Description

The National Nuclear Security Administration Minority Serving Institutions Internship Program (NNSA-MSIIP) provides paid opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students enrolled at Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs) during the Fall of 2024 who are pursuing degrees in critical science, engineering, technology, mathematics, and other disciplines that complement current and future missions of the NNSA.

As a program participant, you will:

• Be part of world-class research and operations opportunities within the NNSA enterprise.
• Enhance your preparedness for scientific, technological, and policy related-careers.
• Gain a competitive edge as you apply your education, talent, and skills.
• Establish connections with Nuclear Security Enterprise (NSE) scientists and subject matter experts that promote long-term relationships between yourself, researchers, and other professionals in your field.

Opportunities are available not only in STEM but also in communication, management, business, policy, law, and other disciplines that support the NNSA Mission.

Duration

The 2025-2026 cohort of MSIIP interns will have the option to participate in summer-only or year-long internships.

• Summer (12-week) internships will begin on June 2, 2025, and end on August 22, 2025. Summer interns will be expected to commit to 40 hours of participation per week.
• Year-long (12-month) internships will begin on June 2, 2025, and end on May 22, 2026.
  • Year-long interns will be expected to commit to 40 hours of participation per week during the summer.
  • Year-long interns enrolled in school during the Fall of 2025 at an MSI must commit to a minimum of 10 and a maximum of 32 virtual hours per week during the academic year. Stipends will be prorated based on the level of effort. No stipend supplements will be provided during the academic year.
  • Year-long interns who graduated in May/June of 2025 must complete 40 hours of participation during the academic year. No stipend supplements will be provided during the academic year.

Benefits

In Person/Hybrid Summer Session

• Stipend
  Undergraduate student - $750 per week
  Graduate student - $950 per week
• Commuting Supplement - $50 per week to offset expenses associated with commuting to/from your official assigned location and to local meetings/training.

The following benefits will be offered if you relocate more than 50 miles one way from your home location during the summer.

• Housing Supplement – Amount varies based on assigned location.
• Inbound-Outbound Travel - limited inbound/outbound transportation expenses, not to exceed $1,000, from your current address to the assigned location.

Virtual Internship Summer Session

• Stipend
  Undergraduate student - $750 per week
  Graduate student - $950 per week
• Remote participation supplement - $150 per week to offset the cost of remote participation.

Academic Term Session (Part-time Appointment)

Stipends for part-time appointments during the academic terms will be prorated based on the expected level of effort.  Students who are still enrolled at an MSI during the Fall of 2025 and who relocated during the summer to complete the internship in person are expected to return to their academic institution after the summer term and complete the remainder of the appointment virtually.

During the academic terms, no stipend supplements will be offered and travel to the hosting site will not be required. 

Travel

Travel to the hosting site for site visits, conferences, meetings, and other professional development activities may be approved during the appointment at the request of the mentor. Requests will be considered by the NNSA-MSIIP Program Manager and approved on a case-by-case basis.

 
Location

Available opportunities may be at DOE and NNSA national laboratories across the United States, DOE/NNSA offices in Washington, DC, and site offices.  

Learn More

Learn more about NNSA-MSIIP: https://orise.orau.gov/NNSA-MSIIP/

Contact us at NNSA-MSIIP@orise.orau.gov.

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Requirements

Requirements:

You must meet the following conditions at the time of application to be considered for an internship:

• Be a U.S. citizen.
• Have a minimum undergraduate or graduate cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale as of Spring/Summer 2024. If you are a first-semester freshman at an MSI, you must provide a high school transcript to prove that you have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for the Spring/Summer 2024. If you took time away from school, and the Fall of 2024 is your first semester returning, you will need to provide your most recent college or high school transcript to prove that you have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale. 
• Be enrolled as a part-time or full-time undergraduate or graduate student in a degree-seeking program during Fall of 2024 at one of the following accredited Minority Serving Institutions. Proof of enrollment is required at the time of application. Accredited U.S. postsecondary institutions that meet the statutory criteria for identification as Minority Serving Institutions by the Department of Education are listed at: https://orise.orau.gov/zintellect-files/files/Minority-Serving-Institution-Designation-List.xlsx
  • AANAPISI - Asian American and Native American Pacific Islander Serving Institution
  • ANNH - Alaska Native and Native Hawaiian Serving Institution
  • HBCU - Historically Black College or University
  • HSI - Hispanic-serving institution
  • NASNTI - Native American-serving nontribal institution
  • PBI - Predominantly Black Institution
  • TCU - Tribal College or University
• Be able to commit to the duration of their internship program:
  • Summer (12 weeks, full-time participation)
  • Year-long (12-months, 12 weeks full-time during summer, part-time/full-time virtual participation during the academic year depending on eligibility)

To participate in the program, you must meet the following conditions:

• Be enrolled as a part-time or full-time undergraduate or graduate student in a degree-seeking program during the Spring 2025 academic term at an accredited Minority Serving Institution (MSI) or have graduated from an accredited Minority Serving Institution during the Fall 2024 academic term. If selected, proof of enrollment or completion of degree requirements will be required by May 2025.
• Have a cumulative minimum undergraduate or graduate GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale during the Fall 2024 academic term. If selected, verification of GPA will be required by May 2025.
• Have coverage under a health insurance plan before arriving at the appointment site and maintain coverage during the appointment.
• Be available to meet the program schedule.
  • Summer (12 weeks, full-time participation)
  • Year-Long (12- months, 12 weeks full-time participation during the summer, part-time/full-time virtual participation during the academic year based on eligibility.)

Additional eligibility factors:

• Exceptions to the 12-week summer requirement may be considered on a case-by-case basis to accommodate the candidate’s academic schedule.
• Applicants completing their degree in May/June of 2025 are eligible to participate in a summer or year-long internship. If selected for a year-long internship, interns are expected to commit to full-time participation for 40 hours per week for the duration of the internship (June 2, 2025-May 22, 2026) if they are no longer enrolled in school. If enrollment occurs, it must be at a Minority Serving Institution and participants will be limited to 10-32 hours per week during the academic term.
• Applicants graduating from an eligible Minority Serving Institution in the Fall of 2024 with no plans to continue their education in the Spring of 2025 are eligible to participate in a summer-only internship (June 2, 2025-August 22, 2025). Selected candidates will need to provide documentation to verify the GPA requirement (3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale) for the Fall 2024 term. The stipend payment for the summer term will be based on the most recent degree level completed. If the candidate enrolls at an eligible Minority Serving Institution during the Summer 2025 or Fall 2025 term, the candidate is eligible to extend to a year-long internship. 
• Applicants who are graduating in the Fall of 2024 and are enrolling at an eligible Minority Serving Institution in the Spring of 2025 will be eligible for an extension to a year-long appointment.
• Applicants who are graduating from an eligible Minority Serving Institution in the Fall of 2024 and will be enrolled in an institution that is not a Minority Serving Institution during the Spring of 2025 or later terms are not eligible to complete an internship with NNSA-MSIIP.
• Candidates who maintained a 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale during the Spring/Summer of 2024 and dropped below a 3.0 GPA during the Fall of 2024 and can provide documentation to prove that their GPA is a 3.0 or higher for the Spring of 2025, may remain eligible for the program. If proof is not submitted by May 2025, or a 3.0 GPA for the Spring 2025 is not met, the candidate will be deemed ineligible for the program. Students on a quarter system will be required to provide proof that their GPA is above 3.0 for the Winter 2025 quarter to remain eligible for the program.
• Students may apply for and are eligible to participate in the program multiple times during their undergraduate and graduate studies. However, there should not be an assumption or expectation of being selected for another internship.

 
All documents must be submitted via Zintellect. All application components must be received in the system by the application deadline to be considered.