PREP FAQs

The Professional Research Experience Program (PREP) allows NIST to establish cooperative agreements with universities and colleges to provide NIST researcher appointments to undergraduates, graduate students and postgrads. 

The program enhances NIST’s research programs by providing opportunities for collaboration with the academic community. The program also provides NIST laboratory experience and financial assistance to researchers at various stages of their studies and careers. 

This program is funded through a five-year cooperative agreement, as NIST will be substantially involved in its implementation. NIST collaborates with the university on the scope of work consistent with the OMB guidance.

• Undergraduates
• Bachelor’s degree holders
• Graduate students
• Master’s degree holders
• Postdocs
• Research faculty

PREP is open to U.S. citizens and foreign nationals with the appropriate visa to work at NIST.

A request should come from a NIST researcher.

PREP researchers are paid by the sponsoring PREP university through a cooperative agreement received from NIST.

All PREP researchers are paid for work done in the program. PREP researchers’ salary is based on classification (undergraduate, graduate student, postdoc, faculty) and level of expertise. Additionally, all PREP researcher categories (except for undergraduates) are eligible for benefits and relocation assistance. 

PREP researchers enrolled in graduate school at participating PREP university will have their tuition paid for by their NIST sponsor. The program does not pay for undergraduate tuition.

PREP researchers enrolled in graduate school at participating PREP university will have their tuition paid for by their NIST sponsor. The program does not pay for undergraduate tuition. 

Yes. PREP researchers who are undergraduate or graduate students are required to be enrolled full-time at a partnering PREP university.

No. PREP researchers conducting research at a NIST laboratory are guest researchers and are required to sign a Guest Researcher Agreement.

PREP researchers are employed by a PREP university.

PREP universities are listed on the main PREP page. 

Email prep [at] nist.gov (prep[at]nist[dot]gov).