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          IAAO Staff DirectoryNIST Professional Research Experience Program (PREP)

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NIST’s Professional Research and Experience Program (PREP) provides valuable laboratory experience and financial assistance to researchers at various stages of their studies and careers. This official collaboration between participating universities and NIST aims to provide research opportunities to students and graduates.Researchers from various academic departments apply for PREP appointments. In return, NIST researchers have access to students, recent grads, postdocs, senior researchers, and faculty who bring new ideas and experiences that can strengthen the agency’s research programs.Upcoming deadlines:Check with participating colleges and universities for upcoming PREP deadlines.The purpose of this program is to:Develop and train a diverse, world-class pool of scientists and engineers to support NIST's mission in measurement science and standards research.Increase the recruitment, retention and graduation rates of undergraduate and graduate students pursuing STEM degrees.Recruit and retain historically marginalized groups (women, minorities, and persons with disabilities) in STEM.Assure continued growth and progress of a highly skilled STEM workforce in the U.S.Colleges and UniversitiesIf your accredited institution offers a two-year or four-year degree in academic science, technology, engineering, or mathematics, you can apply to establish and manage a research relationship with NIST labs in Boulder, Colorado, Gaithersburg, Maryland, or Charleston, South Carolina. PREP is a five-year cooperative agreement. Calls for application to the next award will bepostedin March 2027.See our Notice of Funding Opportunity for more information.Participating PREP UniversitiesPREP BoulderColorado School of MinesUniversity of Colorado - BoulderUniversity of Colorado - Denver ConsortiumUniversity of Colorado - DenverNew Mexico State UniversityPREP GaithersburgThe Johns Hopkins University - Morgan State University HBCU ConsortiumMorgan State UniversityJohns Hopkins UniversityThe State University of New York BinghamtonBowie State UniversityUniversity of Maryland Eastern ShoreCoppin State UniversityTuskegee UniversityNorth Carolina Agricultural and Technical UniversityGeorgetown UniversityMichigan Technological UniversityGeorge Washington UniversitySURAUniversity of Maryland College ParkMontgomery CollegeProspective ResearchersWhen NIST has an opportunity and funding for a researcher, we partner with PREP university to advertise and recruit for those roles. PREP researchers must be affiliated with a participating university.EligibilityPREP is open to U.S. citizens and foreign nationals with the appropriate visa to work at NIST.If you are interested in a PREP opportunity you can apply through an advertised vacancy.Apply to PREP Researcher OpportunitiesVisit the websites below to view available PREP openings.**Gaithersburg Campus:**The John Hopkins University - Morgan State University HBCU ConsortiumMorgan State UniversityJohns Hopkins UniversityThe State University of New York BinghamtonBowie State UniversityUniversity of Maryland Eastern ShoreCoppin State UniversityTuskegee UniversityNorth Carolina Agricultural and Technical UniversityGeorgetown UniversityMichigan Technological UniversityGeorge Washington UniversityUniversity of Maryland College ParkMontgomery College**Boulder Campus**University of Colorado BoulderUniversity of Colorado Denver ConsortiumUniversity of Colorado DenverNew Mexico State UniversityColorado School of MinesStories from PREP StudentsFrom Pokémon to Physics: My Journey of Perseverance Into ResearchLearn MorePREP Program FAQsE-mail us at prep [at] nist.gov(prep[at]nist[dot]gov)

    
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Kara Robinson
    
      
  kara.robinson@nist.gov
  (301) 975-2471

Created May 30, 2017, Updated February 14, 2024
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