2026 DOE Scholars - Internships - Research at the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant

The DOE Scholars Program offers unique opportunities that introduce students to the mission and operations of the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Waste Isolation Pilot Plant (WIPP), Carlsbad Field Office (CBFO) Program. The WIPP Site is the Nation's repository for defense related Transuranic Waste. It is deep geological salt mine 2150 ft. underground in the Salado formation underneath southeastern New Mexico and West Texas. The facility receives shipments of prepackaged waste from multiple generator sites across the U.S. and emplaces that waste into rooms which have been mined out of the salt formation at depth. The CBFO has a number of areas where research opportunities exist for participants including ground control methods, mine ventilation airflow studies, waste characterization and approval processes through the National TRU Program, and federal staff collaboration in the Office of Business, Environmental Protection, or Office of Program Management. Participants will conduct research and study tasks to gain understanding of the interactions and responsibilities of assigned offices and their relation to accomplishment of the mission at WIPP. Appointments typically range from 8-12 weeks, and selected candidates will receive a stipend starting at $700/week based on academic and professional background, with potential reimbursement for relocation expenses not to exceed $1,000 for those relocating more than 50 miles.