Department of Energy awards $5 million in student scholarships

The Department of Energy (DOE) awarded approximately $5 million in scholarships on Tuesday to undergraduate and graduate students in pursuit of nuclear engineering, science and energy programs, as part of the DOE’s Nuclear Energy University Program initiative.

“Nuclear energy currently makes up 60 percent of the United States’ non-carbon emitting energy portfolio,” Energy Secretary Ernest Moniz said. “These awards will help our nation’s brightest students have the tools they need to ensure the United States continues as a global leader in nuclear technology.”

The DOE awarded 90 scholarships this year, including 57 undergraduate awards and 33 graduate-level fellowships for students at U.S.-based universities and colleges. Undergraduate scholarships total $7,500 per student to help cover educational costs for the following year. Graduate awards are three-year fellowships worth $50,000 per year to fund graduate studies and research.

Fellowships also include $5,000 for summer internships at U.S. research facilities and national laboratories to help students get involved in the DOE’s energy research initiatives.

The Nuclear Energy University Program began in 2009. Since then, the DOE has awarded more than 600 scholarships totaling $33 million. Ninety-eight percent of fellowship recipients have gone on to contribute professionally to the DOE’s national laboratories and other energy-based government agencies, private companies and academic institutions.