference is required. Use your discretion as to whether additional references will strengthen your application by highlighting aspects of your background that were not addressed elsewhere. Selection officials will not be able to see your application until at least one reference has been submitted.

    You should obtain references from people familiar with your educational and professional qualifications. At least one recommender should be a professor or other individual who can comment on your educational experience.

    Participants are selected by the HHS mentor at HHS from the pool of fully submitted and qualified applications to the posting in Zintellect. 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. The mentor will review applications and will then notify ORISE once they have selected a candidate in order to begin the appointment letter process described in Prior to Starting the Appointment.

    If you have applied for a specific project, the HHS mentor for that project will determine how long applications will be accepted, and how long the review and selection 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 with offer (which will come from ORISE via the Zintellect system). If selected, the process between receiving your official appointment letter with offer and your actual start date may vary depending on several factors including background checks and the security process.

    If you see the opportunity on Zintellect then it is still actively accepting applications. If no deadline is listed then applications are reviewed on a rolling basis. Applicants can always contact HHSrpp@orau.org with any questions regarding the status of your application and/or the opportunity.

    Please ensure that all of the necessary application materials have been received and that you have obtained the necessary educational qualifications. At least one reference needs to be submitted in order for the mentor to view your application. Please review the current opportunities that are available.

    All opportunities for ORISE Research Participation Programs at HHS are listed in Zintellect. Check back often for additional postings.

    All ORISE appointment selections must be submitted by the HHS mentor. ORISE will send an appointment letter once this submission is received and the funding for the appointment is in place.

    We do not advise you to do this. Only ORISE is authorized to offer you an appointment.

  • Diversity Inclusion/Culture

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    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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The ORISE GO mobile app helps you stay engaged, connected and informed during your ORISE experience – from application, to offer, through your appointment and even as an ORISE alum!

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