Technical and Professional Internship Program
Feature photo by Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education
Scientific discovery is a team effort. The Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) Technical and Professional Internship Program (TPI) provides opportunities for recent graduates as well as undergraduate and graduate students to engage with ORNL projects, connect with ORNL researchers and professional staff. Technical and business professionals support achievements in science and technology by helping manage and operate research projects and activities. As the largest U.S. Department of Energy science and energy laboratory, ORNL is a great place to gain experience in information technology, facilities and operations, human resources, marketing, graphic design, data analytics, cyber security, legal counsel, communications, finance, health services, and many other professional fields.
Summer 2023 applications will be accepted and reviewed on a rolling basis until March 10, 2023 at 5:00 PM EST OR until available spaces are filled. Applicants have until March 15, 2023 to submit recommendation letters.
Commitment & Duration
- Summer: full-time 10 weeks
- Fall/spring: full-time or part-time 16 weeks
Part-time option only applies to students who are enrolled full-time in college.
Eligibility
- U.S. Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) at the time of application
- Undergraduate students: Currently enrolled as a full-time undergraduate student in a degree-seeking program at a regionally accredited U.S. college or university (including accredited community colleges) at the time of applying. Completed at least one semester (or one academic quarter if their college/university is on a quarter system) and at least 12 credit hours toward a degree at the time of applying.
- Recent graduates: A recent associate or bachelor’s graduate from an accredited institution (including recent graduates planning to enroll in graduate studies). The time period between receipt of an undergraduate degree and starting the TPI term must be two years or less for students who do not meet the graduate student criteria below.
- Graduate and Professional students: Currently enrolled as a full-time graduate student in a master’s (MBA, MPA, MPH, etc) or doctoral degree program (Ph.D, J.D, etc.) at a regionally accredited U.S. college or university. Completed at least one semester (or one academic quarter if their college/university is on a quarter system) and at least 9 credit hours of graduate coursework toward their graduate degree at the time of application
- 18+ years old at the start of the internship
- Minimum undergraduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale
- Participants are required to have coverage under a health insurance plan and must provide proof of such coverage
Benefits
- Weekly stipend of $650 – $950 based on the academic level of the participant (paid bi-weekly)
- Housing assistance will be provided
- Eligible participants whose permanent address is more than 50 miles from ORNL will receive a travel reimbursement of up to $1,000 for round-trip domestic travel to and from ORNL
Qualifications
As a part of ORNL, the TPI Program is committed to increasing diversity among interns and staff. We believe the teams required to solve the nation’s most pressing science challenges are those that bring together a wide range of backgrounds and perspectives. The Laboratory looks forward to receiving applications representing diverse experience levels and backgrounds in the following areas:
- Information technology
- Facilities and operations
- Human resources
- Communications, marketing, and graphic design
- Data analytics
- Cyber security
- Legal counsel
- Finance
- Health services
- Other professional fields
