At the heart of IGNITE Fusion Energy is a two-year summer internship program that begins with student trainees engaging in hands-on research projects at ORNL in Summer 2026. Student trainees will have the opportunity to apply their knowledge and contribute to research projects in fusion engineering and technology under the mentorship of researchers at ORNL. Contingent upon their performance in Summer 2026, student trainees may be invited to participate in research projects at leading fusion technology companies in Summer 2027, gaining first-hand exposure to cutting-edge equipment and commercial applications of fusion technology. The student trainees will be mentored throughout the academic year by their ORNL mentors and private company professionals or project PIs from their home institutions for career preparations, course selections, and opportunities for research projects.
All selected participants will receive a competitive stipend to cover their daily expenses and housing costs. Outstanding participants may also receive support to present their research at a conference, with mentor approval.
Eligibility
- Participating students must commit to the two-year internship program for Summer 2026 and Summer 2027 (if selected).
- Participants must be enrolled undergraduate or graduate students at Tennessee Tech University, Tennessee State University, Tuskegee University, or Southern Adventist University until Dec. 2026.
- No citizenship or permanent residency requirement.
Requirements
- The internship requires full-time, on-site participation (40 hours per week). Any remote work must receive prior approval from the mentor.
- Selection for the second summer internship with a private company is performance-dependent. Approval from the ORNL mentor is mandatory for pursuing this opportunity. Remote participation in the second internship is strongly discouraged.
Key deliverables
- A 3-minute mid-term concise update presentation to the RENEW team.
- A 10-12 minute presentation for the ORNL Fusion Energy Division (FED) during the FED Info/Tech meeting near the end of the internship.
- A poster presentation during the final week at ORNL.
- Submission of a final report one week prior to the internship’s conclusion.
Reminder to graduate students: Please coordinate with your current and prospective advisors, particularly since this program requires full availability for one summer, and possibly two consecutive summers.
Application deadline
December 15, 2025
How to apply
- Prepare a one-page “Statement of Purpose” explaining your motivation for pursuing research in fusion engineering and technology, and a resume with your GPA and a list of relevant courses. Combine them into a single PDF file named as “LastName_FirstName_IGNITE_intern.pdf”.
- Email this document to Dr. Peng Zhang (pzhang@tntech.edu) with subject line “IGNITE Summer 2026 Intern application – LastName, FirstName”.
- Complete the online application form here.
Need assistance? Don’t hesitate to reach out to your university mentors for guidance on preparing your application materials or to learn more about what to expect after you apply.