Information for Applicants
Applications are accepted from current associate's, bachelor’s, or master’s level students, with participants selected by the Mickey Leland Energy Fellowship (MLEF) mentor. Review the applicant information and program details below for more information and contact ORISE with any additional questions.
Additional Information
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Eligibility
The MLEF Program is an educational and training program designed to provide associate's, bachelor’s, or master’s level students opportunities to participate in project-specific MLEF research and development activities.
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- Be at least 18 years of age.
- Be a U.S. citizen.
- Have a cumulative GPA of at least 2.8 on a 4.0 scale.
- Must be in the United States, a U.S. territory, or residing on a United States military base for the entire duration of the appointment.
- Be enrolled full-time as a degree-seeking student in a STEM program at an accredited U.S. college or university at the associate, bachelor’s, or master’s level at the time of application. Proof of enrollment is required with your application. Students enrolled at institutions outside the U.S. and its territories are ineligible.
- For undergraduate applicants, be classified as a college or university sophomore or higher at the time of application and have completed at least one full academic year as a matriculated undergraduate student. Advanced Placement credits or other college credits earned prior to matriculation do not count toward the one-year requirement.
- Be available to participate in all required program activities, including Orientation, Kickoff, and the full 10-week appointment.
For questions about the application process, contact MLEF@hq.doe.gov.
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How to Apply
The MLEF application process is a two-part process.
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Step 1: Create or Update Your Zintellect Profile
Create an account and complete your profile in Zintellect, ORISE’s online application system.
If you have previously applied to another ORISE program through Zintellect, log in to your existing account and review or update your profile information as needed.
Your Zintellect profile allows you to save basic information, including your name, contact information, and educational history. If you apply to more than one program through Zintellect, you will not need to re-enter this information for each application.
Step 2: Complete the MLEF Online Application
After completing or updating your Zintellect profile, complete the application specific to the Mickey Leland Energy Fellowship (MLEF) Program.
The MLEF Program application requires the following:
- Resume
- Academic Transcripts – Must include the following information:
- Student Name
- Overall GPA
- Completed/in-progress coursework
- Total credits or credit hours for each academic term, including the current term
Applicants must submit transcripts from all previously attended institutions. Master’s students must also submit undergraduate transcripts.
Transcripts must reflect current enrollment at the time of application and will be used to verify program eligibility.
If required information is not shown on the transcript, applicants must provide supplemental documentation from their institution’s Registrar. This includes verification of current full-time enrollment when not clearly reflected on the transcript.
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.
- Two References - Provide contact information for two references:
- One must be an academic reference
- The second may be an academic or professional reference
- Complete all required application questions and upload the required documents before submitting your application through Zintellect.
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Important Dates
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Event Date Student Application Deadline Friday, January 8, 2027 at 11:59 PM EST Application Status Notification April 2027 Participant Orientation (virtual) May 2027 Participant Kick-off Thursday, June 3, 2027 in Washington, D.C. Program Dates June 7 - August 13, 2027 Technical Forum August 9 - 12, 2027 in Pittsburgh, PA (location subject to change) -
Locations
Selections are based on a student’s qualifications and the needs of the appointment site/location. Proximity to the host is not factored during the selection process.
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The MLEF Program is primarily an in-person program. Participants may be placed at one of several U.S. Department of Energy sites, including but not limited to:
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Tips for a Successful Application
The MLEF program is looking for students who are willing to expand their horizons and knowledge, be it in their field of study or another area of STEM.
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We value a combination of academic success, experience, and leadership potential that is demonstrated in your academic record, work experience, drive to further your education and involvement in professional associations; student groups, volunteer activities, military service, and/or extracurricular activities. The MLEF program values individuality; show us who you are and what makes you special.
To increase your chances of being selected for the MLEF program, we recommend:
- Reading the eligibility criteria carefully to make sure you can be considered for this program.
- Spending the necessary time on your essay responses and your resume.
- Answer each question.
- Effective and efficient writing is valued over quantity of writing.
- Ensuring that everything you submit is grammatically correct, clearly expressed and neatly organized.
- Write a draft, edit it repeatedly, and ask someone whose judgement you trust to read it and make suggestions for improvement.
- Use a word processor to draft your answers and then copy and paste to the application.
- Asking questions! Contact us at mlef@hq.doe.gov if something isn’t clear.
- SUBMITTING THE APPLICATION! We can’t select you if you don’t submit an application!
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Stipend
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Stipend: Participants receive a stipend to help with the cost of living and other expenses during the appointment.
- Undergraduate students receive a stipend of $7,500 for the 10-week program
- Master’s students receive a stipend of $8,500 for the 10-week program
Travel: Travel expenses will be covered for required in-person program events, as applicable.
Housing: Participants who are relocating to complete their summer project may be eligible to receive a housing allowance.
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Program Events
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Participants are required to attend all program events, which may include travel to locations other than their assigned appointment site.
- Virtual Orientation: May 2027
- Kickoff: Thursday, June 3, 2027 in Washington, D.C.
- Technical Forum: August 9 - 12, 2027 in Pittsburgh, PA
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Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the questions most commonly asked by applicants.
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General
The MLEF appointment starts on June 7 and ends on August 13, 2027.
Candidates selected for an interview will be contacted directly by an MLEF Mentor to coordinate scheduling. Because this is a competitive program, not all applicants will be invited to interview. Please note that receiving an interview invitation does not guarantee selection for the program.
Following the interview process, candidates selected for the program will receive a notification from the MLEF team with additional program details. Candidates who are not selected for the program will be notified by email at the end of April.
If you accept an offer from the MLEF program, you agree to:
- Have coverage under a medical insurance plan for the duration of the program.
- Be available for the full 10 weeks of the program.
- Complete your research project.
- Travel to the Kick-off in Washington, D.C. and to the Technical Forum in Pittsburgh, PA.
- Conduct a 10-minute presentation at the Technical Forum.
- Complete program evaluation at the beginning and end of the program.
Participants can be selected for one of several HGEO sites including, but not limited to:
No. Applicants do not select the appointment site. Mentors will make a selection based on an applicant’s qualifications and the needs of their site.
The MLEF Program is primarily conducted in person. Remote appointments may be available on a limited basis, depending on the needs and requirements of the appointment site.
Yes. Students enrolled at institutions that operate on a quarter system are eligible to apply as long as they meet all other eligibility requirements. Applicants should be aware that, if selected, they will need to work with their institution to ensure they are available to attend all required events and participate in the program by the required start date.
You can expect to complete a research project that aligns with the mission of DOE’s Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy Office (HGEO). HGEO’s mission is to unleash the full potential of America’s hydrocarbon and geothermal resources to provide affordable, reliable, and secure energy.
Participants must be available for the following travel:
- Kickoff: Thursday, June 3, 2027 in Washington, D.C.
- Technical Forum: Monday, August 9 to Thursday, August 12, 2027 in Pittsburgh, PA.
Participants are expected to be at their research site Monday through Friday with specific schedules to be determined by your mentor.
No, you do not need a security clearance.
The Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) is a DOE asset focusing on scientific research and educating the next generation of scientists. ORISE provides administrative support, event coordination and travel logistics for the MLEF program. Specifically, participants will primarily communicate with ORISE regarding stipends, travel, and lodging for the kickoff and technical forum.
Kickoff and Technical Forum
The MLEF Kickoff is an opportunity to visit the U.S. Department of Energy, hear from leadership within the Department of Energy’s Hydrocarbons and Geothermal Energy offices, meet and network with fellow participants, and take part in program workshops and panel discussions.
The Technical Forum is the closing event for the program and takes place during the last week. Participants conduct a presentation highlighting their project and research findings.
The Kickoff is held the week before the program starts. For 2027, event will take place on Thursday, June 3, 2027 in Washington, D.C.
The Technical Forum is held during the last week of the program. For 2027, the dates will be from Monday, August 9 to Thursday, August 12, 2027 in Pittsburgh, PA (location subject to change).
Yes. Participants are required to attend both events.
No. Travel from the Kickoff and Technical Forum are provided by the program. Lodging is also covered by the program. Participants must stay at the designated lodging site. Expenses will only be covered for the designated travel dates.
No, meals will not be provided. However, you will receive a per diem to help defray the cost of meal expenses.
You will receive a stipend for the full 10 weeks of the program, including the Technical Forum.
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