Oak Ridge Science Semester
- Conduct Research at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory in Oak Ridge, TN
- Receive a $8000 stipend
- Earn 12 - 16 Hours of Academic Credit
- Housing is paid for by the Program
The Oak Ridge Science Semester program offers 8 hours of research under the supervision of an Oak Ridge scientist, 4 hours of academic credit for a senior level academic course,
and 4 hours for an interdisciplinary seminar. Participation in our program does not interrupt your progress toward graduation. In addition, you will be interacting with a group of able and
motivated students like yourself in an area located between the Cumberland Plateau and theGreat Smoky Mountains. Applicants must have a B average overall and in their major.
Undergraduate Research at the Frontiers of Scientific Knowledge:
The Oak Ridge Science Semester (ORSS) enables students to join ongoing investigations at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) in research areas as diverse as astrophysics, cell biology, DNA sequencing, genetic mutagenesis, parallel computing, robotics, toxicology, and much more. In their research, ORSS student participants use the sophisticated resources available at the Laboratory, including supercomputers, state-of-the-art electron microscopes, lasers, and analytical instruments such as a fourier transform mass spectrometer and a scanning tunneling microscope. Participants are members of a research team and are expected to contribute significantly to the design and metholological approach of their research activity. The academic program is enriched in informal ways by guest speakers, department colloquia, and the special interests and expertise of the ORNL staff.
Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) is a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) multiprogram laboratory focusing on national and global energy and environmental issues. The Laboratory is managed for DOE by University of Tennessee/Batelle. ORNL's mission is to conduct basic and applied research and development in order to advance the nation's energy resources, environmental quality and scientific knowledge and to contribute to the educational foundation and national economic competitiveness.
Click here for a listing of the research areas available in the ORNL.
Academic Program:
Dates for Fall 2013: August 25 to December 13, 2013
Eligibility: Junior and Senior majors in astronomy, astrophysics, biology, chemistry, computer science, engineering, environmental science, geology, mathematics and physics are eligible.
Applicants must have grade point averages of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale overall and in their majors.
Credit and grades: Recommended credit is 16 semester hours or the equivalent: Interdisciplinary Seminar, 4 credits; Advanced Course, 4 Credits; Research, 8 credits.
Students should consult the campus Oak Ridge Science Semester Faculty Representative or Off-Campus Studies Officer for their College's credit and grading policies for this program. The amount and distribution of credit should be determined in advance after consultation with the students' academic advisors.
Student Selection Process:
All applications are first reviewed by the Advisory Board composed of GLCA and ACM faculty members and an administrator from each of the GLCA, ACM, and ORNL. Those applications approved by the Advisory Board are sent to one or more ORNL research groups whose interests are similar to those of the student. Acceptance into the ORSS is dependent on successful placement with an ORNL research group.
