Request for Applications (RFA) No. UNLP-002-23 for
Nuclear Energy Graduate Fellowships

Subject: University Nuclear Leadership Program
Graduate Fellowship – RFA
Issue Date: August 31, 2023
Application Due Date: January 16, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. ET
Point-of-Contact: Julie Jacobson
Telephone No.: (208) 526-6760
Facsimile No.: (208) 526-1844
Email: neup@inl.gov

FY 2023 UNLP Fellowship Request for Applications

Contents
Executive Summary .................................................................................................................... iii
1

Introduction ........................................................................................................................... 1

2

Eligibility Information ........................................................................................................... 2
2.1

3

4

5

6

Graduate Year Restriction .............................................................................................. 3

Award Description ................................................................................................................. 4
3.1

Tuition, Books, and Fees ................................................................................................ 4

3.2

Travel ............................................................................................................................. 5

3.3

Internship........................................................................................................................ 5

3.4

International Exchange Opportunity .............................................................................. 5

Application Submittal Requirements..................................................................................... 6
4.1

Application Due Date ..................................................................................................... 6

4.2

Application Schedule ..................................................................................................... 6

4.3

Late Applications ........................................................................................................... 6

4.4

Application Preparation Instructions .............................................................................. 6

4.5

Document Descriptions .................................................................................................. 7

4.6

Document Format Requirements ................................................................................... 8

Application Instructions ........................................................................................................ 9
5.1

Interpretations and Exceptions ....................................................................................... 9

5.2

Rights Reserved by NE .................................................................................................. 9

5.3

Application Validity Period ........................................................................................... 9

5.4

Discrepancies in the RFA............................................................................................... 9

Deliverables and Obligations................................................................................................. 9
6.1

Graduate Fellow’s Annual Activities Report ................................................................. 97

Application Review and Selection Process ......................................................................... 108Award Administration Information ..................................................................................... 11
8.1

Notification of Award .................................................................................................. 11

8.2

Award Conditions ........................................................................................................ 11

Appendix A: Allowable Costs for Fellowships .......................................................................... 12
Appendix B: Other Graduate Fellowship Activities ................................................................... 13ii

FY 2023 UNLP Fellowship Request for Applications

Executive Summary
This Fellowship Request for Applications (RFA) is for the University Nuclear Leadership
Program (UNLP) as administered by the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Nuclear
Energy (NE). Under this RFA, NE is seeking applications for its graduate fellowship program.
Awarded fellowships are for $169,000 over a three-year period which includes a $39,000/year
stipend; $14,000/year Cost of Education allowance to cover tuition, fees, and books; a$1,000/year research travel allowance; and a one-time, $7,000 allowance to cover the housing
and travel associated with a required 10-week internship.
Beginning with the FY 2023 RFA, applicants will have the option to express interest in aninternational exchange opportunity with the United Kingdom (UK).
Applications are due by January 16, 2024, at 5:00 pm ET. Students must apply electronicallyat neup.gov and questions should be sent to NEUP@inl.gov.
As part of their application package, students must submit an essay outlining long-term careergoals, a graduate research plan, letters of recommendation, academic transcripts, and a leadershipsummary. Additionally, annual reports on the progress of the fellow’s research are required, witha final report due at the end of the fellowship. Short updates on the fellow’s career are requested
for up to five years after the fellowship concludes.
Students must have a cumulative 3.25 and 3.5 GPA at the undergraduate and graduate levels,
respectively, to apply.
NE anticipates making award announcements in Spring 2024. The number of awards isdependent upon application quality and total funding available. Eligibility is restricted to UnitedStates (U.S.) citizens and legal permanent residents.

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FY 2023 UNLP Fellowship Request for Applications

1

Introduction

This Fellowship Request for Applications (RFA) is for the University Nuclear Leadership
Program (UNLP) as administered by the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Office of Nuclear
Energy (NE). Questions regarding this RFA should be submitted to neup@inl.gov or applicants
can review the Q&A forum found on the NEUP website.
UNLP works to attract qualified nuclear science and engineering (NS&E) students to the nuclear
energy professions by providing fellowships, which are awarded for graduate level work leading
to a masters or doctoral degree in the fields or disciplines of NS&E relevant to the NE mission.
All students shall have adequate preparation to begin graduate level study and research by Fall
2024. In most cases, this will be demonstrated by a bachelor’s degree earned prior to the Fall of2024.
NE’s mission is to advance nuclear energy science and technology to meet United States (U.S.)
energy, environmental, and economic needs. NE has identified the following goals to address
challenges in the nuclear energy sector, help realize the potential of advanced technology, andleverage the unique role of the government in spurring innovation:••••

Keep existing U.S. nuclear reactors operating.
Deploy new nuclear reactors.
Secure and sustain our nuclear fuel cycle.
Expand international nuclear energy cooperation.

Collectively, all NE-sponsored activities support the Department’s priorities to combat theclimate crisis, create clean energy jobs with the free and fair chance to join a union and bargain
collectively, and promote equity and environmental justice by delivering innovative clean energy
technologies for nuclear energy systems.
All applications submitted under this RFA must demonstrate a strong tie to this mission.
Applications focused specifically in areas not of interest to the NE mission, such as fusionenergy, medical physics, nuclear forensics, or environmental management, will not be reviewed
or considered. The Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC) and National Nuclear Security
Administration (NNSA) administer related programs; therefore, applicants interested inregulatory (NRC) or international nonproliferation (NNSA) careers are encouraged to apply tothose opportunities as well.
Ensuring an adequate number of high-quality NS&E students will (1) support the need for
qualified personnel to develop and maintain the nation’s nuclear power technology, (2) enhance
educational institutions’ capabilities to perform nuclear energy-related RD&D, and (3) meet
DOE’s and the national laboratories’ needs for highly trained scientists and engineers in supportof NE programs.
Prospective students are advised that submission of an application implies a commitment, if
selected, to the pursuit of study in a program in the NS&E disciplines relevant to nuclear energy.
1

FY 2023 UNLP Fellowship Request for Applications

Acceptance of a fellowship is an explicit acceptance of this commitment and assurance that thestudent will be duly enrolled in an acceptable program beginning in the Fall of 2024.
All information and instructions required to respond to this RFA are accessible at neup.gov.
Students MUST submit their application electronically through neup.gov. No hard copy
applications will be accepted (letters of recommendation, transcripts, and other supporting
documents listed in Table 4 will be accepted as described in Section 4.5).

2

Eligibility Information

It is critical to our nation’s economic leadership and global competitiveness that the U.S.
educate, train, and retain more scientists and engineers from varying backgrounds. Applications
will be accepted from all U.S. citizens and legal permanent residents, including those who
belong to underrepresented groups, those with disabilities, and people from all geographic andeconomic backgrounds attending an eligible UNLP-approved college or university (Table 1)
while pursuing NS&E disciplines. Applicants should note that, if selected, proof of legal status
may be requested for award processing.
To support the goal of building a clean and equitable energy economy, NE strives to contributeto the President’s goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain Federal investments flow to
Disadvantaged Communities (DAC) (the Justice40 Initiative) 1. The goal is to spur economic
development and job creation in DACs throughout the U.S., through effective teams and/or
partnerships with institutions, located in a disadvantaged community that may receive funding
support from the project.
In addition, NE strives to ensure energy justice and is fully committed to broadening theinclusion and contribution of those communities that have been historically underserved within
its programs. Students attending minority-serving institutions (MSIs), including HistoricallyBlack Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) and Tribal Colleges and Universities (TCUs), or
institutions located in a disadvantaged community, are highly encouraged to apply to this RFA.
Information on Minority Serving Institutions (MSI) can be found athttps://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/idues/eligibility.html#tips. This information
predominately covers institutions that have been awarded grants through the Department of
Education and does not include all institutions that may meet the definition of an MSI. This
resource is not an exhaustive list of minority-serving institutions.
For purposes of identifying MSIs in NE’s application system, NE is using a directory based offof 2023 U.S. Department of Education data compiled by Rutgers University’s Center for MSIs,
which can be found here:
https://www2.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ope/idues/2023eligibilitymatrix.xlsx. This list is also not
an exhaustive list of MSIs but will be used as a starting point for auto-identifying MSIs.
If applicants believe that their institution qualifies as an MSI and is not listed, please contact
The Justice40 initiative, established by E.O. 14008, sets a goal that 40% of the overall benefits of certain federal
investments flow to disadvantaged communities. The Justice40 Interim Guidance provides a broad definition ofdisadvantaged communities (Page 2): https://www.whitehouse.gov/wp-content/uploads/2021/07/M-21-28.pdf.

12

FY 2023 UNLP Fellowship Request for Applications

neup@inl.gov with an explanation for how the university meets the conditions of being
considered an MSI.
Applicants’ colleges/universities need to be approved to participate in UNLP. NE will workwith new schools and guide them through the approval process prior to the distribution of any
award funds. More information on the approval process can be found at neup.gov.
Graduate fellowships are for three years provided that the student continues to be involved in an
applicable NS&E academic program and remains in good standing at their university.
Additional consideration will be given to those students pursuing research more closely tied toNE’s mission.
Eligibility Restrictions:
1. Only students who are in their early stages of graduate level work, as described in Section
2, are eligible to apply.
2. Students must have maintained at least a 3.25 cumulative GPA (based on a 4.0 scale) at
the undergraduate level, and a 3.5 at the graduate level. GPAs are not rounded.
3. No more than four (4) fellowships will be awarded per institution.
4. Students holding an F1 student visa are not eligible.

2.1 Graduate Year Restriction
Applicants must have completed no more than 12 months of full-time graduate study or its
equivalent in any graduate field as of August 1, 2024. Full-time graduate study is as defined by
the university attended. There is no credit hour limit for students who have completed only fulltime graduate study; eligibility for full-time students is based on the length of time enrolled in
the graduate program.
Applicants who have completed part-time graduate study (or a combination of part-time and fulltime) must have completed no more than 24 semester hours or 36 quarter hours or their equivalent
as of August 1, 2024.
Fellowships are issued to students in the early stages of their graduate research. Applicants are
generally eligible to apply (1) during their senior year of undergraduate studies, (2) after
graduating from an undergraduate college and prior to entering graduate school, or (3) during
their first year of graduate study. Applicants should email neup@inl.gov with any questions
regarding graduate year eligibility.
All post-baccalaureate, graduate-level study is counted toward the allowed 12 months ofcompleted graduate study. This includes all master and doctoral programs.
Applicants in joint BS/MS programs are typically eligible to apply prior to completion of any
further graduate study. In four-year joint programs, applicants may apply in the fourth year andafter completion of the program. Completion of any graduate study outside of the joint program
will disqualify an applicant. In five-year joint programs, applicants may apply in the fourth and3

FY 2023 UNLP Fellowship Request for Applications

fifth years of the program and after completion of the program. Completion of any further
graduate study outside of the joint program will disqualify an applicant.
Applicants who have completed more than twelve months of graduate study and who have notearned a graduate degree may be considered eligible if they have had an interruption in graduate
study of at least two consecutive years prior to May 2024. To be eligible, applicants must havecompleted no additional graduate study by August 1, 2024.
Questions related to the graduate-year restriction should be addressed to neup@inl.gov.

3

Award Description

NE expects to award three-year/$169,000 graduate fellowships under this RFA. The number ofawards is dependent upon application quality and total funding available.
Note: All awards will be for a maximum of three (3) contiguous years. Remaining funds from afellow’s tenure, not previously forfeited, may be used by the fellow for the following semester oryear if they are still conducting fellowship research and working toward their degree. Fellows
will need to contact the Innovative Nuclear Research Integration Office (INR-IO) at
neup@inl.gov in the last semester of their tenure for approval to use any remaining funding.
Fellows must receive NE approval prior to the use of remaining fellowship funds.
Table 2 provides a breakdown of award funding. Appendix A includes allowable andunallowable expenses for this award.
Table 1. Breakdown of the UNLP Fellowship award (3 years).

ExpenseAmount12-Month Stipend
Tuition, Books, and Fees

$39,000/year$14,000/year

Research Travel AllowanceInternship Allowance
Total (3 years)*$1,000/year$7,000$169,000*Travel costs will also be provided to students participating in theinternational exchange opportunity.

3.1 Tuition, Books, and Fees
The cost of education allowance is $14,000 per tenure year and is to be used by the affiliatedinstitution to cover the costs of educating the fellow. If all tuition, fees, and books have been
covered, students can receive reimbursement for housing with their education allowance (rentonly). Students will need to provide receipts to their university to receive reimbursement (seeAppendix A for allowable and unallowable expenses). Fellows can also use remaining funds for4

FY 2023 UNLP Fellowship Request for Applications

additional NE approved travel and health insurance. Fellowship funding covers the needs of the
fellow only and does not provide support for dependents.

3.2 Travel
Fellows are provided a $1,000 research travel allowance per year upon an approved travel
request (see neup.gov) submitted well in advance of the anticipated date of travel. The planned
travel must involve a structured research activity approved by NE and can only be for travel
within the U.S. The research travel allowance must be used for research-related travel costs only.
Funds from the research travel allowance cannot be applied toward tuition, books, fees, or any
other expenses.

3.3 Internship
Fellows are required to participate in a 10-week minimum internship at DOE, a DOE national
laboratory, industry, or a facility designated and approved by NE. An additional $7,000 isprovided to offset the costs of travel and housing associated with the internship. Stipend dollars
are expected to cover the time of the internship. Fellows may not be additionally compensatedby the interning agency. Students who elect to receive compensation from the interning
agency must forfeit their fellowship stipend for the duration of the internship. The forfeitedfunds are not appended to the end of the student’s fellowship and will instead be deobligated and returned to NE.
It is the fellow’s responsibility to work with his/her advisor to identify an appropriate internshipby the end of the fellow’s second year of award. Failure to at least secure an NE-approved
internship opportunity by the end of the fellow’s second year will result in the cancellationof the fellowship for the third year.
If an NE-approved internship has not been completed within the last few months of the student’saward, the last 10 weeks of the fellowship will be canceled.

3.4 International Exchange Opportunity
Beginning with the FY 2023 RFA, an optional exchange opportunity with the UK will be offered
to up to 10 fellows to attend a week-long tour of nuclear-related facilities in the UK during thesummer following the first year of the fellowship (Summer 2025). Students can indicate theirinterest in this new opportunity at the time of submission via the online application form atneup.gov. This initial expression of interest will be used as a data point only and will notpreclude any student who does not express interest at the time of application from consideration.
Early in calendar year 2025, all first-year fellows will be invited to submit a statement describing
why they should be considered for the international opportunity and how the visit will benefit
and inform their future in nuclear energy. Additional guidance and details, including how thestatements will be evaluated and what UK facilities will be toured, will be provided at that time.
Travel costs associated with the international exchange opportunity will be provided to selectedstudents.
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FY 2023 UNLP Fellowship Request for Applications

4

Application Submittal Requirements

4.1 Application Due Date
Applications and all supporting documents are due by January 16, 2024, at 5:00 p.m. Eastern
Time (ET).

4.2 Application Schedule
Table 2. Tentative UNLP Fellowship RFA schedule.

Issue Request for Applications
Fellowship Application Deadline
Award Announcement

August 31, 2023
January 16, 2024
Spring 2024

4.3 Late Applications
Applications received after the designated date and time will not be accepted. Extension of theapplication due date shall be at the sole discretion of NE.
Note: It is the applicant’s responsibility to confirm—prior to the application deadline—that all
requirements have been met and materials received. If a requirement has not been met, theapplication will be considered incomplete and will not be reviewed.

4.4 Application Preparation Instructions
Complete fellowship applications must be submitted electronically through neup.gov before thedeadline established above. To apply, students will need to create an account at neup.gov.
Students re-applying should use their existing account. Once logged in, applicants will need toclick on the “Applications” tab located at the top, left hand corner of the page. To begin an
application, click on the “Create New Application” link for the FY 2023 Fellowship Request for
Applications.
In addition to the information required on the fellowship RFA submittal form, the supporting
documents listed in Table 4 must also be provided:
Table 3. Supporting document requirements.

Submittal Documents
Essay 1: Personal Career Goals
Essay 2: Proposed Graduate Research
Leadership Summary
Letters of Reference (3)Academic Transcripts*

Page Limit23
1
2 per referenceNone6

FY 2023 UNLP Fellowship Request for Applications* Unofficial and/or official transcripts will be accepted.

4.5 Document Descriptions
For each document uploaded, the applicant should include their last name in the file name (forexample: Smith Personal Career Goals.pdf). The applicant’s name, as well as the document
name, should also be included in the header of each document. Additional submittal guidance
can be found in the online application form. A description of each required document is provided
below.
Essay 1: Personal Career Goals – This essay should identify the applicant’s long-term career goals
and explain how the UNLP fellowship will help the student achieve those goals. Students should
ensure that their career goals are relevant to nuclear energy and the NE mission as stated in Section 1.
Applicants should describe how their program of study and career goals align to the NE mission.
Applicants are encouraged to review the NE website for more information.
Essay 2: Proposed Graduate Research – This essay should describe the research that the student
is interested in conducting during the fellowship. Applicants should use previous researchexperience outside of the classroom to demonstrate acquired skills and show how thoseexperiences have prepared the applicant to be successful in the proposed graduate research. The
applicant should also describe how the research aligns with the NE mission and how it will
advance NE priorities. Applicants are encouraged to review the NE website for additional
information.
Leadership Summary – The leadership summary should list all activities the student has or iscurrently participating in that speak to their personal/professional leadership abilities. Applicantsshould list relevant internships, community service, publications, and organizational memberships thathave helped to prepare them for the UNLP fellowship. Students should use the template provided in the
online application form at neup.gov.
Letters of Reference – Fellowship applicants are required to submit three (3) letters of reference. The
following information should be included in each letter:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•

Name and title of reference writer
Department
Institute/Organization
Explanation of the nature of the relationship to the student
Detail of the applicant’s prior research experiences outside of the classroom
Statements about the student’s academic potential
Statements about the student’s proposed research
Signature
Any other information to enable the review panel to evaluate the application according to theguidelines described in Section 7 including, but not limited to, the student’s involvement invarious activities such as relevant internships, community service, publications, andorganizational memberships.

Applicants can notify reference writers directly in the online application form by providing thereferences’ email addresses and clicking “Notify.” This will send the writer an email with a link
to upload their recommendation electronically to the system. Students are encouraged to contact7

FY 2023 UNLP Fellowship Request for Applications

reference writers as early as possible to provide sufficient time for them to submit the letter.
Letters must be received by the application deadline.
Letters of reference should originate from faculty, professional university staff, or scientists andengineers in the nuclear field who can appropriately speak to the student’s abilities and experiences(such as an advisor or core professor, preferably someone who has known the applicant for a year or
longer). Students should not have family members provide recommendations regardless of theirposition within the industry. It is the applicant’s responsibility to confirm all letters have been received
prior to the application deadline. Any application with fewer than three letters of reference will beconsidered incomplete and will not be reviewed. Letters submitted by the applicant on behalf of thewriter will not be accepted. Applicants can request more than three references; however, only the first
three letters received will be sent forward for review.
Academic Transcripts – Academic transcripts are required and must include Fall 2023 semester
grades. Academic transcripts from all completed college or university work are required (including
community college and summer school transcripts) from all institutions where a degree was received
by the applicant, as well as any current degrees the applicant is working toward. Unofficial and/or
official transcripts will be accepted. If selected for award, official transcripts may be requested.
Applicants can upload their transcripts to their application at neup.gov. Transcripts will also be
accepted by fax, electronically, or via postal mail, express service, or courier to the Innovative Nuclear
Research Integration Office (INR-IO):
INR Integration Office
Attn: Julie Jacobson
PO Box 1625 MS 3730
Idaho Falls, Idaho
83415-3730
Unofficial/official copies of transcripts must be sent in for an application to be considered
complete. All transcripts must be received by the application deadline.

4.6 Document Format Requirements
Please adhere strictly to the document formatting requirements in Table 5 below for all submitted
documents.
Table 4. Formatting requirements.

Document Format
Font Size
Font
Margins
Line Spacing

.pdf
12 pt
Times New Roman
1-inch all aroundSingle-spaced

Note: Do not send extraneous information or materials such as CDs, manuscripts, resumes,
medical reports, or news clippings. These items will not be reviewed with your8

FY 2023 UNLP Fellowship Request for Applications

application. Images may be included but will be produced only in black and white to thereview panel. Do not submit a personal photo.

5

Application Instructions

5.1 Interpretations and Exceptions
Students shall submit applications in compliance with the RFA requirements. Any interpretationof the requirements by the student may be considered an exception and treated accordingly (i.e.,
deem the application non-responsive). The student must obtain NE concurrence/clarification
regarding its interpretation to classify the student’s application as compliant with, or an
exception to, the RFA requirements by contacting neup@inl.gov. Any exception must be
approved by NE and documented as part of the application.

5.2 Rights Reserved by NE
NE reserves the right to accept or reject any application with or without prior discussion with thestudent and to disregard minor irregularities in applications received. NE reserves the right toconduct any necessary pre-award survey and analysis to evaluate a student’s capabilities tocomply with the requirements of this RFA.

5.3 Application Validity Period
An application shall remain firm for 180 days after the application due date, unless otherwise
specified by the student.

5.4 Discrepancies in the RFA
Should a student find discrepancies in, or omissions from, the RFA, its attachments or related
documents, or should the student be in doubt as to the meaning of any requirements, the student
shall notify NE by contacting neup@inl.gov and obtain correction or clarification prior to
submitting his/her application.

6

Deliverables and Obligations

6.1 Graduate Fellow’s Annual Activities Report
In May of each fellowship year, an email will be sent requesting a brief report on the fellow’s
experiences and accomplishments during the past academic year. Within 30 days after therequest is sent, the fellow must submit this report using the online system at neup.gov. Fellows
must provide a summary of their activities for the year as well as their plans for the following
year. A list of any publications, presentations, and patents will also need to be provided. The
report will need to be approved by the fellow’s advisor via the online system at neup.gov.
In addition, acceptance of a UNLP fellowship is an acceptance of a commitment to keep NE
informed of career progress, regardless of how it develops, both during and after the fellowship(for up to 5 years) as a critical data source for future NE planning.
9FY 2023 UNLP Fellowship Request for Applications

Furthermore, NE is always interested in receiving relevant information throughout the year
including captioned photographs or other material providing notification and details of any
noteworthy fellowship-related accomplishments that may merit public attention.

7

Application Review and Selection Process

Applications will be reviewed by interdisciplinary scientists, engineers, and other professional
experts in education. Each application will be reviewed independently based on merit and using
all available information in the completed application. Reviewers will be instructed to evaluate
applications against the following Merit Review criteria. Therefore, applicants must address thecriteria in their written statements to provide reviewers with the information necessary to fully
evaluate the application.
1. How closely aligned are the student’s career goals and chosen course of study to the NE
mission?
2. How does the student’s previous and proposed research align to the NE mission?
3. How well qualified is the student to complete the proposed course of study and associatedresearch?
Reviewers will consider the following when evaluating applications against the above Merit
Review criteria:
1. Academic Strength: Reviewers will consider the applicant's academic record, asinterpreted from both undergraduate and graduate transcripts.
2. References: Reviewers will consider the writer's general impression of the student's
potential for success, future contribution to the field of nuclear energy, and suitability foraward.
3. Personal Career Goals: Reviewers will consider how well the applicant describes theirlong-term career goals; how the UNLP fellowship will help them achieve those goals;
how well the applicant explains how their program of study and career goals align to the
NE mission; and if the applicant wrote their essay and in a clear and concise manner.
4. Proposed Graduate Research: Reviewers will consider how well the applicant’s
proposed graduate research is described; how skills acquired through these experiences
have prepared them for their graduate research; and how the proposed research aligns
with the NE mission.
5. Fellowship Leadership: Reviewers will evaluate activities the student has or is currently
participating in that speak to their personal/professional leadership and involvement in
the industry—including relevant internships, community service, publications, andorganizational memberships— that have helped to prepare them for this fellowship
opportunity.
Review results will be presented to the NE Selection Official and considered along withadditional relevant objective and subjective information related to the application process,10

FY 2023 UNLP Fellowship Request for Applications

including program policy and management factors and the amount of funds available. All of thisinformation will be factored into the final award selection and approval.

8

Award Administration Information

8.1 Notification of Award
Notification of the fellowship award will first be made with issuance of a press release on the
Office of Nuclear Energy’s website. All selected and non-selected applicants will then be
notified via email. Once all students from a university or college have accepted their awards, theinstitution will be provided with a list of awardees.
Awardees will receive an award guide that consists of the applicable terms and conditions of the
UNLP fellowship as well as information on how the award will be managed.

8.2 Award Conditions
UNLP fellowship students will be notified, via email, as soon as possible of their selection or
non-selection. If selected, the student must accept or decline the fellowship by the date provided
in the award notification. Failure to comply with the deadline may result in revocation of the
fellowship offer. The UNLP fellowship does not offer recipients with the option of a one-year
deferment.

11

FY 2023 UNLP Fellowship Request for Applications

Appendix A: Allowable Costs for Fellowships
Graduate Fellowship
For each selected fellow, the affiliated institution receives a $54,000 award per year to beadministered as follows:
1. The fellowship stipend is $39,000 for a 12-month tenure period and prorated monthly.
Shorter periods will need NE approval.
2. The cost of education allowance is $14,000 per tenure year and is to be used by theaffiliated institution to cover the costs of educating the fellow. This includes all
applicable tuition, books, and fees normally charged to students of similar academic
standing, unless such charges are optional or are refundable. Students can receive
reimbursement for off-campus housing with their education allowance if all tuition,
books, and fees have been covered. Students will need to provide paid rent receipts totheir university to receive reimbursement. Fellows can also use remaining funds for
additional NE approved travel and health insurance. Fellowship funding covers the needsof the fellow only and does not provide support for dependents.
The fellowship award does not provide allowances for special student needs such as
research expenses, travel to employment sites, computers, books, and publications
beyond those required for classes, fieldwork expenses, special study, and like items.
3. Fellows are allowed an additional $1,000 research travel allowance per year upon
submission of an approved travel request. The planned travel must involve a structured
research activity approved by NE. Please note that the travel allowance cannot be used
for international travel. The research travel allowance must be used for research-related
travel costs only. Travel funds cannot be applied toward tuition, books, fees, or any otherexpenses.
4. A 10-week (approximate) internship must be conducted at DOE, a DOE national
laboratory, or facility designated and approved by NE. A one-time $7,000 allowance isprovided for travel and/or housing expenses associated with the internship.
5. Travel costs associated with the international exchange opportunity will be provided to
selected students to tour UK nuclear facilities.
The institution may require service of a UNLP fellow by appointment to appropriate teaching or
research-related activities acceptable to and consistent with the goals of the UNLP fellow.
However, it is expected that any required service contributes to the progress of the fellow toward
an advanced degree and that attainment of the degree is not delayed significantly by these service
requirements.

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FY 2023 UNLP Fellowship Request for Applications

Appendix B: Other Graduate Fellowship Activities
Termination of Tenure
A fellow who terminates his/her activities prior to the expected completion date is entitled tostipend payments only for those months on fellowship tenure. For stipend payment purposes, thelast month is defined as 14 or more days of tenure.
Reduction of Tenure
A fellow may reduce the tenure of any fellowship from 12 to 9 months without penalty otherthan forfeiting 3 months of tenure and associated stipend.
Interruption of Tenure
In unusual circumstances, and with prior approval, NE will permit a brief interruption in tenure.
Normally in such cases, stipend payments and tenure will be forfeited for the duration of theinterruption.
Resignation of Tenure
A fellow may resign a fellowship at any time. In such cases, the fellow is expected to inform
his/her college or university, which must then notify NE of the resignation, the number of tenure
months completed, and the cost of education allowance that will be claimed.
A letter of explanation sent directly to NE (neup@inl.gov) by the fellow will be appreciated andheld confidential.
Cancellation of Tenure
Fellows certified by their college or university as making unsatisfactory progress toward a
graduate degree will have all remaining years of tenure canceled by NE.
Medical Deferral
NE may grant a medical deferral if a serious illness or other medical condition prevents full-time
fellowship activity for an extended period. A fellow requesting a medical deferral must secure aletter verifying the need for such action from a health care provider and notify his/her college oruniversity, which must then contact NE. In addition, the fellow will need to provide a letter froma health care provider when the fellow requests to resume tenure after being on medical deferral.
In the case of a medical deferral, the unused portion of the stipend and cost-of-education
allowance will be reserved for the fellow’s later use.

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A medical deferral may be granted for psychological as well as physical reasons, and the natureof the condition need not be disclosed. Moreover, a medical deferral does not jeopardize thefellowship award, nor does it stigmatize a fellow’s reputation.
Military Deferral
A brief interruption for duly authorized military service or training will be permitted with theapproval of the college or university.
In the case of a longer interruption resulting from active military service or from certain
activities in lieu of service with the regular Armed Forces, provision can be made for reservationof a fellowship (or the balance of it) and reinstatement of the unused portion at a later date. In
such cases, a fellow should immediately provide NE with written notification of these plans andrequest further instructions by emailing neup@inl.gov. Pay received by a fellow for occasional
attendance at military reserve or National Guard functions is exempted from limitations on
supplementation of stipends.
Change of Institution
Before Starting Tenure
A fellow's choice of a graduate institution is made at the time of application and must be madecarefully. NE will only allow changes to the designated fellowship institution before
matriculation under extreme circumstances.
Between Fellowship Years
A request to change affiliated institutions between fellowship years is normally made at the time
the fellow and university submit their annual reporting documents. If a decision to change
institutions is made subsequent to submission of the annual declaration, the fellow must submit awritten request to NE accompanied by a statement from the college or university or scientificadvisor indicating that the fellow’s work has continued to be satisfactory. In addition, evidenceof acceptance at the new school should be submitted. The new school must be an affiliatedcollege or university per Table 1.
During a Fellowship YearA request to change affiliated institutions during a fellowship year will not be allowed.
Tenure Beyond the Doctoral Degree
Tenure beyond a doctoral degree will not be supported by UNLP.

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Advanced Degree Enrollment
In addition to a satisfactory institutional affiliation, each fellow must, at all times, be enrolled ina full-time program leading to an advanced degree in one of the fields supported by NE.
However, the requirement of formal registration may be waived during part of this tenure, whenappropriate, if permitted by the policy of the fellowship institution, provided that the fellow
otherwise remains engaged in appropriate full-time fellowship activities.
Teaching
Each fellow is required to devote full time to advanced scientific study or work during tenure.
However, because it is generally accepted that a reasonable amount of teaching or similar
activity constitutes a valuable part of the education and training of many graduate students, afellow may undertake a reasonable amount of such teaching, without NE approval, at theaffiliated institution. It is expected that furtherance of the fellow's educational objectives and thegain of substantive teaching experience, not service to the institution as such, will govern suchassignments.
Required InternshipA 10-week (approximate) internship must be conducted at DOE, a DOE national laboratory or
facility designated and approved by NE. A one-time, $7,000 allowance is provided for travel
and/or housing expenses associated with the internship. It is the fellow’s responsibility to workwith his/her advisor to identify an appropriate internship.
Failure to at least secure an NE-approved internship opportunity by the end of the fellow’s
second year will result in the cancellation of the fellowship for the third year.
If an NE-approved internship has not been completed within the last few months of the student’saward, the last 10 weeks of the fellowship will be canceled.
Field Work (or Study at Another Institution)
If, in the opinion of the faculty of the affiliated institution, it is desirable for the fellow to study,
engage in field work or in research at another institution or laboratory during any part offellowship tenure (in addition to the above internship), the fellow may do so with NE approval.
It should be noted, however, that NE’s responsibility with respect to any graduate fellow is to thefellow’s affiliated institution only, and not to the “visited” institution or laboratory. NE
specifically cannot assume responsibility for educational costs assessed by another institution atwhich a fellow may be studying temporarily. Regardless of the fellow’s physical location, thefellow will be considered by NE as being identified with the affiliated institution only. Plans forfield work or study at another institution must be approved by the college or university, and thestudent must obtain NE concurrence to ensure compliance with the RFA requirements bycontacting neup@inl.gov.

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FY 2023 UNLP Fellowship Request for Applications

Program Changes
Minor changes in a fellow's program may be approved by the affiliated institution. A majorchange in a fellow's program—one that alters the program to the extent that it differs
significantly from that originally submitted in the fellow's application (for example, a change infield)—must receive the prior approval of the college or university or scientific advisor. In
addition, the fellow must submit a revised proposed plan of study or research for NE approval.
Vacations
NE fellowships do not provide a vacation period, as such, during tenure. Fellows are entitled to
the normal, short holiday periods observed by their affiliated institutions, such as winter or
spring holidays, and short between-term periods.
"Vacation time" may not be accumulated for later use. There is considerable variation in
institutional practices in the matter of vacations, but if an institution should close for a long
period of time, fellows on tenure there during such periods will be expected to have made priorarrangements for the use of necessary facilities and resources to carry out their programs.
If it is not possible to make these arrangements at the affiliated institution, the fellow shouldmake other satisfactory arrangements, with NE approval, to carry on his/her work.
Awards or Employment During Tenure
Fellows are permitted to solicit and accept support from any appropriate sources for researchexpenses connected with their fellowship activities. NE is not concerned with grants or loans ofany kind that fellows may receive. During tenure, except for scheduled, short vacation periods,
fellows are expected to devote full time to the advancement of their graduate education.
Employment that does not jeopardize a fellow’s full-time commitment to graduate study isusually permitted. Nevertheless, employment that will generate substantial income in addition toreceiving the stipend must be approved by NE. Occasionally, fellows identify opportunities at
on- or off-campus employment sites that contribute significantly to their graduate study. Before
a fellow engages in such work, permission of the college or university and of NE must be
obtained. Requests for approval of employment during tenure are reviewed by NE on a case-bycase basis.
Income Tax
Specific questions regarding taxation of fellowship funding should be referred to the U.S.
Internal Revenue Service. University policies regarding withholding of taxes from stipend
payments vary, and fellows must bear the responsibility of paying any tax, domestic or foreign,when due.

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Fellows are not in any sense salaried employees of either NE or their affiliated institution.
Therefore, no funds will be deducted from the stipend; no social security taxes will be paid by
NE; no W-2 forms will be issued; and provision must be made by the fellow for the filing of any
necessary estimate of taxes due and for payment of all income taxes that may become due.
Fellows may request a statement of earnings from their affiliated institution.
Publications
A fellow should make all research results available to the public without restriction, except as isrequired in the interest of national security. NE would appreciate receiving notice of a fellow's
publications, but it is not necessary to send a copy of publications, papers, thesis, or dissertation.
Acknowledgment of Support and Disclaimer
An acknowledgment of UNLP support and a disclaimer must appear in any publication of any
material, whether copyrighted or not, based on or developed under the project being reported, inthe following terms:“This material is based upon work supported under a Department of Energy, Office of Nuclear
Energy University Nuclear Leadership Program Graduate Fellowship.”All materials, except scientific articles or papers published in scientific journals, must also
contain the following:"Any opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this publication arethose of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Department of Energy
Office of Nuclear Energy."Intellectual Property Rights
DOE claims no rights to any inventions or writings that might result from its fellowship awards.
However, fellows should be aware that the Department of Energy, another Federal agency, orsome private party may acquire such rights through other support for particular research. Also,
fellows should note their obligation to include an acknowledgment and disclaimer in any
publication.
Future Employment
The offer and acceptance of this fellowship does not, in any way, obligate the fellow, DOE, or
the United States Government to future employment or service of any kind.
National Security
Fellows are obliged to report promptly to NE, prior to disclosure to others, any discoveries thatare made or data that are developed that could reasonably be considered as likely to affect the17

FY 2023 UNLP Fellowship Request for Applications

national security or the national defense. Doubtful cases should be referred to NE prior todisclosure of any information concerning them.
Members of the Armed Forces and Federal Employees
If, during tenure, the fellow will be a member of the Armed Forces (other than as a participant of
an ROTC program) or on leave from a position in the Federal service, it is the fellow's
responsibility to inform NE and to have a cognizant official of the government organization
involved file a statement outlining the funds that will be made available by the fellow's employer
and the specific purpose for which they are provided to the fellow. NE and the fellow's
institution must reach a mutually satisfactory agreement regarding the fellow's support during
tenure before any funds can be provided under a fellowship.

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