The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) has opened applications for its Visiting Faculty Program (VFP) 2026, offering faculty members a funded opportunity to collaborate with scientists and engineers at leading DOE National Laboratories. The program is designed to strengthen research capacity, expand STEM education, and advance cutting-edge research in fields such as artificial intelligence, data science, energy, engineering, and advanced computing.
The Visiting Faculty Program provides an opportunity for faculty from institutions historically underrepresented in STEM research to work on collaborative research projects that address national scientific priorities while enhancing research competitiveness and creating new opportunities for students.
About the DOE Visiting Faculty Program
The Visiting Faculty Program (VFP) is a competitive summer research program sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science.
Through a ten-week collaborative appointment, participants conduct research alongside DOE scientists and engineers at one of the participating National Laboratories. Faculty members contribute to ongoing research projects while gaining access to world-class facilities, advanced scientific equipment, and expert mentorship.
The program also encourages faculty to bring research experiences back to their home institutions, helping strengthen STEM education and research opportunities for future generations of scientists and engineers.
Program Objectives
The Visiting Faculty Program aims to:
- Strengthen faculty research competitiveness
- Expand collaborations between universities and DOE National Laboratories
- Increase participation of historically marginalized institutions in STEM research
- Enhance student research opportunities
- Improve STEM teaching through research integration
- Support innovation in priority scientific fields
- Build long-term research partnerships
Program Tracks
Applicants may choose between two specialized program tracks.
1. VFP Research Collaboration Track
The Research Collaboration Track is intended for faculty seeking to strengthen their research programs through collaboration with DOE National Laboratory researchers.
Participants work on a jointly developed research project designed to:
- Increase research productivity
- Develop new scientific collaborations
- Improve competitiveness for future research funding
- Enhance student research experiences
- Expand expertise in emerging technologies
Previous collaboration with a DOE laboratory is not required for this track.
2. VFP Teaching Initiative Track
The Teaching Initiative Track is available to returning VFP participants who previously completed the research collaboration program.
This track focuses on integrating cutting-edge research into university teaching by developing:
- New STEM courses
- Certificate programs
- Laboratory modules
- Learning resources
- Seminars
- Curriculum innovations
- Workforce development initiatives
Participants work with DOE researchers to connect classroom instruction with real-world scientific research and career opportunities.
Artificial Intelligence Research Opportunities
Faculty interested in Artificial Intelligence and related disciplines may collaborate on projects involving:
- Artificial Intelligence
- Machine Learning
- High Performance Computing
- Scientific Computing
- Data Science
- Computational Modeling
- Robotics
- Advanced Algorithms
- Quantum Computing
- Energy Systems
- Climate Modeling
- Cybersecurity
- Materials Discovery
- Advanced Manufacturing
Research topics vary depending on the participating DOE National Laboratory and collaborating research team.
Program Duration
The Visiting Faculty Program is conducted during the summer.
Duration:
- 10-week funded research appointment
Student Participation
Faculty participants have the opportunity to include:
- Up to two students
- One student may be a graduate student
Students participate alongside faculty members on collaborative research projects, gaining valuable research experience at a DOE National Laboratory.
Research Collaboration
Before submitting an application, faculty members must work with a DOE National Laboratory researcher to jointly develop a research proposal.
Each project is designed around shared research interests that support DOE scientific priorities while advancing the applicant’s research goals.
Benefits
Participants receive numerous professional and research benefits, including:
- Funded summer research appointment
- Collaboration with DOE scientists and engineers
- Access to DOE National Laboratory facilities
- Opportunities to strengthen future research proposals
- Professional networking
- Advanced research experience
- Student research opportunities
- Access to cutting-edge scientific equipment
- Enhanced STEM curriculum development
- Long-term collaborative partnerships
Eligibility
The program is designed for:
- Full-time faculty members
- Faculty from institutions historically marginalized in STEM research
- Researchers interested in collaborating with DOE National Laboratories
Applicants should confirm that their institution meets program eligibility requirements before applying.
Participating National Laboratories
Faculty collaborate with researchers from one of 15 participating DOE National Laboratories, working on research aligned with DOE Office of Science priorities.
Projects span numerous scientific disciplines including:
- Artificial Intelligence
- Energy
- Environmental Science
- Materials Science
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Engineering
- Computational Science
- Nuclear Science
- Climate Research
- Quantum Information Science
- Biological Research
Application Requirements
Applicants are required to submit:
- Online application
- Jointly developed research proposal
- Collaborating DOE laboratory information
- Recommendation materials
- Student participation information (if applicable)
- Additional supporting documents required by the program
The research proposal must be completed with the collaborating DOE laboratory researcher before submission.
Application Resources
The DOE provides several resources to assist applicants, including:
- Eligibility guidance
- Proposal preparation resources
- Host laboratory selection guidance
- Application tutorials
- Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- Webinars
- Participant obligations
- Timeline information
- Proposal development guidance
Applicants are encouraged to attend information workshops and carefully review all available guidance before submitting an application.
Why Apply?
The DOE Visiting Faculty Program provides an exceptional opportunity to expand research collaborations, gain access to some of the world’s leading scientific facilities, and bring cutting-edge research experiences back to university classrooms.
Participants strengthen their research portfolios, improve competitiveness for external funding, develop innovative teaching materials, and create valuable opportunities for their students while contributing to national scientific priorities.
About the Program
The Visiting Faculty Program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy Office of Science and supports collaboration between higher education institutions and DOE National Laboratories to strengthen America’s STEM research and workforce.
How to Apply
Interested faculty members should verify institutional eligibility, identify a collaborating DOE National Laboratory researcher, develop a joint research proposal, prepare all required application materials, and submit an online application before the official deadline.
Applicants are encouraged to participate in DOE webinars and review the proposal guidance to strengthen their applications.
Conclusion
The DOE Visiting Faculty Program 2026 offers an outstanding opportunity for faculty members to conduct collaborative research at U.S. Department of Energy National Laboratories while advancing expertise in artificial intelligence, engineering, energy, and other STEM fields. Through funded research appointments, faculty strengthen their research impact, enhance student learning, and build lasting collaborations that contribute to scientific innovation and workforce development.
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