UT-ORII Science Alliance seeks 1 to 2 graduate research assistants (GRAs) for the 2026 SMaRT (Student Mentoring and Research Training) summer internship program. Mentors will participate in the program’s planning and administration and will receive a full 12-month graduate assistantship for their efforts.
The University of Tennessee-Oak Ridge Innovation Institute’s (UT-ORII) Science Alliance and the Center for Advanced Materials & Manufacturing (CAMM) at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and the UT Graduate School recruit about 40 undergraduate interns each year to participate in the SMaRT summer internship program. This is a unique 10-week interdisciplinary research and professional development experience hosted jointly at UT and the Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL).
The SMaRT interns are placed in 3 or 4-person cohorts and mentored by faculty, research staff, UT-ORII staff and graduate students. Successful applicants for this position will perform critical mentoring functions, providing support and guidance to the interns. The SMaRT graduate assistant mentors’ primary responsibilities are to be a peer mentor to the interns during the summer, ensuring that the students complete a series of professional development and science communication-related tasks (e.g. completion of CV, a scientific poster, and a scientific presentation) and to educate students about the steps and skills necessary to complete graduate education. These peer mentors are not expected to provide hands-on research mentorship to the interns during the summer months. Successful applicants will want to mentor and instruct students outside the laboratory. An understanding of the unique opportunities provided by the partnership with ORNL is needed.
The graduate student mentors’ responsibilities are expected to take ~20 hours/week for the 10-week summer program. In the fall and spring, the mentors will assist in reviewing applications and planning SMaRT activities. The pre- and post-program duties are estimated to take at most 100 hours over both semesters.
Job Responsibilities
Spring 2025 Semester
- Participate in professional development programs and SMaRT planning meetings
- Contribute ideas and assist with planning activities for SMaRT interns
- Assist in the review of intern applications
Summer 2025: May – August
- Support UT-ORII staff/faculty with the day-to-day operations of the program
- Work closely with the SMaRT team and interns for all events, questions, professional development workshops, etc.
- Provide direction and support to interns as they prepare their PowerPoint and poster presentations for the end-of-program symposium
Fall 2026 Semester
Participate in program wrap-up and various reporting meetings on campus
Assist in the review of intern applications
Required Qualifications
- Must be currently enrolled in a science, technology, engineering or mathematics (STEM) doctoral program at UT
- Must be in good standing with both the home department and graduate school
- Must show successful completion of the OPIc speak test at advanced high or superior level, if instruction at prior undergraduate and master’s institutions was not in English
- Must demonstrate strong written and oral communication skills
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience presenting posters and seminars
- Experience mentoring students
- Availability to work all 10 weeks during the summer (Highly Preferred)
- Research experience with or related to ORNL
Compensation
These positions will be provided with a $37,000 annual salary plus benefits, full tuition and fees.
Application Process
Please submit the following to oriismart@utk.edu by Monday, November 3, 2025:
- CV
- cover letter explaining your interest in and qualifications for being a SMaRT mentor (up to 2 pages)
- brief description of your research and its connection to joint UT-ORNL efforts (up to 1 page)
- two or more recommendation letters, which can be sent directly to maintain confidentiality