Office of Technology Transitions (OTT) Technology Commercialization Internship Program
The Office of Technology Transitions (OTT) Technology Commercialization Internship Program provides an opportunity for undergraduate students to explore and contribute to projects that lie at the intersection of business and technology. Students gain mentor-led experiences as they explore the U.S. Department of Energy’s (DOE's) world-class national laboratory system and gain skills to supplement their education in entrepreneurial thinking and market opportunities.
The OTT Technology Commercialization Internship Program supports OTT’s mission with learning-based internships that develop the next generation of entrepreneurs while introducing options for future careers for the DOE and the national laboratories to advance commercialization within the United States.
OTT strongly believes in a diverse workforce for the next generation of technology commercialization professionals. The OTT Technology Commercialization Internship Program supports DOE’s Justice40 Initiative and DOE efforts to advance Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility. Hence, students from disadvantaged communities, underrepresented groups in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), and Minority Serving Institutions are encouraged to apply.
Why should I apply?
You will receive:
- Stipend: $850 per week. A stipend supplement to offset the cost of housing may be provided for participants that relocate more than 50 miles from their home/school location. Supplement will be based on internship location.
- Option to complete internship in person or remotely depending on hosting site availability
- Limited reimbursement for travel to/from the hosting site
- Travel to Washington, D.C. for an opening ceremony at the beginning of the internship and to a closing ceremony at a national laboratory at the end of the internship.
As a program participant, you will:
- Participate in and contribute to OTT mission-related research, technical and policy activities under the guidance of technology transfer experts and/or OTT staff.
- Learn and collaborate with Technology Transfer specialists at DOE national laboratories working on commercialization efforts related to the OTT mission, and establish long-term relationships between yourself, technology transfer experts, and OTT staff.
- Gain deep insight into the federal government's role in the creation and implementation of policies that will affect energy technology development.
- Enhance your education and training by learning from Energy I-Corps instructors, attending workshops, and using your new-found knowledge to complete deliverables such as a feasibility study and student presentation.
Am I Eligible?
You must meet the following to be eligible for an internship:
- Be at least 18 years of age by May 28, 2024.
- Be a U.S. citizen or a permanent resident. While U.S. citizenship is not required for participation in the program, U.S. citizenship may be required depending on the internship assignment. ORISE will work with facilities and selected candidates to determine eligibility. Selected candidates must provide suitable documentation to verify citizenship status at the time appointment is accepted.
- Be enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student during the 2023-2024 academic year pursuing a degree in science, technology, mathematics, engineering, or business with an interest in entrepreneurship and technology commercialization. You must provide proof of enrollment at the time of application. Candidates selected for an internship appointment will be required to provide proof of enrollment for Spring term.
Students from disadvantage communities, underrepresented groups in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM), and Minority Serving Institutions are encouraged to apply.
Application Requirements
A complete application consists of:
- Profile Information
- Program Specific Questions (goals, experiences, and skills relevant to the OTT Technology Commercialization Program)
- Goals: Please list your personal, educational, and professional goals and interests and explain how this opportunity may enable you to achieve those. Describe any experiences or situations that you feel have influenced your interest.
- Technical Skills: Please list your professional/technical skills and abilities that are relevant to this opportunity, including knowledge/skills related to specialized laboratory equipment or techniques, computer hardware, software, or computer languages and/or applications.
- Professional Experience: Please list any research, technical and/or professional experience that was focused on (1) technology development; (2) technology commercialization; and (3) entrepreneurship.
- Personal Experience: The Office of Technology Transitions recognizes that (1) diversity is a critical element in the development and advancement of new concepts and ideas; and (2) students’ potential for success goes beyond academic background and experiences. As part of the next generation of thought leaders and researchers, you have a unique opportunity to influence the impact of technology commercialization may have in our nation. Please tell us about how your life’s experiences and beliefs, background, and interests have shaped who you are, led you to your current academic/career path, and contributed to a unique perspective for impacting diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility in technology commercialization.
- Resume (PDF)
- Transcripts/Academic Records - Unofficial transcripts or copies of the student academic records printed by you or an academic advisors from internal institutional systems may be submitted. Transcript or academic records must clearly show your name, name of the academic institution, enrollment during the fall academic term, in progress/completed courses, grades, most recent cumulative GPA, and degree in progress. 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.
- Academic or Professional Recommendation - Recommendation should address your academic record and potential for success in an appointment, such as demonstrated intellectual merit, communication and teamwork skills. Recommenders will be asked to submit a recommendation in Zintellect. Letters of recommendation submitted via email will not be accepted. Recommendation must be submitted by Monday, January 22, 2024, 11:59 PM Eastern Time Zone.
Notes:
- All documents must be submitted via Zintellect. All application components must be received in the system in order to be considered.
- Do not forget to check the status of your recommendation. You may check the status of your recommendation at any time from your Zintellect Dashboard. You may request more than one recommendation but only the first one received will be attached to your application. Your application is not available for consideration until your application is completed with a recommendation.
Program Details
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Application Selection
Applications will be reviewed for eligibility and compliance before moving forward to the merit review and final selection.
OTT will review applications for merit and relevance before mentors at national laboratories review applications to determine if there is a match between your knowledge, skills and interests and the available projects. OTT and mentors may contact you for interviews. OTT will submit final selections to ORISE. Note that only ORISE, on behalf of OTT and based on the recommendations of the hosting laboratories, can offer you an internship. Formal offers will be sent through Zintellect. The number of internships offer is contingent upon availability of funding.
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Hosting Facilities
Opportunities will be available virtually at DOE national laboratories across the United States.
Internship assignments will be determined by OTT based on recommendations from mentors at the national laboratories. In the application, you will be asked to list in order of preference your top three national laboratories. While your preferences will be taken into consideration during the final selection process, you are not guaranteed that an offer will come from any of the selected sites.
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Conditions of the Appointment
Information on commitment, health insurance, reporting and policies.
Verification of enrollment: At the time appointment is accepted, you must provide proof of enrollment during Spring academic term.
Length of Appointment: Internships will be for 10-12 consecutive weeks beginning on or about May 28 , 2024. Alternate dates may be considered depending on your class schedules and facility schedules. Appointments may also be extended upon request from the hosting facilities and approval from OTT.
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Application Cycle
Timeline for the 2024 Application Year
2024 Application Year
Online Applications Open
October, 2023
Informational Webinar
November 14, 2023
Informational Webinar
January, 3, 2024
Application Deadline
Monday, January 15, 2024, 11:59 PM Eastern Time Zone
Recommendation Deadline
Monday, January 22, 2024, 11:59 PM Eastern Time Zone
Application Review
January - February 2024
OTT review applications for merit and relevance. Mentors review applications and make selection recommendations to OTT. OTT makes final selections.
Selection Notification
February/March 2024
- ORISE notifies candidates after receiving OTT approval.
- Students return required forms to ORISE.
Informational Webinar - Selected Candidates
March 2024
Onboarding – Selected Candidates
March-May 2024
Selected candidates contact mentors to ensure internship dates are appropriate for the student as well as the mentor and coordinate access to resources needed to participate in the program.
Internship Start
May 28, 2024
Opening Ceremony, Washington D.C.
May 29-31, 2024
Closing Ceremony, TBD
August 5-9, 2024
Internship End
August 9, 2024
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Nature of Appointment
This program is administered by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE).
Interns do not enter into an employee/employer relationship with ORISE, ORAU, OTT, or hosting laboratory. Instead, interns are affiliated with ORISE for the administration of the appointment through the ORISE appointment letter and Terms of Appointment.
Frequently Asked Questions
This section includes frequently asked questions about the OTT Technology Commercialization Internship Program.
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To be considered you must be pursuing a degree in a science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) discipline or business with an interest in entrepreneurship and technology commercialization.
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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 official documentation as proof of enrollment as detailed here.
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Yes. Editing an application requires you to unsubmit your application. You must re-submit your application before the opportunity closes to be considered for the opportunity. Please ensure that the application status shows as Submitted - complete in your dashboard by the deadline.
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If you have requested a recommendation from someone previously, they will get another request for recommendation and will have the option to reuse the prior recommendation or customize the recommendation for this opportunity.
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No, all recommendations must be submitted via Zintellect. If your recommender has problems submitting a recommendation on your behalf, please ask them to contact us at OTT-Internships@orise.orau.gov.
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No. Candidates must be enrolled during the Spring term to participate in the program. You must provide proof of enrollment during Spring academic term at the time appointment is accepted.
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Yes. If selected, you must provide proof of enrollment during Spring academic term at the time appointment is accepted.
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In the application, you will be asked to list in order of preference your top three national laboratories. While your preferences will be taken into consideration during the final selection process, you are not guaranteed that an offer will come from any of the selected sites.
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