Lawrence Scholar Program

Graduate students enrolled and in good academic standing at an accredited U.S. institution may apply for the Lawrence Scholar Program after advancing to candidacy and completing most required coursework. Applicants work collaboratively with a university thesis advisor and an identified LLNL laboratory mentor on dissertation-relevant research.

Lawrence Scholars are hired as LLNL employees for laboratory-relevant research appointments, typically at 50% time during the academic year and 100% during breaks, not exceeding 65% time over any 12 continuous months. Appointments may continue up to four years or until degree completion, whichever comes first. Pay rates are not published on the official student programs pages.

Students apply through open Lawrence Scholar or related graduate student positions on the LLNL careers site. Questions may be directed to ScholarEmployment@llnl.gov.

LLNL uses the Lawrence Scholar Program to recruit doctoral researchers whose thesis work aligns with national laboratory science and engineering missions.