Oak Ridge Science Semester
The Oak Ridge Science Semester (ORSS) offers a unique opportunity for undergraduates to immerse themselves in research at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), the nation’s largest multiprogram research laboratory.
Mentored by ORNL scientists, students pursue questions in biology and biochemistry; chemistry and nuclear chemistry; computer science; earth and geosciences; energy; engineering; environmental and marine sciences; life, health, and medical sciences; mathematics and statistics; nanotechnology; physics and biophysics; robotics; and much more.
Students will also participate in workshops on scientific communication, career development, graduate school preparation, poster presentations, and tours of ORNL research facilities. Students spend 40 hours per week at the lab, including their research internship and interdisciplinary seminar. Additionally, students may choose to take an advanced course taught by the Visiting Faculty Director on the Pellissippi State Community College (PSCC) campus or select an alternative course from PSCC's course offerings for the fall semester.
Undergraduates from any four-year US college or university are eligible to apply.
Applications must be submitted electronically by March 1, 2020 for the Fall 2020 ACM Oak Ridge Science Semester.
Applicants will be required to submit a transcript, faculty recommendations, responses to several short-answer questions, and an essay. You must also have off-campus study approval from your home campus. Note: your college’s application process may involve additional application materials, and internal campus deadlines may be considerably earlier than ACM's deadline. Be sure to check with your Off-Campus Study Office about your college's application procedures and deadlines.
Applications are initially reviewed by the ORSS Faculty Advisory Committee and representatives from the ACM, GLCA, and ORNL. Approved applications are circulated to one or more ORNL research groups for consideration. Acceptance into the ACM ORSS is dependent upon successful placement with an ORNL research group.
A non-refundable deposit of $50, payable to the ACM, is due upon acceptance and will be applied toward housing and transportation costs. An additional $200 housing deposit is required and will be refunded upon completion of the ACM ORSS provided that no additional cleaning or special repairs are required for the student’s apartment.