One of Trident’s target chambers where ultra-short laser pulses create high-energy-density plasmas as well as monoenergetic ion pulses for cancer research applications. Courtesy of Los Alamos National Laboratory.

The DOE NNSA LRGF promotes interactive relationships connecting laboratory scientists, professors and students in fields relevant to the DOE laboratory system. These collaborations, combined with unique facility exposure, are expected to lead to employment opportunities and advancement within the labs.

The program’s laboratory residency component is essential to meeting these objectives. By the end of the fellowship's second year, students must have completed at least two 12-week research experiences at one of four DOE NNSA facilities:

  • Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, Calif.
  • Los Alamos National Laboratory, Los Alamos, N.M.
  • Sandia National Laboratories, Livermore, Calif. and Albuquerque, N.M.
  • Nevada National Security Site, North Las Vegas, Nev.

To take full advantage of the program, fellows are encouraged to pursue their research and thesis studies while at one of these facilities and to extend their residency past the required six months (up to a maximum combined period of 24 months). Such residency periods must be coordinated with a lab mentor and the student's thesis advisor. These extended residencies provide fellows with opportunities to conduct detailed experiments that would otherwise be impossible. The strongest fellowship candidates will include a description of their intended residency in their applications.

Each residency experience will give fellows an exceptional opportunity to work in a DOE setting with some of the world's most respected scientists and on some of the country’s most powerful and unusual facilities. Fellows will use the time to learn new skills and expand their research capabilities. They'll also gain rare insight into how their scientific interests advance research critical to the nation.

Each laboratory site has designated a staff member to champion the residency program and related experiences. These individuals assist fellows, lab mentors and university advisors in ensuring a productive residency and are available to address questions throughout each experience.

The DOE NNSA LRGF reimburses fellows’ travel expenses to laboratory sites and maintains stipend and tuition payments during each residency period.