Early Career Research

Build your expertise. Expand your impact.

Early-career scientists and engineers contribute to ambitious research while developing the expertise, networks, and leadership skills needed for long-term success. Explore mentored research appointments, selective fellowships, career opportunities, science communication training, and stories from researchers across ORNL.

Postdoctoral Research

Build your expertise through a mentored research appointment that offers access to ORNL’s distinctive facilities, interdisciplinary teams, professional development, and an active postdoctoral community.

Distinguished Staff Fellowships

Establish an independent research portfolio through a selective three-year fellowship with dedicated funding, purposeful mentorship, and professional development for exceptional early-career scientists and engineers.

Careers at ORNL

Explore research, engineering, technical, and professional openings at ORNL, or join the talent community to stay connected with future opportunities.

A participant in the 2026 Your Science in a Nutshell research lightning talk competition gives their presentation in Wigner Auditorium.

Your Science in a Nutshell

Strengthen your ability to explain why your research matters. ORNL’s annual Your Science in a Nutshell competition provides early-career researchers with science communication training, one-on-one mentoring, and an opportunity to present a concise lightning talk to laboratory leaders and colleagues.

Our Stories