Benefits

  • Selected faculty and participating students (Fall and Spring terms for faculty only, not applicable to students) spend 10 weeks at a DOE national laboratory engaged in a research project under the guidance of a laboratory scientist.
  • Faculty members build collaborative relationships with DOE research scientists, become familiar with DOE sponsored research programs, scientific user facilities, and potential funding opportunities.
  • Students participate in enrichment activities, including career professional development workshops (e.g. technical and scientific writing skills development, poster, or oral presentation activities, etc.), laboratory tours, scientific lectures and seminars.
  • Host laboratories may provide laboratory tours, scientific lectures and seminars, and workshops on accessing DOE scientific user facilities.
  • Host laboratories provide all required site specific training.

Financial Support: 

  • Support for Participating Faculty

    • For VFP in a Summer term,

    Participating faculty receive a 10-week stipend of $16,000 during the program period. Selected faculty are reimbursed for one round trip domestic travel to the host laboratory (if permanent address is more than 50 miles from the host laboratory). Transportation expenses will be reimbursed on the basis of the most direct route. Participating faculty are reimbursed for one round trip domestic travel to the host laboratory (if permanent address is more than 50 miles from the host laboratory). Transportation expenses will be reimbursed on the basis of the most direct route. Travel by a private automobile will be reimbursed at the current government rate up to a maximum of $500.00 or the cost of the lowest commercial airfare, whichever is lower. Travel by air will be reimbursed at the cost of the lowest commercial airfare. Housing information will be provided to visiting faculty prior to arrival at the host laboratory. In general, housing opportunities will vary from laboratory to laboratory. An allowance is available for visiting faculty placed at host laboratories that are unable to offer direct housing arrangements.

    For VFP in a non-Summer term (Spring and Fall),

    Starting Spring 2023 term, the VFP program will be extended to non-summer terms to encourage faculty’s continued research engagement with DOE national laboratories. The program will focus on faculty participants only and last for 10 weeks. Students cannot be invited during the Spring or Fall VFP terms. Students are eligible to participate in the VFP program during the Summer Term only.

    In addition to the support for stipend, travel, and housing as described above for a summer term, participating faculty receive up to $15,000 for teaching or course buyout at their home institution. Click for more information. 

  • Starting in Summer 2022, participating undergraduate students receive a weekly stipend of $650 during the internship period.

    Participating undergraduate students receive a weekly stipend of $650 during the internship. Selected undergraduate students are reimbursed for one round trip domestic travel to the host laboratory (if permanent address is more than 50 miles from the host laboratory). Transportation expenses will be reimbursed on the basis of the most direct route. Travel by a private automobile will be reimbursed at the current government rate up to a maximum of $500.00 or the cost of the lowest commercial airfare, whichever is lower. Travel by air will be reimbursed at the cost of the lowest commercial airfare. Housing information will be provided to interns prior to arrival at the host laboratory. In general, housing opportunities will vary from laboratory to laboratory. An allowance is available for interns placed at host laboratories that are unable to offer direct housing arrangements.
  • Participating graduate students are expected to be supported by their home academic institutions consistent with their graduate appointment, and the VFP provides no additional stipend. Selected students are reimbursed for one round trip domestic travel to the host laboratory (if permanent address is more than 50 miles from the host laboratory). Transportation expenses will be reimbursed on the basis of the most direct route. Travel by a private automobile will be reimbursed at the current government rate up to a maximum of $500.00 or the cost of the lowest commercial airfare, whichever is lower. Travel by air will be reimbursed at the cost of the lowest commercial airfare. Housing information will be provided to interns prior to arrival at the host laboratory. In general, housing opportunities will vary from laboratory to laboratory. An allowance is available for interns placed at host laboratories that are unable to offer direct housing arrangements.