DOE EM Success Through Academic Research Scholarship (STARS) Program - Application Deadline

EM STARS Program

When

9:59 p.m., Dec. 12, 2025

Want to get paid while building your STEM career? Looking for a program that supports your growth — from undergrad to grad school?

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Office of Environmental Management (EM) Success Through Academic Research Scholarship (STARS) program provides opportunities for undergraduate students from Minority Serving Institutions pursuing degrees in science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) that supports the EM research and operations in the following areas: Soil & Groundwater; Deactivation & Decommissioning; Tank Waste; Robotics; Machine Learning; Artificial Intelligence; Cybersecurity; and Advanced Manufacturing.

EM STARS provides up to two years of financial support while students work toward their undergraduate degree - and if they decide to pursue a master’s degree, the program supports students for up to two more years. While students study, they get hands-on experience through awesome internships with the Environmental Management (EM) team at one of the various sites. Student will get to see how they tackle big challenges and gain real-world skills that connect directly to your studies. 
 
The program's initiative is to support Scholars and have graduate with a strong understanding of EM’s mission and be highly prepared to join their team.  If selected, it's a great way to kickstart a students professional journey and make a real impact. 
 

What are the benefits? 

  • Financial support for the pursuit of an undergraduate degree for up to two years and two additional years for students choosing to pursue a master’s degree
  • Paid summer internships under the guidance of an accomplished mentor at EM headquarter offices, field offices, and DOE national laboratories
  • Opportunities to engage with the EM community (e.g., EM field sites, contractors, stakeholders) and other STARS Scholars
  • Academic and career guidance
  • Continued engagement with EM after graduation through employment opportunities or postgraduate appointments 

Who is eligible? 

  • Be a U.S. citizen at the time of application.
  • Be 18 years of age by June 1, 2026.
  • Have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or above on a 4.0 scale.
  • Have completed two full years towards an undergraduate degree and planning to graduate no earlier than the end of the Spring 2027 semester/trimester. Students who have completed more than two years towards their undergraduate degree may be considered if they have completed an internship with the Office of Environmental Management since May 2024.
  • Pursuing a STEM degree in a discipline that supports the Office of Environmental Management research and operations. 

Are you interested in learning more about the EM STARS program and application process?

Information Sessions:

Application Workshops:

Need help with your application? The Undergraduate Research Ambassador team is here to support you on every step of your research journey! Please reach out to the Undergraduate Research Ambassadors by sending your inquiries to their email at undergradresearch@arizona.edu(link sends e-mail)(link sends e-mail) or scheduling a 1:1 appointment with them.
Ready to apply? Submit by December 12th, 9:59 PM Arizona Time
Questions? Contact us at EM_STARS@orise.orau.gov if you have any questions. Please list the reference code [DOE-EM-STARS-2026] for this opportunity in the subject line of your email.