Summer Student Internship

Summary

The U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's summer internship program provides college and university students with the opportunity to gain valuable, hands-on experience while earning a competitive salary and exploring a career in the nuclear field.

Before applying, we encourage you to read the entire vacancy announcement carefully to understand the position, qualifications, requirements, and application process.

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Duties

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The NRC views summer interns as part of our future workforce. Internships offer professional-level work in a supportive learning environment. Work assignments are based on the functions and tasks of the host office and will be ideally aligned with your academic background and career goals.

The majority of internship opportunities are located at NRC Headquarters located in Rockville, MD. There are limited engineering and science-oriented opportunities available at the following NRC regional offices:

• Region I - King of Prussia, PA
• Region II - Atlanta, GA
• Region III - Naperville, IL
• Region IV - Arlington, TX
• Technical Training Center (TTC) - Chattanooga, TN

Available Career Areas

Internship opportunities will be available in the following positions and career fields:

• Accountant (Internal Controls and Systems)
• Civil Rights Specialist
• Contract Specialist
• Data Scientist
• Digital I&C Engineer
• Disability Program Assistant
• Electrical Engineer (Electronics and Control Engineer)
• Emergency Preparedness Specialist
• Environmental Project Manager
• Environmental Scientist
• Financial Management Specialist
• General Engineer
• Geology
• Geotechnical Engineering
• Health Physicist
• Human Resources
• Hydrology
• Instructional Systems Designer/Leadership Development Program Manager
• Management Analyst/Program Assistant
• Meteorology
• Physical Security Specialist
• Policy Analyst
• Project Engineer (RIDP)
• Project Manager
• Reactor Engineer (Systems)
• Reactor Inspector
• Reliability and Risk Analyst
• Risk Analyst
• Rulemaking Project Management
• Seismology
• Space Management Specialist
• Staff Engineer
• Technical Reviewer

Note: This position may be non-competitively converted to a Cooperative Education Program (Co-Op) position; however, conversion is neither mandatory nor guaranteed. For more information on the Co-Op program please visit Frequently Asked Questions About the Co-Op Education Program.

Requirements

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Conditions of employment

• Must be a U.S. citizen.
• Must complete and pass a background investigation.
• Must pass a drug test.
• Must be enrolled or accepted enrollment at an accredited institution.
• Must have and maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.85 or higher.

Qualifications

Applicants should demonstrate the following qualifications:

• Basic office automation skills with such programs as Microsoft Office, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.
• Effective organizational, and oral and written communication skills suitable for a professional environment.

Undergraduate Student

Your grade level and pay will be based on the following:

Engineering and Science 0899/1399 Series

• GG-04 - Be a high school graduate with 30 to 59 semester college credit hours.
• GG-05 - Be a high school graduate with 60 or more semester college credit hours.

Remaining Disciplines and Series

• GG-04 - Be a high school graduate with 30 to 89 semester college credit hours.
• GG-05 - Be a high school graduate with 90 or more semester college credit hours.

Graduate Student

Your grade level and pay will be based on the following:

• GG-05 - B.S. less than 2.95 but at least a 2.85.
• GG-07 - Undergraduate GPA 2.95 and above or one full academic year of graduate level education.
• GG-09 - Completion of two full academic years of graduate level education.

Your rate of pay will be determined based on your degree program, duty station, GPA, and semester hours completed by the end of the 2026-2027 academic year.

Education

This is an excepted service summer appointment and it is not to exceed 89 days. This announcement is only open to applicants who meet the definition of a student and are in good academic standing. You MUST currently be a degree-seeking student, enrolled at least half-time at an accredited educational institution, as defined by the U.S. Department of Education and maintain a cumulative GPA of 2.85 or higher.

Student Definition

An individual who has been accepted for enrollment or is currently enrolled in a qualifying educational institution and is pursuing at least a four-year degree on a full-time or part-time basis, as defined by the institution in which they are enrolled.

Foreign Education

Education completed outside of the United States must be evaluated by a private professional organization specializing in the interpretation of foreign education credentials or by an accredited U.S. educational institution. The evaluation must establish the education's equivalency to a degree earned at an accredited college or university in the United States. A copy of the credential evaluation must be submitted with your application. Foreign education will not be considered without the required evaluation.

Additional information

Below is additional information pertaining to the internship.

Salary - The salary will be determined based on the applicant's location of selection, degree program, semester hours completed, and grade point average (GPA).

Relocation Expenses - You may be eligible for relocation expenses. To be deemed eligible for our Student Transportation and Lodging Program, your current and permanent residences must be 50 miles away from your official duty station.

Telework - The NRC offers telework flexibility for most positions that are in accordance with agency policy.

Drug Testing - The NRC has a zero-tolerance to illegal drug use.

Suitability and Investigation - If selected for this position, you will be required to complete the Declaration for Federal Employment (OF-306) to determine your suitability for federal employment and successfully complete a pre-appointment investigation/background check. You must be granted a waiver of the required clearance, referred to as a 145b Waiver. To be eligible for a 145b waiver, you must possess a favorable education verification, reference check, credit check and criminal history. If you have resided outside of the U.S. for an extended period of time, the agency may not be able to grant the 145b waiver where the required investigation cannot be completed in a timely manner. If you are unable to obtain a favorable 145b waiver, the offer will be rescinded.

Selective Service Registration - If you are a male born after December 31, 1959, you MUST be registered with the Selective Service System or meet an exemption under applicable law.

False statements or responses on your resume or questionnaire can jeopardize your employment opportunity and can be subjected to disciplinary action.

Candidates should be committed to improving the efficiency of the Federal government, passionate about the ideals of our American republic, and committed to upholding the rule of law and the United States Constitution.

Help

As a temporary employee, you will accrue sick leave and receive pay for Federal holidays that occur during your regularly scheduled tour of duty. No additional benefits will be provided for the duration of your internship.