Technical and Professional Internships - Summer 2027

Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education; Oak Ridge (TN); Hybrid; USD 46,000 - 55,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Biweekly stipend

Housing allowance

Travel reimbursement

Job summary

Oak Ridge National Laboratory invites students and recent graduates to apply for the ORNL Technical and Professional Internships (TPI) program. Participants are mentored by world-class staff and work on research projects across IT, facilities, HR, marketing, data analytics, cybersecurity, legal, communications, finance, and more.

Appointments run 10–12 weeks in summer, with a 12-month option for some recent grads.

Qualifications

• Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR).
• Applicants may be currently enrolled as a full-time undergraduate or graduate student at a U.S. college or university, or be a recent graduate (associate/bachelor/master) within two years of graduation.
• Be at least 18 years old and maintain good academic standing; GPA requirement may apply per program rules.
• Postdoctoral students are not eligible for the TPI program.

Job description

Description

The ORNL Technical and Professional Internships (TPI) program provides students and recent graduates with the opportunity to be mentored by world-class technical and professional staff who support the mission of the laboratory by managing and operating research projects and activities. As the largest U.S. Department of Energy science and energy laboratory, ORNL is a premier facility to gain experience in information technology, facilities and operations, human resources, marketing, graphic design, data analytics, cybersecurity, legal counsel, communications, finance, operational health services, and other professional fields.

Organization

Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL)

Reference Code

ORNL-TPI-Summer-2027

Application Deadline

2/25/2027 11:59:59 PM Eastern Time Zone

Technical and Professional Internships (TPI) Program Details

• Appointments are for 10-12 weeks during the Summer, with the option for a 12-month appointment available for recent graduates.
• Participants are expected to participate full-time each week, with the option for part-time participation for students enrolled in school full-time. Participants enrolled less than full-time may be approved for part-time appointments on a case-by-case basis by the Office of Research Education (ORE). Requests must be supported by the mentor and demonstrate that the appointment provides a meaningful educational experience, the participant remains in good academic standing, and the project includes appropriate mentoring and supervision.
• Appointments will start on June 1, 2027, and end on August 6, 2027. Dates for individual appointments may be flexible to account for academic calendars. For students with conflicts that are not academic calendar related, they may elect to start on June 7th or June 14th (latest).
• Appointments may be extended depending on funding availability, project assignment, program rules, and availability of the participant and their ability to continue meeting program requirements.
• Appointments will take place virtually or on-site in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

A Few Helpful Tips Before You Start An Application

• Review the science areas at ORNL to determine what best fits your career goals. You will find the eight discipline areas at www.ornl.gov.
  • For example, if you choose Business Services, you will find a variety of news, current highlights, and more. You can explore other areas or related links and organizations to identify your areas of interest and key words, important terminology, papers, etc. that can be used as you answer application questions or update your resume.
  • Type a key word about your research interests into the search box at the top right corner on www.ornl.gov and follow the links provided to identify key researchers at ORNL and/or the webpages of the related directorates or divisions. You will find general contacts and can access many of the Division or User Facility pages under "Our People".
  • Please feel free to reach out to the program team at [e-mail] if you would like further guidance regarding initiating contact with staff. We can provide you with supporting documents to aid your search.
• After you have completed your application, reach out via email to the researchers of interest you have identified (use the Contact - Find People - Staff Directory link at www.ornl.gov to enter a name and obtain an email address).
  • Tell them about your background and describe how your career objectives and interests relate to their research.
  • Include an updated resume/CV in the email and let them know which programs you have applied to at ORNL.
  • Showing initiative by reaching out to discuss your passion for science and research is a great way to introduce yourself to potential mentors. This personal connection can be the key to standing out from other applications. The TPI program uses pool based application postings where multiple mentors will consider candidates with a variety of interests for different educational project opportunities, so this can be a critical step for selection success.

Qualifications

Citizenship

Applicants must be a U.S. citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) at the time of application.

Eligibility Requirements (Note: Postdoctoral students are not eligible for the TPI program)

To Be Considered For This Opportunity, Applicants Must

• Meet one of four criteria noted below:
  • Applicants may be currently enrolled as a full-time undergraduate or graduate student in a degree-seeking program at an accredited U.S. college or university (including accredited U.S. community colleges) at the time of application.
  • Applicants must have completed at least one academic term (or academic quarter, if applicable) and demonstrate full-time academic engagement, typically defined as completion of at least 12 semester credit hours (or equivalent) by the start of the appointment. Applicants from institutions with non-standard credit systems (e.g., quarter systems or institutions where full course loads are defined differently) will be evaluated based on successful completion of a full-time course load as defined by their institution.
  • Applicants must have completed at least one academic term prior to the start of the appointment; first-term freshmen are not eligible.
  • Applicants may also be a recent graduate (associate/bachelor/master) from an accredited U.S. college or university (including accredited U.S. community colleges) at the time of application. The time period between receipt of an undergraduate or graduate degree and starting the TPI appointment must not exceed two years plus up to 30 calendar days.
  • Applicants must be either currently enrolled in, or recent graduates of, a U.S. college or technical institution offering a certificate or diploma in a field of study that is directly relevant to the appointment at the time of application. The time period between receipt of the certificate and starting the TPI appointment must not exceed two years plus up to 30 calendar days.
  • Applicants may be a veteran of the United States Armed Services who has received their DD-214 no more than four years prior to the start date of the internship (to be verified with a DD Form 214 and a high school diploma or GED).
• Have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.00 on a 4.00 scale at the time of application (undergraduate and graduate cumulative GPA combined, or graduate GPA alone, as applicable). Eligibility is determined based on the cumulative GPA in effect on the application date. Applicants must provide documentation verifying this GPA before the appointment begins. Exceptions to the minimum GPA requirement may be considered on a case‑basis by the Office of Research Education (ORE) and require a written justification from the ORNL mentor.
• Be at least 18 years of age at the time of application

Application Review and Appointment Offer Process

• Applications are reviewed directly by ORNL researchers with an available project.
• Selections and appointment offers will be made on a rolling basis starting on or around March 18, 2027.
• Selected applicants must respond to their offer within seven (7) days of receipt of the offer.

During the Appointment

• Program Requirements
  • All TPI participants are required to submit an appointment reflection and develop a poster or powerpoint by the end of the program.
  • Participants may also have the opportunity to collaborate on manuscripts and/or to join conferences, poster sessions, and other opportunities to present or publish their research.
• Stipend (paid biweekly)
  • Participants receive a biweekly stipend. Stipend payments and housing allowances are taxable as an educational benefit. There will be a delay after starting before you receive your first stipend. You should be prepared to cover all personal expenses for the first 30 days of your appointment. Note: Stipend levels are determined based on your academic status at the time of application. If your academic status changes prior to your start date or during your appointment, your stipend level may be adjusted accordingly. Confirmation of your academic status will be required.
  • $750 per week for undergraduate students, recent graduates (Associate's), or recently separated veterans with high school diploma/GED
  • $850 per week for recent graduates (Bachelor’s)
  • $950 per week for graduate students or recent graduates (Master’s)
• Housing Allowance (paid biweekly with stipend)
  • A housing allowance of $250 per week will be provided to participants.
• Travel
  • Eligible participants whose permanent address is more than 50 miles from the host facility may receive a travel reimbursement of up to $1,000 for round-trip transportation expenses to and from ORNL.