Technical and Professional Internships - Spring 2027

Application Deadline 10/28/2026 11:59:00 PM Eastern Time Zone Organization Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) Reference Code ORNL-TPI-Spring-2027 Application Deadline 10/28/2026 11:59:00 PM Eastern Time Zone Description The Oak Ridge National Laboratory (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. Technical and Professional Internships (TPI) Program Details Appointments are for 16-19 weeks during the Spring, 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 January 19, 2027, and end on May 7, 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 January 25, 2027. Appointments may be extended depending on funding availability, project assignment, program rules, and availability of the participant. Appointments will be conducted virtually or on‑site in Oak Ridge, Tennessee. A Few Helpful Tips Before You Start An Application Review the technical and operational areas at ORNL to determine what best fits your career goals. You will find organization charts under About Us > Overview > Organization at 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 into the search box at the top right corner at and follow the links provided to identify key staff 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". Given the workload of the people in Directorate, Division, and Section level leadership positions, it is strongly recommended that you dive at least to the group leader level (or further) before reaching out to a listed staff member. After you have completed your application, reach out via email (use the Contact - Find People - Staff Directory link at to enter a name and obtain an email address) to the technical staff you identify. Tell them about your background and describe how your career objectives and interests relate to their technical and professional work. 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 career interests 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 institution. 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‑by‑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 October 29, 2026. Selected applicants must respond to their offer within seven (7) days of receipt of the offer. During the Appointment Appointments require a commitment to the technical and professional operations at ORNL. The participant's project must be conducted in a manner and according to a time schedule that meets the overall technical needs of ORNL. 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. Contingencies All awards and active participation in the program are contingent upon security access approval to Oak Ridge National Laboratory, agreement with the Terms of Appointment, and completion of all contingencies in the offer letter. All contingencies of an appointment offer must be met before the applicant can begin an appointment. Participants are subject to DOE clearance approval for laboratory access. TPI participants are required to have coverage under a health insurance plan for the duration of the appointment period and must provide proof of such coverage. It is your responsibility to secure insurance coverage before arriving at the appointment site. The Complete Application Requires Profile information Educational details (i.e. dates of attendance/graduation, GPAs, majors, etc.) Relevant Experience Awards and honors Statement of Purpose: goals, experience, skills, and personal information Technical areas of interest An updated resume or CV, 2 page limit (.pdf upload) Academic records - for this opportunity, an unofficial transcript or copy of academic records may be submitted showing name, school name, current/enrolled classes, and GPA (.pdf upload) One Recommendation - The application will be considered incomplete and will not be eligible for review and consideration until one recommendation is received. Applicants will provide contact information for recommenders, including current email addresses. Applicants are encouraged to request multiple recommendations and begin contacting recommenders immediately upon submitting an application. Recommendation letters will be uploaded in Zintellect and should address the applicant’s academic record and potential for success in a STEM internship, as indicated by intellectual merit, research/technical, communication, and teamwork skills. Recommenders cannot be a family member. The first recommendation received via Zintellect will meet the program requirement. All documents must be submitted via Zintellect. All application components must be completed and received in the system in order to be considered. For questions, please contact View email address on click.appcast.io. Point of Contact Tracy Eligibility Requirements Citizenship: LPR or U.S. Citizen Degree: High School Diploma/GED, Associate's Degree, Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, or Doctoral Degree received within the last 25 months or currently pursuing. Minimum Overall GPA: 3.00 Discipline(s): Business (Accounting, Business Administration, Business Management, Finance, Human Resources, International Business, Logistics, Management, Marketing, MIS or Business Statistics, Project Management) Chemistry and Materials Sciences (12 ) Communications and Graphics Design (6 ) Computer, Information, and Data Sciences (17 ) Earth and Geosciences (21 ) Engineering (27 ) Environmental and Marine Sciences (14 ) Life Health and Medical Sciences (48 ) Mathematics and Statistics (11 ) Other Non-Science & Engineering (13 ) Physics (16 ) Science & Engineering-related (2 ) Social and Behavioral Sciences (29 ) Age: Must be 18 years of age Veteran Status: Veterans Preference, degree received within the last 120 month(s). Affirmation I Confirm That One Of The Following Is True I am 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, and I have completed at least one academic term (or academic quarter, if applicable) and can demonstrate full‑time academic engagement by the start of the appointment. I am a recent associate's, bachelor's, or master's graduate from an accredited institution (including recent graduates currently enrolled or planning to enroll in graduate studies). 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. I am either currently enrolled in, or a recent graduate 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. I am a veteran of the United States Armed Services who has received or will receive a DD‑214 form no more than four years from the start date of the of appointment period. #J-18808-Ljbffr