Eligibility for the Visiting Faculty Program (VFP)

The Visiting Faculty Program (VFP) encourages full-time faculty members from U.S. degree-granting colleges, universities, and community colleges with limited STEM research infrastructure to apply. Faculty may also invite eligible students to participate.

Faculty Requirements

To be eligible, faculty applicants must meet the following criteria:

  • Citizenship: Must be a U.S. Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) when applying. Proof will be requested if an offer is accepted. LPRs should contact their preferred DOE National Laboratory early due to processing times for site access.
  • Institution: Must teach at an institution that is NOT categorized as " Research 1: Very High Research Spending and Doctorate Production" or " Research 2: High Research Spending and Doctorate Production" by the 2025 Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. However, faculty from Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are eligible regardless of their Carnegie Classification. A list of ineligible institutions is available [here].
  • Employment Status: Must be a full-time faculty member in a science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) field (e.g., physics, chemistry, biology (non-medical), engineering, environmental sciences, geology/geosciences, mathematics, materials sciences, computer/computational sciences). "Full-time" means considered a faculty member by their institution, not adjunct or visiting, and meeting the IRS definition of a full-time employee (at least 30 hours per week or 130 hours per month) during the application's academic year.
    • For the VFP Teaching Initiative Track: Applicants must have previously participated in VFP or FaST.
  • Application Limits: Faculty can apply to the VFP program a maximum of five times and participate in the VFP (including FaST) for no more than five terms. VFP Teaching Initiative Track applicants must be returning participants.

Invited Undergraduate Student Requirements

Faculty can invite undergraduate students to participate. These students must meet the following requirements by the application deadline:

  • Academic and Enrollment:
    • High School/GED: Must have a high school diploma or GED at the time of applying.
    • Current Enrollment:  Must be a full-time undergraduate student in a STEM field at the same institution as the inviting faculty member.
    • Matriculated Status: Must have completed at least one year as a matriculating undergraduate student. Advanced Placement (AP) or other pre-matriculation credits do not count towards the one year completion requirement.
    • Graduating Seniors: May apply if they have not yet started graduate studies and will not before the VFP term, and if less than one year passes between receiving their undergraduate degree and starting the VFP term.
    • GPA: Must have a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0 on a 4.0 scale for all matriculated postsecondary coursework, including applicant's current (or recently graduated) institution and prior institutions attended five years preceding the start of the most recent enrollment. This excludes college courses taken while exclusively a high school student.
  • Age and Citizenship:
    • Age: Must be 18 years or older when the appointment begins.
    • Citizenship: Must be a U.S. Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) when applying. Proof will be requested if an offer is accepted. LPRs should contact their preferred DOE National Laboratory early.
  • Application Limits: Students can apply to SULI and VFP programs a maximum of four times and participate in SULI and VFP for no more than two internships. Final approval is subject to the DOE laboratory research advisor.

Invited Graduate Student Requirements

Faculty can invite graduate students to participate. These students must meet the following requirements by the application deadline:

  • Academic and Enrollment:
    • Current Enrollment:  Must be a full-time graduate student in a qualified Master's or Ph.D. STEM program at the same institution as the inviting faculty member.
    • Matriculated Status: Must have completed at least one semester as a matriculating graduate student.
    • GPA: Must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale for all completed graduate courses.
    • Living Expenses Support: Must be supported by their academic institution for living expenses during the Summer Term; DOE provides housing and travel support only.
  • Age and Citizenship:
    • Age: Must be 18 years or older when the appointment begins.
    • Citizenship: Must be a U.S. Citizen or Lawful Permanent Resident (LPR) when applying. Proof will be requested if an offer is accepted. LPRs should contact their preferred DOE National Laboratory early.
  • Application Limits: Graduate students may participate in up to two VFP internships. Final approval is subject to the DOE laboratory research advisor.