Eligibility
Eligibility Requirements
- U.S. Citizenship (no dual citizenship)
- Current enrollment in a Historically Black College and University (HBCU) or Minority Institution (MI)
- Major in a STEM or DoW-relevant academic discipline
- 18 years or older at the time of application
- Full-time student or recent graduate (December 2025 or later)
- GPA of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale
- Possession of a Federal ID, such as a REAL ID* or a valid U.S. Passport
- Receipt of a favorable interim background investigation
*To learn more about what a “REAL ID” is, please visit the DHS website below and your state’s department of motor vehicles website: https://www.dhs.gov/real-id/real-id-faqs
Security Clearance
Some applicants may be required to obtain a security clearance to access their assigned laboratory. This process involves an extensive background investigation that verifies personal history, including interviews with individuals who know the applicant and, in some cases, a face-to-face interview with the applicant. Security clearance requirements vary by organization.
STEM Academic Disciplines or DoW-relevant Discipline
The program supports academic disciplines relevant to the DoW mission. The disciplines listed are broad categories, and specific majors or fields of study may fall under one or more of these categories—or may not appear on the list. Applicants who are uncertain about whether their discipline qualifies should contact the program help desk for guidance.
- Acoustic Engineering
- Aerospace Engineering
- Analytical Chemistry
- Applied Mathematics
- Applied Physics
- Artificial Intelligence
- Audiology
- Biochemistry
- Bioengineering
- Bioinformatics
- Biomechanics
- Biomedical Engineering
- Biotechnology
- Biology
- Ceramic Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Chemistry
- Civil Engineering
- Cognitive Science
- Computational Biology
- Computer Aided Design
- Computer Biology
- Computer Engineering
- Computer Programming
- Computer Science
- Criminal Justice
- Criminology
- Cryptography
- Cyber Security
- Data Analysis
- Data Science
- Electrical Engineering
- Electronics Engineering
- Electro-Optics
- Engineering
- Engineering Physics
- Environmental Engineering
- Experimental Design
- Health Science
- Industrial Engineering
- Information Technology
- Machine Learning
- Manufacturing
- Mass Spectrometry
- Materials Engineering
- Materials Science
- Mathematics
- Mechanical Engineering
- Metabolomics
- Metallurgical Engineering
- Microbiology
- Molecular Biology
- Neuroscience
- Nuclear Engineering
- Nursing
- Optics
- Optical Engineering
- Pharmacy
- Physics
- Polymer Science
- Pre-Med
- Prevention Science
- Programming
- Psychology
- Robotics and Automation
- Software Development
- Software Engineering
- Statistical Analysis
- Statistics
- Strain Biology
- Structural Biology
- Synthetic Biology
- Systems Engineering
- User Experience (UX) Design