The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Bioenergy Technologies Office (BETO) regularly engages interns and fellows in the sciences, engineering, and liberal arts through a variety of internship and fellowship programs, including the following:
- American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Science & Technology Policy Fellowship Program
- Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program
- Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) Fellowship Program
- DOE Scholars Program
- EERE Student Volunteer Internship Program (SVIP)
- Minority Educational Institution Student Partnership Program (MEISPP).
These programs arrange opportunities for scientists and engineers at the post-secondary and post-doctoral levels to gain firsthand experience conducting and managing research, development, and demonstration at a nationwide scale. Interns and fellows contribute their knowledge and skills to federal agencies and networking with their peers. Internships and fellowships can equip scientists with a solid understanding of how government operates and partners with the scientific community.
At BETO, interns and fellows work alongside experienced bioenergy professionals. They have contributed to strategic planning processes, technical papers, conferences and workshops, and a host of other resume-building activities. BETO welcomes applicants from all scientific disciplines and career stages. Internship and fellowship experiences are tailored to a fellow's technical backgrounds and career goals.
A National Renewable Energy Laboratory intern works in the lab with blue-green algae. Photo courtesy of Dennis Schroeder/National Renewable Energy Laboratory
AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE ADVANCEMENT OF SCIENCE (AAAS) FELLOWSHIP
The American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) Science & Technology Policy Fellowships are a 12-month learning experience with federal science and technology policymaking. Prior experience with federal policymaking is not required. Following acceptance into the AAAS fellowship program, a coordinator schedules interviews for placement with individual government agencies.
The AAAS website contains the most up-to-date program information and application schedule. The online application opens late spring and closes late fall for the following year's fellowship program.
PRESIDENTIAL MANAGEMENT FELLOWS (PMF) PROGRAM
The Presidential Management Fellows (PMF) Program provides advanced degree graduates with a two-year service position within a federal agency. The position is supplemented with mentorship, career planning, and professional development and training. Successful completion of the PMF Program requirements can lead to a permanent position within that federal agency. Once applicants are finalists in the PMF Program, they can apply for positions within EERE that are posted on usajobs.gov.
The PMF website contains the most up-to-date program information and application schedule. The online application opens in late September and closes in mid-October for the following year's PMF Program cohort.
OAK RIDGE INSTITUTE FOR SCIENCE AND EDUCATION (ORISE) Program
The DOE EERE Science, Technology and Policy (STP) Program is a two-year learning experience with EERE policy-related activities. Advanced degree graduates with a range of experience levels apply their expertise to current and future policy and technical initiatives in energy efficiency and renewable energy. The STP Program is administered by the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE) Program in collaboration with EERE.
The STP Program web page contains the most up-to-date information on the program and how to apply for it.
U.S. DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY SCHOLARS PROGRAM
The DOE Scholars Program is a 10-week internship program that provides post-secondary students the opportunity to participate in paid internships, research, and individual development aligned with the mission of DOE. Participants focus on a variety of disciplines (including bioenergy) within DOE offices and power administrations across the country.
The DOE Scholars Program web page contains the most up-to-date information on the program and how to apply for it. The online application opens in October for appointments in the following summer.
EERE student VOLUNTEER INTERNSHIP PROGRAM (SVIP)
The EERE Student Volunteer Internship Program (SVIP) is a 10–16-week internship program that provides opportunities to experience activities within the DOE EERE office. To participate in opportunities at DOE headquarters in Washington, D.C., and the Golden Field Office in Golden, Colorado, individuals must be enrolled at least half-time in a high school, trade school, technical or vocational institute, junior college, college, university, or comparable educational institution. For opportunities at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, individuals must be a full-time sophomore in college, having earned at least 24 semester hours (39 quarter credit hours) in a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) field.
The SVIP web page contains current information on the program and how to apply for it. The online application has a rolling deadline, depending on placement start and end dates.
MINORITY EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTION STUDENT PARTNERSHIP PROGRAM (MEISPP)
The Minority Educational Institution Student Partnership Program (MEISPP) at DOE is an 8–10-week summer internship program that provides students from underrepresented communities the opportunity to work on research, policy, business, or government relations in the STEM fields at DOE and its national laboratories. Talented high school students and undergraduate/graduate students are eligible to apply, as long as they are at least 18 years old and are enrolled as a full-time student in an accredited institution of higher education in the fall.
The MEISPP web page contains the most up-to-date information on the program and how to apply for it. The online application process for the current year is open until the end of April. Selected participants will be notified 60–80 days after the submission deadline.