Identifying a Collaborating DOE Laboratory Scientist

Identifying a collaborating DOE laboratory scientist is an essential first step in applying to the Office of Science Graduate Student Research (SCGSR) program. While graduate student applicants are responsible for identifying and establishing a collaborating DOE laboratory scientist at a participating DOE laboratory/facility, in consultation with their graduate thesis advisor, the SCGSR program can help guide you in this process.

This link provides a non-exhaustive list of some National Laboratory scientists that are interested in collaborating with the research of SCGSR awardees. The list provides a description of the scientists’ research and their contact information. If none of the scientists in this list conducts research in an area related to your proposed project, you can follow the approaches outlined below.

Graduate student collaborations can emerge from a number of circumstances; the following examples may be the most common:

If there any questions regarding identifying collaborations, the graduate student applicant and the thesis advisor are strongly encouraged to contact the SCGSR program manager.

Example 1: The Graduate student works with a faculty member who has an existing collaboration with a DOE laboratory scientist

If an applicant’s primary graduate thesis advisor is a university faculty member who currently working in an SCGSR priority research area and has an existing collaboration with a DOE laboratory scientist, the graduate student should consult their thesis advisor and the laboratory scientist on opportunities to expand on the existing collaboration through a SCGSR research project that the graduate student can conduct at the DOE laboratory/facility as a part of their overall thesis research. It is recommended that the applicant initiate the conversation with their thesis advisor and the DOE scientist as early as possible to identify mutual interest and to start developing the scope of the required SCGSR research proposal. If the primary thesis advisor is currently funded by the Office of Science, the advisor must ensure that the proposed SCGSR project does not duplicate work currently funded under the existing award. Specifically, the current award must not include targeted funding for the graduate student to conduct research at the DOE laboratory/facility for an extended period of time.

 

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Example 2: The graduate student has a clear idea of where they want to enhance their thesis research and what DOE capabilities and expertise they would like to access.

A prospective applicant may have a clear idea of what they want to do for a part of their thesis research, and how that research can be enhanced through use of DOE laboratory/facility capabilities and expertise. However, the applicant may not be sure which DOE laboratory/facility can provide a good match for carrying out the envisioned scope of work in terms of availability of expertise, resources, and capabilities. In these circumstances, it is highly recommended that the applicant first contact SCGSR program manager to find out if the applicant’s thesis research is well aligned with a SCGSR priority research area (this is an eligibility requirement). If the alignment with SCGSR priority research area is established, SCGSR program manager will recommend a list of potential laboratory scientists who are working in the area of the applicant’s graduate thesis research. The applicant will be asked to carefully research those laboratory scientists. Once the applicant identifies the interest, they can either directly contact the laboratory scientists of interest or contact the DOE Laboratory/Facility POCfor the laboratories/facilities where the interested laboratory scientists work.  The DOE Laboratory/Facility POCs may also suggest other potential collaborators at their laboratory/facility working in the applicant’s research area.

 

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Example 3: A graduate student is interested in exploring the possibilities of enhancing their graduate thesis research through the SCGSR program, but doesn’t know where to begin to identify a good DOE laboratory collaborator.

For prospective applicants who do not know where or how to begin identifying a collaborating laboratory scientist, they should first contact the SCGSR program manager. The SCGSR Program Manager will ask the applicant for information about their graduate thesis research and interests. If the applicant’s thesis research is well aligned with a SCGSR priority research area, SCGSR program manager will recommend a list of potential laboratory scientists who are working in the area of the applicant’s graduate thesis research. The applicant will be asked to carefully research those laboratory scientists. Once the applicant identifies the interest, they can either directly contact the laboratory scientists of interest or contact the DOE Laboratory/Facility POC for the laboratories/facilities where the interested laboratory scientists work.  The DOE Laboratory/Facility POCs may also suggest other potential collaborators at their laboratory working in the applicant’s research area.

If the applicant has a clear idea of which DOE laboratory/facility they would like to explore collaboration opportunities with, applicants may contact the laboratories/facilities directly through the DOE Laboratory/Facility POC. Applicants should read carefully the research information on laboratory/facility websites and other resources (such as the scientists’ scientific publications) before contacting any laboratory research staff.

 

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