The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Transportation Security Laboratory (TSL) Visiting Scientist Program is offering 10-week summer internships for undergraduate and graduate students.

Why should I apply? 

This internship provides the opportunity to independently utilize your skills and engage with experts to move the proposed research forward. As a participant you will:

• Receive hands-on experience and individualized research opportunities while networking with top scientists and researchers.
• Have access to a one-of-a-kind federal research laboratory and state-of-the-art instrumentation.
• Increase your marketability by enhancing your academic and professional preparation.

Where will I be located? 

The internship will be at the TSL which is located in Atlantic City, NJ at the William J. Hughes Technical Center.

What are the benefits? 

You will receive a stipend based on your academic status:

• Undergraduate student - $1,100 per week
• Master's degree student - $1,300 per week
• Doctoral degree student - $1,450 per week   

In addition, you may receive a Housing Allowance and dislocation benefit, if your permanent address is at least 50 miles from the hosting facility. 

Security Clearance

You must have or be eligible to obtain and maintain DHS suitability for the duration of your appointment.

Appointment Details

• Appointments will be for 10 consecutive weeks during the months of May-September 2024. Factors such as class schedules, housing availability, and laboratory schedules may be taken into consideration when determining appointment start and end dates.
• Appointment extensions are potentially available.
• An appointment involves a 40 hour per week, 10 week commitment at the host laboratory with the researcher on-site at the specified location.
• Interns are required to have health insurance coverage during the appointment period and to provide proof of this coverage prior to the start of the appointment.

Learn more about the DHS TSL Visiting Scientist Program at https://orise.orau.gov/tsl/. 

Administrative Notes

• You will not enter into an employee/employer relationship with ORISE, ORAU, DHS or any other office or agency. Instead, you will be affiliated with ORISE for the administration of the appointment through the ORISE appointment letter and Terms of Appointment.
• The successful applicant(s) will be required to comply with Environmental, Safety and Health (ES&H) requirements of the hosting facility.

About the Transportation Security Laboratory

The TSL is a DHS Federal Laboratory located at the William J. Hughes Technical Center, Atlantic City International Airport, New Jersey, and is a part of the Science and Technology Directorate. The core mission is to enhance homeland security by performing research, development, and validation of solutions to detect and mitigate the threat of improvised explosive devices. TSL helps protect our nation’s civilian air transportation systems. By virtue of its accomplished experts, state-of-the-art facilities, and partnerships, TSL offers the homeland security community and transportation security partners the ability to advance detection technology from conception to deployment through applied research, test and evaluation, assessment, certification, and system qualification.

TSL’s staff of more than one hundred employees includes physicists, chemists, engineers and mathematicians who are leaders in explosives detection and mitigation. These talented technical experts have more than 1,000 years of experience collectively. TSL’s team is internationally recognized for their unique ability to advance technology from conception to deployment through applied research, development, prototyping, test and evaluation, certification, and system qualification.

For additional information about the TSL, visit: https://www.dhs.gov/science-and-technology/transportation-security-laboratory. 

In order to be considered, applicants must meet each of the following criteria:

• Be a sole U.S. citizen. Dual citizens are considered foreign national and are ineligible for this opportunity.
• Be at least 18 years old at the time of application.
• Meet one of the following conditions at the time of application:
  • Undergraduate Student: Be enrolled as a full-time student at a U.S. accredited college or university pursuing a degree in physics, chemistry, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, mathematics or similar.
  • Graduate Student: Be enrolled as a full-time graduate student at a U.S. accredited college or university pursuing a degree in in physics, chemistry, mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, mathematics or similar.

Applicants located in or near the Atlantic City International Airport area are encouraged to apply.

A completed application consists of:

• A completed Zintellect profile
• Essay Questions (goals, experiences, and skills relevant to the TSL Visiting Scientist Program)
• Current Resume/CV, including academic history, employment history, relevant experiences, and publication list
• Academic Records - For this opportunity, an unofficial transcript or copy of the student academic records submitted by the applicant or by academic advisors from internal institution systems may be submitted. 
• One (1) Recommendation - Recommendation requests must be sent through the Zintellect application system. Recommendations submitted via email will not be accepted.  At least one recommendation must be submitted for your application to be considered complete. You may request more than one recommendation. Recommendation must be received in the Zintellect system by Tuesday, January 16, 2024 11:59 PM EST.
  • Recommenders are asked to describe your Scientific Capabilities and Personal Characteristics and must specify how they know you. The best recommendations are from professionals who can speak to your abilities and potential for success.
  • Recommenders will be asked to complete a recommendation in Zintellect.

All Personal Identification information (e.g., social security numbers, date of birth, etc.) must be redacted from documents prior to uploading into the application. All documents must be in English or include an official English translation.

If you have questions, please send an email to DHSed@orau.org.

Connect with ORISE...on the GO! Download the new ORISE GO mobile app in the Apple App Store or Google Play Store to help you stay engaged, connected, and informed during your ORISE experience and beyond!

• Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
• Degree: Currently pursuing a Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, or Doctoral Degree.
• Discipline(s):
  • Chemistry and Materials Sciences (12 )
  • Computer, Information, and Data Sciences (1 )
  • Engineering (3 )
  • Mathematics and Statistics (11 )
  • Other Non-Science & Engineering (1 )
  • Physics (16 )
• Age: Must be 18 years old by 1/16/2024