Los Alamos National Labs with logo 2021

Undergraduate Student Internship Program

A year-round internship program that provides students with relevant research experience while they pursue an undergraduate degree

Contact  

  • Undergraduate & Graduate Programs Manager
  • Sarah Hoffman
  • Student Programs Office
  • Email
Returning and continuing students must upload their most current transcripts through the appropriate Google Form by 2/28 each year.

undergraduate students

Gain relevant work experience while pursuing an undergraduate degree


The Undergraduate Student Internship Program (UGS) provides domestic and international students with relevant research experience while they are pursuing an undergraduate degree. Interns may work during the summer break or throughout the academic year. This program is designed to complement the students' education with work experience related to their chosen field of study. There are appointments in both the technical and professional fields.

Los Alamos National Laboratory is very excited to continue our student internship program for 2023. Internships may be on-site or remote, based on the mentor’s work plan.

Information for prospective students

Eligibility
For entering first-year students
  •  Acceptance into an undergraduate program and intent to enroll
For continuing students
  • Full time status, 12 undergraduate credit hours per semester (or the equivalent of full-time enrollment).
  • Cumulative GPA of 3.0 on 4.0 scale.


Note: Students must provide the Student Programs Office with current, official transcripts annually to remain eligible. See the Annual Transcript Review section for additional information.

Pass a new employment drug test: The Laboratory requires successful applicants to complete a new employment drug test and maintains a substance abuse policy that includes random drug testing.

Apply for or Browse Internships
  1. To apply for or browse internships, go to iRecruitment at lanl.gov.
  2. Click the Quick Link that applies to you: Post Doc Jobs, Graduate Jobs, or Undergraduate Jobs.
  3. Click the Vacancy Name number (in blue) to view any internships’ details.
  4. To apply for a position, you must have a job account. When applying, make sure to upload: Resume, cover letter (the cover letter should address the timeframe(s) you are available for an internship), and transcripts
  5. If you do not find an internship vacancy that aligns with your academic or professional goals, you can apply to the capability-specific vacancies listed below. Note: The capability-specific vacancies require degree applicability.

The capability-specific vacancies listed below are available August 1, 2023 - March 31, 2024.

  • Biological Sciences Internship Program, Vacancy Name IRC123687
  • Computational Sciences Internship Program, Vacancy Name IRC123685
  • Engineering Internship Program, Vacancy Name IRC123684
  • Physical Sciences Internship Program, Vacancy Name IRC123686

For step-by-step instructions visit How to Apply and read the Student opportunities section.

If you have problems with the online application, visit Application Process Issues for assistance.

Selection Process

Most mentors select students by searching the resume database in iRecruitment. We recommend you explore the Lab's website and locate projects/programs that interest you and align with your educational goals. You may contact individuals listed on these webpages and inquire about potential student internships and inform them of your interests. You may also review the Student Symposium Abstracts Book (pdf) to identify prospective mentors.

Many students are selected for internships after networking with Lab employees. Some of our mentors will advertise specific opportunities but most search iRecruitment when they are in need of a student.

Hiring Process
  1. Student completes paperwork specified by the mentor for the hiring package.
  2. Mentor submits a hiring package to Human Resources (HR) for approval.
  3. Upon approval, an official offer letter is emailed to the student.
  4. Student reviews and accepts the offer, and returns the signed offer letter to HR within two weeks of receiving the letter.
  5. Once the signed offer letter is returned, HR will confirm a start date and the student will be scheduled for new hire orientation. Note: Students should not report to their worksite until they have gone through the hiring and orientation process.
Post-Baccalaureate Opportunities

The Post-Baccalaureate category offers college graduates the opportunity to participate in the UGS program after graduation.

This category applies to those interns who have been awarded a bachelor's degree within the past three years but have not yet been accepted and enrolled in a graduate program. Post-baccalaureate interns may remain in this category for up to two years.

Interns should use this appointment to prepare for graduate school acceptance (e.g., GRE/GMAT exams, applications, etc.). An intern may move into GRA status when documentation is provided indicating the intern's intention to accept an offer of admission to a graduate program.

Interns who have not been accepted into graduate school at the end of their appointment are no longer eligible to participate in the program.

Apply for or browse internships

  1. To apply for or browse internships, go to iRecruitment at jobs.lanl.gov.
  2. Click the Quick Link that applies to you: Post Doc Jobs, Graduate Jobs, or Undergraduate Jobs.
  3. Click the Vacancy Name number (in blue) to view any internships’ details.
  4. To apply for a position, you must have a job account. When applying, make sure to upload:
    • Resume
    • Cover letter
    • Transcripts

Mandatory policies for current student interns

Annual Academic Review Process

Annual Academic Review Process

The Annual Academic Review period opens January 4, 2024! This is a period when the Student Programs Office must review transcripts of EVERY currently enrolled undergraduate student (UGS) and graduate student (GRA) intern.* Current UGS and GRA interns should submit their most recent transcript (PDF/JPEG) to this form if they plan to continue to work after 5/31/2024:

2024 Academic Review Form

Transcripts must list: 

  1. First name and last name
  2. Cumulative GPA
  3. Major and degree pursued
  4. Fall 2023 semester grades and Spring 2024 semester schedule OR
  5. Winter 2024 quarter grades and Spring 2024 quarter schedule 

Submission deadlines:

Academic  review deadlines have not changed and are the same every year:

  • Semester System interns submission deadline: 2/26/24 COB.
  • Quarter System interns submission deadline: 4/23/24 COB.

*This process DOES NOT apply to interns classified as high school, student guest affiliates, post-associate’s, post-bachelors, post-masters, newly hired interns(i.e., hired in late 2023/early 2024), or applicants in the process of being hired for summer 2024. Failure to participate could result in the termination of your internship.

 

UGS Program Time Limit Policies

The length of participation in the undergraduate program is limited to a maximum of six years for students pursuing a bachelor's degree and three years for students pursuing an associate's degree.

Work Schedule Policies

9/80 work schedule

Summer students, post baccalaureate, post masters, and GRA students working on a thesis or dissertation are eligible to participate in the 9/80 work schedule. The student must have permission from the mentor to work this schedule, and it must be requested and approved through the payroll system.

Summer students

All students are eligible to work full-time (40 hours a week or the 9/80 schedule) during the summer months. In addition, students are not required to be enrolled in courses over the summer.

Year-round students

Students participating in some special undergraduate programs, post baccalaureate appointments, post-master's appointments, and GRA students working on a thesis or dissertation are excluded from the 30-hour per week work restriction.