DOE Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships (SULI), Summer 2027

DOE Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships (SULI), Summer 2027

The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Science Undergraduate Laboratory Internships program places eligible undergraduates and recent graduates in summer research at DOE national laboratories. Summer 2027 is an in-person, typically ten-week experience with a scientist or engineer, a $650 weekly stipend, and conditional travel and housing support. Applications opened October 14, 2026; complete applications, including recommendations, are due January 6, 2027, at 5:00 PM Eastern Time. This guide summarizes the requirements and application steps.

At a glance

What the internship offers

SULI is an on-site research placement, typically ten consecutive weeks at a DOE laboratory under a scientist or engineer. The summer also includes professional-development workshops, lectures, and lab tours. Research settings vary by laboratory; review the current laboratory and research-interest choices in the online application. (DOE SULI Benefits; How to Apply)

The stipend is $650 per week. For interns whose permanent address is more than 50 miles away, DOE provides one round-trip domestic travel reimbursement, subject to stated airfare or mileage limits. Housing arrangements vary: some laboratories arrange it directly, while an allowance is available when a laboratory does not. The program pages do not promise housing at every location or specify a universal allowance amount, so check the terms for the relevant laboratory. (DOE SULI Benefits)

Who should apply and eligibility

The program is intended for full-time students at accredited community colleges, two-year institutions, and four-year institutions, as well as eligible recent undergraduate graduates. Recent graduates generally need to be within two years of graduation when the internship begins. This makes the opportunity relevant to students at different stages of undergraduate study, provided they meet the full published requirements. If you will graduate before the summer, check how the recent-graduate rule applies to your graduation date and the internship start; do not rely on the application deadline to calculate that window. (DOE SULI Eligibility)

Applicants must be at least 18 years old when the internship begins and must be U.S. citizens or lawful permanent residents when applying. The academic thresholds include a cumulative GPA of at least 3.0, at least 12 undergraduate credits in total with at least 6 in STEM, and at least one completed matriculated semester. Applicants also need a high-school diploma or GED. These are stated program requirements, not suggested targets. (DOE SULI Eligibility)

Before drafting, compare your record with each threshold: undergraduate credits, STEM credits, GPA, completed semester, age at start, and status at application. Recent graduates should check the two-year window against their graduation and internship start dates. For an unclear case, consult DOE’s eligibility page or contact route linked from the SULI site; do not assume an exception. (DOE SULI Eligibility)

How to Apply

Apply through the DOE SULI online application system. The application asks for contact and education details, citizenship status, laboratory and research-interest choices, and essays. Mailed or emailed application materials are not accepted. Use the program’s official How to Apply page to reach the application and follow the instructions shown for the Summer 2027 cycle. (DOE SULI How to Apply)

A complete submission includes undergraduate transcripts uploaded online and at least two recommendation letters submitted directly by the recommenders. The transcript copies must have Social Security numbers and full birth dates redacted. Since recommenders submit their letters themselves, your application is not complete just because you have entered their names or asked them to write. Confirm that each person has the submission instructions and enough time to send the letter through the required system. (DOE SULI How to Apply)

A useful sequence is to check eligibility, review the live laboratory and research-interest choices, then complete the online form and essays. Upload redacted undergraduate transcripts, and ask at least two recommenders early with the official submission instructions. Before the deadline, return to the system and confirm the letters and other required items are recorded as received. This is organizational advice; the application system controls current instructions and status. (DOE SULI How to Apply)

The supplied program details do not specify essay prompts, length, transcript format, or additional documents. Follow the active application’s instructions, not an old cycle’s checklist. DOE does not accept mailed or emailed materials. (DOE SULI How to Apply)

Timeline and deadline

The Summer 2027 application opened October 14, 2026. The deadline for a complete application, including recommendation letters, is January 6, 2027, at 5:00 PM ET. The deadline applies to the complete set of required materials, so applicants should plan around when recommenders can submit rather than treating the date as a deadline only for the student’s form. The official dates are listed on DOE’s SULI Key Dates page. (DOE SULI Key Dates)

The cited information gives no notification date or laboratory decision schedule. Check DOE’s Key Dates and application pages or direct program communications for updates; do not infer a date from another cycle.

Preparation and common mistakes

The following are preparation tips, not additional program requirements. Start by making a simple checklist of the published thresholds and required submission components. Use your transcript to check cumulative GPA, total undergraduate credits, STEM credits, and completed matriculated semesters. Check your age against the internship start, and make sure your citizenship or lawful permanent-resident status meets the stated application-time rule. If you are a recent graduate, verify the two-year timing against your graduation date and the start of the internship. (DOE SULI Eligibility)

For the application itself, save enough time to review the actual Summer 2027 prompts and available laboratory choices. Keep your essays specific to your academic interests and the research options you select, while answering the questions as written. That is general application advice; the published selection description says reviewers consider scientific interests and fit with host-laboratory research, but it does not prescribe an essay formula. (Application Selection Process and Notification)

When comparing research-interest options, begin with the choices visible in the Summer 2027 form. You might note which options connect to your coursework and what questions interest you, then use those notes to make your essays and recommender requests more specific. DOE’s published review factors mention interests and host-laboratory fit; the supplied eligibility criteria do not list a required major or prior research experience. Check the active application for any cycle-specific instructions.

Common procedural errors include late recommendation requests, assuming a promised letter has been submitted, uploading unredacted transcripts, or using email or postal mail. Sign back into the system before the deadline, review each section, and check that recommendations show as submitted. Keep copies for your records and follow the application’s file instructions. (DOE SULI How to Apply)

How applications are reviewed

Eligible applications receive merit review. DOE says the review considers STEM academic performance, the strength of recommendations, scientific interests, and fit with host-laboratory research. The number selected depends on available funding, programs, and staff. The program pages supplied here do not provide an acceptance rate, a guaranteed number of placements, or a formula for how reviewers weigh these factors. (DOE SULI Application Selection Process and Notification)

For preparation, present accurate academic information, select research interests you can explain, and give recommenders useful context. These are practical tips, not extra criteria. Meeting the minimum requirements permits consideration but does not guarantee a placement; selection also depends on the resources and host opportunities available that cycle. (DOE SULI Eligibility; Application Selection Process and Notification)

Frequently asked questions

Is SULI paid?

Yes. The Summer 2027 benefit listed by DOE is a $650 weekly stipend. The program also describes conditional travel reimbursement and housing support arrangements that vary by laboratory. Check the current benefit details for the conditions that apply to a particular placement. (DOE SULI Benefits)

Is the internship remote?

The summer program is described as on-site research at a DOE laboratory, typically over ten consecutive weeks. The supplied program facts do not describe a remote Summer 2027 option. (DOE SULI Benefits)

Can a recent graduate apply?

Eligible recent undergraduate graduates may apply; generally, they must be within two years of graduation when the internship starts. Confirm the rule on the official eligibility page if your graduation and start dates are near that limit. (DOE SULI Eligibility)

How many recommendation letters are needed?

At least two. They must be submitted directly by the recommenders through the application process. Ask early, then verify their submission in the system before January 6, 2027, at 5:00 PM ET. (DOE SULI How to Apply; Key Dates)

How much housing support will I receive, and how many interns will be selected?

The cited pages give no universal housing amount or Summer 2027 position count. Housing depends on the laboratory; an allowance is available where the lab does not arrange housing. Ask the host laboratory or use DOE’s program contact route to confirm local details. Selection depends on funding, programs, and staff. (DOE SULI Benefits; Application Selection Process and Notification)

Official sources

Start with the DOE Office of Science SULI application page, then consult the official Eligibility, Benefits, Key Dates, and Application Selection Process and Notification pages. Recheck those pages and the online application before submitting, since they provide the current instructions for the cycle.