Visiting Faculty Program (VFP) - formerly FaST

  • Program Description

    Offered by the Department of Energy Office of Science, VFP provides ten-week summer hands-on research opportunities at Fermilab for teams comprised of one faculty member and optional 1-2 undergraduate students. The program is open to faculty from community colleges and four-year institutions historically underrepresented in the research community. The program aims to position faculty to be more competitive in applying for federal research funding. Faculty applicants must submit a research project proposal co-developed with the collaborating research staff located at the host DOE laboratory, and is submitted at the time of application.

    DOE WDTS partners with the National Science Foundation (NSF). Applicants from institutions participating in select NSF programs who have been extended an appointment offer may apply to NSF for supplemental funds to support the VFP appointment at a DOE national laboratory. A final appointment offer is contingent upon submission and acceptance of this supplemental proposal according to the NSF guidelines.

    The VFP website provides details on the financial support for faculty, students and graduate students.

    More information is available on the DOE VFP website.

  • Eligibility

    Faculty members, students and graduate students are eligible to apply for VFP. Undergraduate and graduate students must be invited to participate by the applying faculty member.

    Faculty Member:

    • Must be a United States Citizen or Permanent Resident Alien at the time of applying.
    • Must be a full-time faculty member at an accredited U.S. college or university historically underrepresented in the U.S. research community.
    • Must be a full-time faculty member in an area of physics, chemistry, biology (non-medical), mathematics, engineering, environmental sciences, materials sciences, or computer or computational sciences.

    Read more about Eligibility for faculty, students and graduate students on the VFP site.

    Key Dates

    Check Key Dates and VFP Key Dates.

  • Expectations

    • Complete the full ten-week program.
    • Complete all Fermilab safety and computing requirements.
    • Work safely in a responsible and professional manner.
    • Attend all scheduled events including lectures, tours and group activities.
    • Participate in professional scientific meetings at the request of the DOE research advisor.

    Deliverables

    • Complete entrance and exit surveys.
    • Make either an oral or poster presentation to mentors and peers.
    • Submit a one-page peer review of another VFP intern's poster or oral presentation.
    • Submit an abstract and a 1500-3000 word research project report in the required format.

    Students

    Student applicants will receive access to the VFP application system upon being invited by the applying faculty member.