Participant Obligations

The Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships (SULI) program aims to support the intellectual and professional development of students and recent graduates through scientific research experience.

Requirements for Participation:

  • Health Insurance: Participants must provide proof of health insurance coverage for the entire duration of their internship. It is the individual participant's responsibility to arrange this coverage before their arrival at the appointment site.
  • Location:  All internships are conducted on-site at a host DOE national laboratory/facility.  Participants must conduct their internship in the United States or its territories.
  • Professional Conduct: Participants are expected to maintain professional and responsible conduct throughout the program.
  • Full Consecutive Program Completion: Participants must complete the entire 10-week or 16-week program consecutively.
  • Time Commitment: Students should anticipate dedicating approximately 40 hours per week to their research projects on-site, or to engaging in the provided professional development opportunities.

Required Deliverables:

  • Timely Submission: All mandatory program deliverables must be submitted by their assigned deadlines.
  • Surveys: Participants are required to complete both an entrance survey and an exit survey using the online system provided at the beginning and end of the internship. Host laboratories may withhold initial or final stipend payments until these surveys are submitted.
  • Research Reporting: Before the conclusion of their appointment, SULI participants must:
    • Present and submit their SULI research findings via either an oral presentation or a poster presentation.
    • Submit a research project report (1500-3000 words).
    • Submit a general audience abstract summarizing their research.
    • Complete a one-page peer review of another SULI intern's presentation (oral or poster).
  • Detailed Guidance: Specific requirements, submission instructions, and further guidance for reporting will be provided at the start of the internship.
  • For detailed information, please refer to the "Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships (SULI) Program Deliverables Requirements and Guidelines".

Important Notes:

  • Initial Survey Deadline: Failure to complete the initial "pre-survey" by the specified deadline will result in immediate termination from the program. The record of participation will be removed, and the individual will be ineligible to apply for future WDTS programs.
  • Other Deliverable Deadlines: Failure to complete any of the remaining required deliverables by their deadlines will also result in the removal of the participation record and ineligibility for future WDTS programs.

Project Acknowledgment for WDTS-Funded Projects:

To help maintain accountability and accuracy in its federally mandated assessment and reporting functions, WDTS requires that all funded work appropriately acknowledges its support in presentations and publications resulting from that funding.

When acknowledging WDTS support, please use the following statement:

"This work was supported in part by the U.S. Department of Energy, Office of Science, Office of Workforce Development for Teachers and Scientists (WDTS) under the Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships (SULI) Program."