The Distinguished Staff Fellowship Fall 2020 call is now closed. Candidates will be notified by email with further instructions if selected.
ORNL’s Distinguished Staff Fellowship program aims to cultivate future scientific leaders by providing dedicated mentors, resources, and enriching research opportunities at a national laboratory. The program includes the Russell, Weinberg, and Wigner Fellowships. Fellowships are awarded to outstanding early-career scientists and engineers, new to ORNL, who demonstrate success within their academic, professional, and technical areas.
Our Fellows represent a broad range of disciplines and are found in research groups spanning the Laboratory’s research missions. A key aspect of this fellowship program is a mentorship plan that is designed to facilitate the successful integration of each DSF into ORNL’s scientific community and the alignment of each fellow’s research activities with DOE missions. DSFs are expected to establish the foundation for a long-term career at ORNL.
ORNL offers competitive salaries, benefits, and relocation assistance. More information is available at https://jobs.ornl.gov/content/Benefits/?locale=en_US.
Qualifications
Applicants must have received their PhD in a STEM field before they begin their fellowship and can be no more than 5 years beyond receiving their highest technical degree when they apply. Current ORNL postdoctoral researchers and ORNL staff members are not eligible to apply. Because Fellows serve as ORNL representatives with the US Department of Energy and other research and development sponsors, demonstrated leadership skills such as creativity, delegation, responsibility and the ability to cultivate diversity of thought are also integral to selection.
Application procedures
You must first apply for the DSF Program on the ORNL Jobs website. Visit jobs.ornl.gov and search for “ORNL DSF Program.” Click on the job link and complete the application as directed.
As part of the application process at jobs.ornl.gov, you will create a profile including work and education history and upload your CV and a cover letter. You will receive a follow-up email request from ornlfellows@ornl.gov to submit supplemental materials including reference letters, your transcript, and a research statement (see FAQ #3 for requirements).
Application windows
There are three application cycles per year (January, May, and September). The link will be available on jobs.ornl.gov. Please see FAQ #6 for more information and check back for upcoming announcements.
If you already have a PhD, you are encouraged to apply when the next application window opens. If you do not have your PhD yet, we recommend you apply the semester before you graduate (e.g., apply during the September 2020 application window if you expect to receive your highest technical degree in May 2021).
Notification
The DSF Selection Committee reviews application packets once the application window has closed. Candidates who advance to the interview stage will receive formal notification (i.e., email from ornlfellows@ornl.gov).