The Pacific Northwest National Laboratory - Oregon State University Distinguished Graduate Research Program (PNNL-OSU DGRP) is a four-year opportunity designed to provide collaborative research and training to OSU graduate students. Students selected to participate in the program will benefit from having the expertise of graduate committee members from both organizations and access to the world-class research infrastructure at OSU and PNNL.
Opportunities exist in a wide range of research areas including, but not limited to:
Students participating in this four-year program will be advised and funded from both OSU and PNNL. A prerequisite for applying is written confirmation from the OSU major professor and the specific PNNL scientist that both are committed to the collaboration for the duration of the program. The OSU faculty member and PNNL scientist will be responsible for the joint supervision and advising of the DGRP awardee, and will serve on the candidate’s committee. All PNNL scientists supervising and advising DGRP students will have a courtesy appointment at OSU. The OSU faculty member and PNNL scientist commit to initiating and maintaining quarterly communication during all four years of the program to discuss the student’s progress, transition to PNNL, and other relevant research and support issues.
For years 1 and 2 of the DGRP, the student will be appointed to an assistantship determined, administered, and funded by OSU through departmental or faculty grants. The assistantship will provide tuition (a minimum of 12 credits in fall, winter, spring quarters plus 3 credits for summer terms), stipend, health insurance benefits, and additional support to cover mandatory OSU fees. During this two-year period of OSU support, the student is expected to complete all or the majority of the coursework toward their doctorate.
For years 3 and 4, PNNL and OSU will fund the student on two consecutive 12-month fellowships. The PNNL scientist will provide funds for the fellowship stipend, health insurance, and mandatory fees. OSU, through the Graduate School, will provide tuition waivers in conjunction with the fellowship during these two years. In years 3 and 4, the student will be located primarily at PNNL to gain hands-on research experience with PNNL scientists.
As a student’s ability to relocate fully to the PNNL site may vary, PNNL and Graduate School staff will consider flexibility to this requirement if compelling circumstances exist and if the research project permits. Similarly, requests for deviations from the standard 4-year DGRP award will be considered on a case-by-case basis if circumstances warrant.
The DGRP is open to full-time first- and second-year doctoral students at OSU who are enrolled in STEM and related science and engineering graduate programs.
At the time of applying, all DGRP applicants must have an OSU major professor and named PNNL scientist who have both committed to the collaboration for the duration of the program.
Since the DGRP involves candidates and their advisors working on government-funded research requiring access to PNNL, a Department of Energy (DOE)-owned facility, all prospective DGRP awardees and their OSU advisors who are foreign nationals should confirm their eligibility before starting on their applications. All selected DGRP students and their OSU advisors who are foreign nationals will be reviewed for DOE access requirements before the student or faculty member is approved to access information generated at PNNL. Continued participation in the program will be contingent upon meeting the access requirements in effect.
OSU intends to select up to five new DGRP students annually. Participants will be selected based on the following criteria:
The nomination period begins on Nov. 15, 2023. Completed nominations must be submitted by 5 p.m., Feb. 19, 2024 for full consideration. The Graduate School will notify nominees in early April 2024 as to the status of their application.
Nominations may be submitted by the nominee's major professor, graduate program director, department chair/head, and/or other appropriate college leadership. Students may not apply directly for this award. Each unit (as defined by university major code) may nominate no more than TWO nominees (total) per award cycle.
Nominators will provide appropriate names and contact information for those at OSU and PNNL in the official nomination form (see link below). To complete and submit the online nomination form, nominators will be required to prepare/upload the materials listed below as one PDF document using the following file name convention:
"Nominee's Last Name_Department_PNNL.pdf”.
For questions, email Maureen Childers at [email protected].