Prospective Students
About DGRP
The WSU-PNNL Distinguished Graduate Research Program (DGRP) is a collaborative program between the institutions. It provides an enhanced experience for the students through research in a U.S. Department of Energy National Laboratory.
The DGRP gave me a lot of opportunities to learn new skills and helped me understand the nuances of research in a national lab setting. Working with the team has directly equipped me with the necessary skills and knowledge for my new position.
DGRP Alum
My experience at PNNL provided me with interdisciplinary views and broader skill sets. This help me introduce novel technologies to my field, and also have a more clear career goal.
DGRP Alum
Through DGRP, I have acquired technical and interpersonal skills that wouldn’t have been possible by other means. DGRP has given me the confidence to engage with researchers from different domains, collaborate with them, and produce high-quality research.
DGRP Alum
FAQs
While applying to a WSU graduate program, you must work with a WSU professor as your point of contact who will seek out a collaborating mentor at PNNL. The WSU and PNNL mentors will jointly submit a DGRP application. Prior to final appointment in the DGRP, the student must be accepted into a Ph.D. program at WSU through their department and WSU Graduate School.
The DGRP is particularly interested in helping to recruit outstanding students to WSU graduate programs representing the existing and emerging areas of collaboration within PNNL’s core capability areas.
Eligible WSU graduate programs have included but are not limited to the following:
- Biological and Agricultural Engineering
- Chemical Engineering
- Chemistry
- Civil Engineering
- Computer Science
- Electrical and Computer Engineering
- Engineering Science
- Environmental and Natural Resource Sciences
- Immunology and Infectious Diseases
- Materials Science and Engineering
- Mechanical Engineering
- Molecular Plant Sciences
- Neuroscience
- Plant Biology
- Soil Science
Yes; work with your WSU advisor to submit a DGRP application.
DGRP students are funded by their WSU and PNNL advisors. Funding does not come directly from the DGRP. Upon passing prelims and achieving ABD status at WSU, students are eligible to begin the 24-months at PNNL (typically years 3 and 4 of a graduate program). During the period of PNNL funding, students receive an elevated stipend level (increase of at least 10%).
No, the DGRP is not an internship at PNNL. Although the DGRP is designed to give students hands-on experience working with scientists and lab equipment at PNNL, the DGRP is part of a student’s WSU graduate program. Additional information can be found under “Summer Funding” in the DGRP Guidelines.
Students are eligible to transition to PNNL once all but dissertation (ABD) status is achieved. Typically this is sometime during year 3 (or later) in their graduate program.
Contact
Prospective Students: Contact DGRP
Visit DGRP Guidelines and FAQs for additional information, or email DGRP@wsu.edu.