UT-ORII SMaRT Internship Program for Summer 2026
Are you a current undergrad looking for a prestigious research opportunity? Do you want to gain hands-on experience at a national laboratory?
The University of Tennessee - Oak Ridge Innovation Institute (UT-ORII) is seeking applications from undergraduate students currently enrolled in colleges and universities across the US who are interested in participating in its Science Alliance Student Mentoring and Research Training (SMaRT) Program. Students who will be rising sophomores, juniors and seniors in the Fall 2026 semester are eligible to apply. This prominent program will select approximately 40 qualified candidates to participate in a 10-week summer program scheduled from May 26 until July 31, 2026 (approximate dates). May 26-29th will be conducted virtually. As a selected intern, you will receive a funded internship, including stipends, housing and an allowance for travel to and from Knoxville, TN
You will engage in interdisciplinary research jointly administered by some of the nation’s top researchers from The University of Tennessee and Oak Ridge National Laboratory. Dedicated graduate student mentors will work closely with you, and through focused professional development activities you will prepare materials necessary to apply for future opportunities. This summer program will build your network, build your resume and prepare you for the next steps in your academic and professional career.
Our program will provide research opportunities in the following areas:
- Transportation Mobility, Cybersecurity, and Automation
- Circular Bioeconomy Systems, Environmental Science, Renewable and Recyclable Materials, Sustainable Manufacturing
- Advanced Materials and Manufacturing, Materials in Extreme Environments, and Fusion Materials and Technology
*Data science and engineering threads will be woven through each of these three areas.
Benefits to you as a SMaRT Intern:
The interdisciplinary atmosphere provided at UT-ORII will expose you to team science, an increasingly important platform for research. As an intern, you will also gain first-hand research experience in emerging fields (e.g. quantum information sciences and data sciences) while working with state-of-the-art research instruments (e.g. 3D printers of metals and polymers). Together, these experiences will help prepare you for exciting and rewarding careers. Interns will prepare CVs, personal statements for future opportunities, as well as short research presentations and scientific posters that can be presented at conferences. Graduate student mentors will work closely with SMaRT interns and will be available to share their graduate school experiences. Overall, participation in the SMaRT Program will help you understand and evaluate your future career options, including in academia, national laboratories, and in the industries of the future.
Stipends, Housing and Travel:
- The stipend will be $700 per week. An additional $250 will be loaded to your VolCard for expenses.
- University of TN on-campus housing will be provided. Housing will be apartment style.
- Travel will be reimbursed for inbound and outbound expenses up to $1,200 for participants who live more than fifty miles, one-way, from the assigned hosting site.
About the Oak Ridge Institute at The University of Tennessee (UT-ORII):
The University of Tennessee (UT) and Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) have launched UT-ORII to foster interdisciplinary research and education. The primary goals of the institute are to: attract talent to East Tennessee and to develop a world-class STEM workforce that will, among other things, create and lead the industries of the future. UT-ORII brings together faculty, research scientists, students, and ORNL researchers to create a collaborative environment in which interdisciplinary discovery and creativity flourish.
Click on the following links for the UT-ORII SMaRT Internship website and a video from the UT-ORII—2024 Summer Internship Program. Also visit the University of Tennessee-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute's LinkedIn page and scroll back to see posts from June and July 2024 with stories from the Summer 2025 internship.
Have questions about the program or how to stand out as a top candidate?
- Please email our recruiter at dalvin.webb@orau.org
- Dr. Shawn R. Campagna has reserved office hours for drop-in visits related to these opportunities if you are local. His office is open to visitors after 3 p.m. EST each Friday. He can be reached via email at campagna@utk.edu.
To apply, be sure to have the following:
- Statement of Interest/Personal Statement (explaining goals, experiences, and skills relevant to the SMaRT Program)
- Resume or CV (PDF)
- Transcripts/Academic Records
- Unofficial transcripts or copies of the student academic records printed by the applicant or by academic advisors from internal institutional systems may be submitted.
- Transcripts/Academic Records must include name of the academic institution, name of the student, and all completed/in progress coursework.
- Transcripts/Academic Records must show the equivalent of at least one year of full-time post-secondary school attendance prior to Summer 2026.
- Two Letters of Recommendation are required. The Zintellect system will send notifications to referees on your behalf when you supply names and email addresses during the application process.
Qualifications
- Citizenship: Legal Permanent Resident or U.S. Citizen (If selected, must submit proof of Citizenship of the United States or LPR paperwork). Legal Permanent Resident is a "green card" holder, a foreign national who has been granted the lawful, permanent right to live and work in the United States.
- Degree: Currently pursuing an Associate's Degree or Bachelor's Degree.
Apply Today! Selection and Review:
- Acceptance letters will be distributed in February and March 2026.
- Duration is 10 weeks from May 26 - July 31, 2026 (approximate dates)
- Priority will be given to applications received by November 15, 2025. Applications will be accepted until all spots are fille
LINK: https://bit.ly/SMaRTInternship