Letters of Support

Two letters of support are required for an application to the SCGSR Program. These include:

  • A letter of support from the applicant’s primary graduate thesis advisor, and
  • A letter of support from the applicant’s proposed collaborating research scientist at the DOE laboratory/facility.

The online application system requires the applicant to provide contact information for his/her primary graduate thesis advisor and collaborating DOE laboratory scientist. Letters of Support can only be received through the online form. First, please complete the ‘Primary Graduate Thesis Advisor Information’ section and the ‘Collaborating DOE Laboratory Scientist’ section (located in the ‘Host DOE Laboratory’ section) in the ‘Complete your Application’ tab. Once completed, your thesis advisor and collaborating scientist will be populated below, and you can click the 'Send Email' button to send your request for the Letter of Support. Once this information is provided, the applicant can generate a request for a letter of support, in the form of an email message, to be sent by the online system to the intended individual. The automated email will provide the information for the thesis advisor/DOE collaborator to access the online system to complete and submit the letter of support online.

  • Letters of support can only be received through the online application system using the access information to the online form provided in the request email.
  • Applicants are encouraged to make the requests for letters as early as possible. Additionally, it is suggested that the applicant discuss their request for the letter in advance with their primary graduate thesis advisors and collaborative DOE laboratory scientists, and allow adequate time for them to act on the request.
  • The letter of support form that is completed by the primary graduate thesis advisor and DOE collaborating scientist requires that these individuals confirm that they have reviewed and approved the applicant’s SCGSR research proposal, so it is recommended that discussions and development of the applicant’s SCGSR proposal begin as early as possible in the application process.
  • It is the applicant’s responsibility to remind their graduate thesis advisor and collaborating DOE laboratory scientist that they must submit their individual letters of support before the application deadline. Applicants are also able to view the status of the receipt of letters of support and send reminder emails through the online application system.

Letter of Support by the Primary Graduate Thesis Advisor

Once the email request is sent by the applicant through the online application system, the primary graduate thesis advisor will have the link and access code to access the letter of support form to complete on the applicant’s behalf.

The form for the primary graduate thesis advisor’s letter of support requests information regarding:

  • How long they have known the applicant.
  • The applicant’s preparedness for the proposed SCGSR research project at a DOE laboratory/facility.
  • The importance of the proposed research to the applicant’s overall doctoral thesis project.
  • Verification that they have read and approved the applicant’s proposed SCGSR research project.

Letter of Support by the Collaborating DOE Laboratory Scientist

Once the email request is sent by the applicant through the online application system, the collaborating DOE laboratory scientists will have the link and access code to access the letter of support form to complete on the applicant’s behalf.

The form for the collaborating DOE laboratory scientist’s letter of support requests information regarding:

  • How long they have known the applicant.
  • The applicant’s preparedness for the proposed SCGSR research project at a DOE laboratory/facility.
  • The scientific merit of the proposed SCGSR research project as an integral part of the applicant’s overall graduate thesis project.
  • How the proposed SCGSR research project will take advantage of the DOE Laboratory/Facility’s research capabilities and assets.
  • Verification that they have read and approved the applicant’s proposed SCGSR research project.

If the applicant’s proposed SCGSR research project involves the use of any scientific user facilities, the collaborating DOE laboratory scientist will also be prompted in the form to confirm that access to any scientific user facilities involved in a proposed research project at DOE laboratories/facilities will be secured prior to the proposed project period starting date.