Technical and Professional Internships - Summer 2027

The 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 10-12 weeks during the Summer, 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 June 1, 2027, and end on August 6, 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 June 7th or June 14th (latest).

• Appointments may be extended depending on funding availability, project assignment, program rules, and availability of the participant and their ability to continue meeting program requirements.

• Appointments will take place virtually or on-site in Oak Ridge, Tennessee.

A few helpful tips before you start an application:

• Review the science areas at ORNL to determine what best fits your career goals. You will find the eight discipline areas at www.ornl.gov.
  • 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 about your research interests into the search box at the top right corner on www.ornl.gov and follow the links provided to identify key researchers 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".
  • Please feel free to reach out to the program team at ORNL-RSI@orise.orau.gov if you would like further guidance regarding initiating contact with staff. We can provide you with supporting documents to aid your search.
• After you have completed your application, reach out via email to the researchers of interest you have identified (use the Contact - Find People - Staff Directory link at www.ornl.gov to enter a name and obtain an email address).
  • Tell them about your background and describe how your career objectives and interests relate to their research.
  • 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 passion for science and research 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.