FAQs
Frequently Asked Questions
General Information
Eligibility
I am a Dual Citizen — am I eligible?
Most labs only accept U.S. Citizens. Those who are Dual Citizens or Permanent Residents, consult the Labs page of the website to see what labs will consider your application.
What is required to be eligible for a $11,000 stipend?
You must currently be in graduate school and taking graduate school courses to receive the level 3 stipend. Proof of graduate school enrollment and current class schedule is required. The graduate school must be a US accredited institution (ABET).
Application process
What happens after I submit my application?
After your application is received it is submitted to the Navy laboratory that you selected on your application. The lab research staff reviews the application and makes a decision based on your academic background, research interests, personal statement, and recommendation.
How many labs may I apply to?
You may apply to a minimum of 2 specific labs, with a 3rd option to choose to be placed at any lab. To activate this option you must select the "All Labs" option on the Program Information page of your application.
How important are my transcripts to my application?
Your transcripts are an extremely important part of your application. For this reason, the transcript process has been updated for this application cycle to be easier and more efficient for applicants! When applying, simply make sure you have an unofficial/official copy of a transcript for every school you have atttended and upload it in PDF format. Once uploaded, be sure to select the link on the education section of the application that allows you to view what you have uploaded. Once you have viewed it, you can then self-verify each transcript you've uploaded. It is extremely important to verify what you have uploaded because transcripts will not be verified by the NREIP Program Team; it is solely the responsibility of the applicant. DO NOT MAIL OFFICIAL TRANSCRIPTS TO ASEE HEADQUARTERS AS PART OF YOUR APPLICATION. When an award is issued, the applicant will be notified of the process to submit an official transcript at that time only.
What do I do if my unofficial transcript is only available online?
Some schools only offer unofficial transcripts on their website, and they are not available for download. If this is the case, please visit your Registrar and request a copy of your unofficial transcript in PDF format. If they are unable to provide it or advise you on how to obtain one, you can print it and scan it back into your computer. Please note, many computers come equipped with a PDF creator that allows you to convert a document to PDF format by selecting the PDF creator as an alternative printer.
How important is my contact information?
The contact information you provide is very information for tax purposes. Make sure the information is correct, because your 1099-MISC tax form will be mailed to the address you provide. If at any time your information changes, please notify the ASEE Program Manager for the DoN NREIP Program.
How will my recommender submit their recommendation?
While completing your application you will be asked for your reference's email address. When you save their information in your application your recommender will receive an email explaining the procedure for submitting recommendations to ASEE.
Terms of appointment
Is housing provided?
No, acquiring housing for the duration of the program is the responsibility of the student. Navy host personnel and lab coordinators may be able to assist you in finding suitable housing.
How much will I be paid for my time in the program and how is it determined?
Stipend levels will be determined by a student's years of participation in the NREIP program. Stipends will range from $7,000 to $11,000.
- $7,000: All new participating undergraduate students, regardless of undergraduate credit hours or class standing (must have at least 31 credits by the end of the Spring 2020 semester).
- $8,500: All returning undergraduate NREIP students, regardless of undergraduate credit hours or class standing.
- $11,000: All graduate students (Must be currently be in graduate school and taking graduate school courses to receive this level)(ABET).
Stipends will be paid bi-weekly via direct deposit from the first day you start working at the lab. You are encouraged to plan accordingly and bring enough money to cover transportation, meals and miscellaneous expenses. You cannot take federal funding from more than one source. If you are going to be part of another federally funded program, you cannot receive a NREIP stipend and vice versa.
How many hours do I have to work during my internship?
Participants are required to work 5 days a week, 40 hours per week, not to exceed 400 hours over a 10-week period. Interns will only receive a stipend for the hours that they actually worked and for federal holidays (Memorial Day and/or 4th of July).
Security Clearance
Will there be a background check?
Yes. Once the labs select their summer interns, ONLY selected students will undergo background checks for security purposes. All internships are contingent upon lab security approval.
Will I need a security clearance?
There are multiple labs which require their students to receive SECRET security clearances. ONLY selected students, who have signed the Terms & Conditions, will begin the security clearance process. The process usually takes many months to receive an interim clearance. Students will be informed at every step. This is why students' contact information should be kept up-to-date. It is very important that all security forms be completed in an extremely timely manner due to the continuing backlog at OPM.
NOTE: All internships are contingent upon lab's security approval. Most labs will not let you start unless you have at least an interim clearance.
Taxation
What is ASEE's policy on taxation of my stipend award?
ASEE must report all stipend, internship support, health insurance and book allowance payments made to Recruitment Participants under the Naval Research Enterprise Internship Program. At year end, ASEE will provide participants and the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) with the informational Form 1099-MISC recording the amount paid to the participant during the tax year. ASEE does not withhold taxes from participant payments. Under current laws and regulations, participants are responsible for submitting quarterly estimates of income taxes to the IRS and paying the amounts due. Participants may have a similar liability with respect to state and/or local taxes depending upon the state and/or locality where the participant resides.
You are considered guest researchers and are not considered employed by either the United States Government, the Department of Defense, the US Navy, the Office of Naval Research, any ONR lab or ASEE. If you have further tax questions, please contact the IRS, as ASEE is prohibited from giving tax advice.
Privacy Statement
Naval Research Enterprise Internship Program (NREIP) internships are awarded under the authority of 10 U.S.C. 2191, Armed Forces - Graduate Fellowship. Information requested on application forms and fellows' progress reports is solicited under this authority. The application information may be disclosed to reviewers and staff assistants as part of the NREIP process for evaluation and selection of qualified applicants. Information provided in applications and fellows' progress reports may be disclosed to academic institutions attended by applicants and fellows to provide or obtain data regarding the applicant review process, award decisions, or the administration of awards. Aggregated data based on application materials may be used in management reports designed to evaluate the direction and progress of the program and for reporting within the Department of Defense (DoD) and Federal Government. Attribution of specific data to individual applicants will be avoided, whenever possible, in using information provided. A fellow's application information may be shared with DoD laboratory personnel, for the purposes of receiving information about summer employment or other opportunities, only if an applicant consents to sharing of the application information using the check box within the application. A list of fellowship winners may be published.
Submission of the information requested on the application is voluntary. Omission of any particular item not necessary to establish eligibility will not prejudice the application review, although failure to provide full and complete information needed to evaluate all of the merits of the application may reduce the possibility of receiving an award. In order to determine the degree to which members of diverse sections of the eligible population are aware of and apply for this program, completion of the demographic fields on the application relating to gender, ethnicity, and race, is requested, but voluntary; omission of any demographic field information will not affect award consideration. Applicants will be considered for award of fellowships based on merit and without regard to race, color, religion, national origin, gender, or age.
