Fellowship

General Information
 

Eligibility

Students who are U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents and meet either of the conditions listed below are eligible to apply for the Fusion Energy Sciences Fellowship Program:

  1. Students applying to graduate school with undergraduate degrees in engineering, the physical sciences, mathematics, or a related discipline.
     

  2. Current graduate students are eligible to apply providing that when the fellowship begins, they will not have progressed beyond the end of the 2nd year of graduate studies.

 Appropriate Undergraduate Majors

Applied Mathematics    Electrical Engineering   Metallurgical Engineering
Applied Physics Engineering Physics    Metallurgy
Chemical Engineering Materials Science Nuclear Engineering
Chemistry    Mechanical Engineering    Physics


Students must be planning full-time, uninterrupted study toward a Ph.D. degree.  No other graduate degrees in the physical sciences, engineering, or mathematics may have been completed before application to this program. 

The award is limited to a maximum of 36 months and must be renewed each year.  Renewal of the fellowship is based on excellent academic progress and research consistent with the DOE Fusion Energy Sciences mission.

It is the policy of Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education to recruit and select participants without regard to race, age, gender, religion, color, national origin, physical or mental disability, or special disabled or Vietnam Era veteran status.

Application Deadline

Application forms will be available from approximately September to January of each year.  Applications from previous years or from other fellowship programs may not be used.  Completed applications will be accepted until January 31 for fellowships beginning the following September.  An application is made up of:

  • Background Information and References (3 Requested)
  • Statement of the Applicant's Academic and Career Goals
  • List of Current and Planned Courses
  • Original Transcripts from all universities attended
  • GRE Scores

Please note:  All parts of the application must be received at Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education by January 31, 2009.  GRE scores are required for a complete application; GRE scores earned before October 1981 will not be accepted.  Late and/or incomplete applications will NOT be reviewed for awards.

Mailing Information
Regular Mail: Overnight Mail:
Fusion Energy Sciences Fellowship Program
Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education
P.O. Box 117, MS 36
Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37831-0117
Attention: Debbie Alcorn		 Fusion Energy Sciences Fellowship Program
Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education
1299 Bethel Valley Road, Building SC-200
Oak Ridge, Tennessee 37830
Attention: Debbie Alcorn, MS-36

Please include the fellowship program name on all of your correspondence to Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education.  ORISE administers many different fellowships for the Department of Energy and mail without the program name included in the address may be delayed.

If you have questions or need additional information, please contact Debbie Alcorn at (865) 576-3428 or debbie.alcorn@orau.org.  Again, please identify the program name when requesting information.

Application Evaluation

When an application is received, the staff at ORISE checks it to ensure that the applicant meets the basic criteria and has returned all application materials. If time permits, staff will attempt to contact applicants who have submitted incomplete applications. However, it is the applicant's responsibility to check with ORISE to ensure that the application is complete.

After an application is checked and designated complete, it is submitted, along with all other complete applications, to a review panel. The review panel is composed of university and laboratory personnel who are directly responsible for instruction and research in the area of fusion energy. The panel reviews each application and recommends award recipients. Applications are reviewed on the basis of grades, courses taken, GRE scores, career and goals statement, and references. Other factors, including geographical criteria and professional personnel needs of the DOE Fusion Energy Sciences Program, are also considered. DOE reviews the applications and the panel's recommendations and approves the final selection.

The number of awards given each year is dependent on the number of graduating fellows currently in the program and on the funding available. The number of fellows at each institution is limited so it is important that applicants select more than one university when listing their university preferences on the FES Student Application. Some applicants who do not receive awards are selected for "Honorable Mention" status. This status recognizes their achievements and places them on a list for a possible award should additional funding become available.

After DOE approves the award recipients, ORISE notifies applicants of their award status. Notification usually occurs in mid-April. Once fellowships are awarded, ORISE handles the administration of the fellowship for DOE. Questions about stipends, payment of tuition and fees, practicum assignments, travel, etc. should be referred to ORISE during a student's fellowship tenure.