Fellowship

Fellowship Obligations

Enrollment 

During the fellowship period, fellows are expected to be registered and enrolled as full-time graduate students, conducting study and research within the objectives of the fellowship program.  During the summer, students should be conducting full-time research related to the completion of their degree, be enrolled in classes, or be on practicum assignments.  Fellows are required to participate in a practicum for at least three months at a DOE facility to gain hands-on experience.

Terms and Agreements 

Each fellow must agree to the conditions contained in the letter of appointment and its accompanying "Terms of Appointment."  A fellow also agrees to entertain employment with DOE or one of its contractors at the end of a fellow's academic program should a reasonable offer be extended.

Annual Renewal of Fellowship 

During the fellowship appointment period, fellows will be required to complete Fellowship Renewal Forms regarding academic performance and course of study.  These forms are completed in January of each year.  In addition, continuing evaluation of the fellowship program continues for five years after the fellow has completed the program.  Fellows must inform ORISE of their current addresses and must complete any evaluation/assessment questionnaires sent by ORISE for program information and/or evaluation.

Practicum 

Each fellow is required to complete a three-month practicum at a DOE facility.  The practicum should be held during the summer at the end of the first academic year.  To encourage a broad range of experience, a practicum assignment will ordinarily only be approved for a practicum facility more than 50 miles from the fellow's university.

Programs at Participating Universities 

Fellowship awardees must attend a university designated as a participating university in the Fusion Energy Sciences Fellowship Program.  See a list of Participating Universities and University Fellowship Coordinators.  Fellowship Coordinators may be contacted directly by interested applicants for in-depth information on their fusion programs.  All participating universities must undergo an application process and a university's inclusion on the participating university list represents the Department of Energy's acknowledgment of the strength of its program.  Note:  Fellowships may be held only at DOE-specified institutions appearing on this list.

Applicants should list more than one university preference on the FES fellowship application form.  Awards are distributed geographically and only a limited number of awardees may hold appointments at a particular university at any given time.  Should an award not be available at the applicant's first choice university, an award may be offered at the second-choice university listed on the application.  If an applicant's university preferences change after the application is submitted, ORISE must be notified immediately.