The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) today announced $6.3 million in scholarships and fellowships to students pursuing nuclear energy-related degrees across the United States. DOE is awarding 124 scholarships and fellowships to students at 39 colleges and universities. 

The awards are provided through DOE’s University Nuclear Leadership Program (UNLP), which invests in the next generation of leaders who are researching innovative nuclear energy solutions to help tackle the climate crisis and work toward President Biden’s goal of 100% clean electricity by 2035 and a net-zero economy by 2050. 

“Nuclear energy is a vital tool for meeting the nation’s bold climate and energy goals,” said Dr. Geri Richmond, Department of Energy Under Secretary for Science & Innovation. “To ensure its continued development and deployment, we must empower the next generation of diverse, nuclear energy leaders.” 

Through UNLP, DOE’s Office of Nuclear Energy is awarding scholarships of $5,000 for one year to two-year institutions where students are training as nuclear energy-related technicians. Four-year institutions will receive scholarships of $10,000 for one year and graduate fellows will receive $169,000 over three years to help pay for graduate studies and research. Fellowships also include a one-time, $7,000 allowance that funds an internship at a DOE national laboratory or other approved research facility to strengthen the ties between students and DOE’s energy research programs. Scholarship and Fellowship awards are scheduled to be issued by July 31, 2023. 

Since 2009, UNLP has awarded more than 1,100 scholarships and fellowships totaling more than $67 million. Ninety-five percent of students who have completed nuclear energy-related fellowships have either continued to advance their education in nuclear energy or obtained careers at DOE’s national laboratories, other government agencies, academic institutions, or private companies. Of those former fellowship winners, nine are university professors engaged in nuclear energy-related research and three were competitively awarded as lead investigators or collaborators for Office of Nuclear Energy research and development (R&D) projects in fiscal year 2022. 

Learn more about the UNLP fellowships and scholarships or visit the Office of Nuclear Energy website for more information on its programs. 

Original source can be found here.