Opportunities at U.S. National Laboratories: Internships, Co-Ops, and Fellowships

U.S. national laboratories are world-renowned research institutions that provide cutting-edge science and technology development across a broad range of fields. For students looking to get hands-on experience and contribute to groundbreaking research, national labs offer exceptional internship, co-op, and fellowship opportunities. Whether you’re an undergraduate or a graduate student, here’s a quick guide to the opportunities available at some of the top U.S. national laboratories.


1. Argonne National Laboratory

Location: Lemont, IL
Opportunities:

  • Internships & Fellowships: Argonne offers a variety of programs for undergraduate and graduate students, focusing on science, engineering, and computing. These include paid internships, fellowships, and summer research programs.
  • Research Areas: Physics, chemistry, biology, engineering, and computer science.
  • Link: Argonne Internships and Fellowships

2. Los Alamos National Laboratory

Location: Los Alamos, NM
Opportunities:

  • Internships & Co-ops: Los Alamos has opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students in fields like physics, engineering, and computer science. Summer internships and year-round co-op programs are available.
  • Research Areas: National security, nuclear physics, materials science, and renewable energy.
  • Link: Los Alamos Student Programs

3. Oak Ridge National Laboratory

Location: Oak Ridge, TN
Opportunities:

  • Internships & Fellowships: Oak Ridge offers numerous student programs through the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), including internships, fellowships, and research opportunities for both undergrad and grad students.
  • Research Areas: Nuclear science, environmental science, energy technologies, and materials research.
  • Link: Oak Ridge Student Programs

4. Sandia National Laboratories

Location: Albuquerque, NM & Livermore, CA
Opportunities:

  • Internships & Fellowships: Sandia provides both undergraduate and graduate students with research-based internship opportunities in science, engineering, and technology. Programs typically span 10-12 weeks.
  • Research Areas: National security, nuclear energy, materials science, and renewable energy.
  • Link: Sandia National Labs Student Programs

5. Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory

Location: Berkeley, CA
Opportunities:

  • Internships & Fellowships: Berkeley Lab offers summer research internships, graduate fellowships, and cooperative education programs in a variety of scientific disciplines.
  • Research Areas: Physical sciences, life sciences, advanced computing, energy, and environmental technologies.
  • Link: Berkeley Lab Student Programs

6. National Renewable Energy Laboratory

Location: Golden, CO
Opportunities:

  • Internships & Fellowships: The NREL provides opportunities for undergraduate and graduate students interested in renewable energy technologies, with options for both internships and research fellowships.
  • Research Areas: Renewable energy, energy efficiency, sustainable transportation, and energy systems integration.
  • Link: NREL Student Programs

7. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Location: Richland, WA
Opportunities:

  • Internships & Fellowships: PNNL offers research internships and fellowships for undergraduate and graduate students in areas like physics, engineering, environmental science, and computational modeling.
  • Research Areas: Environmental and nuclear sciences, cybersecurity, data analytics, and energy.
  • Link: PNNL Student Programs

8. Idaho National Laboratory

Location: Idaho Falls, ID
Opportunities:

  • Internships & Co-ops: INL offers undergraduate and graduate students research internships, co-ops, and fellowship programs, particularly in nuclear science, engineering, and cybersecurity.
  • Research Areas: Nuclear energy, cybersecurity, advanced materials, and energy storage.
  • Link: INL Student Opportunities

9. Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory

Location: Batavia, IL
Opportunities:

  • Internships & Fellowships: Fermilab offers internships for undergraduate students in physics and engineering, along with research programs for graduate students. Students can gain experience working on high-energy particle physics projects.
  • Research Areas: Particle physics, accelerator science, and quantum computing.
  • Link: Fermilab Student Programs

10. Brookhaven National Laboratory

Location: Upton, NY
Opportunities:

  • Internships & Fellowships: Brookhaven provides paid internships for undergraduate and graduate students, along with postdoctoral research fellowships. Students can work in fields ranging from physics and chemistry to materials science and biological research.
  • Research Areas: High-energy physics, environmental science, biological research, and nanotechnology.
  • Link: Brookhaven Internships

11. Thomas Jefferson National Accelerator Facility (Jefferson Lab)

Location: Newport News, VA
Opportunities:

  • Internships & Fellowships: Jefferson Lab offers undergraduate and graduate students opportunities to engage in research on nuclear physics and related fields. Summer internships and graduate fellowships are available.
  • Research Areas: Nuclear physics, accelerator physics, and applied science.
  • Link: Jefferson Lab Student Programs

By Sue Atkins
Sue Atkins Associate Director, Employer Relations