Tuition-Free Nuclear Safeguards Course and Paid Summer Internships in International Nuclear Safeguards Policy

Updated January 2025

NOTE: To learn more about the course, see the story ” International Nuclear Safeguards Policy and Information Analysis Course Held in Monterey

International Nuclear Safeguards Internships and Course flyer

International Nuclear Safeguards Internships and Course flyer

View the flyer for current information and important dates

Jump down to:

Course Description

International Safeguards Policy and Information Analysis-Intensive Summer Course

The Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey (MIIS), and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), in support of the National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA), are pleased to announce the 2025 International Nuclear Safeguards Policy and Information Analysis Course, a one-week, tuition-free, intensive course in Monterey, California, and up to two paid summer internships at LLNL.

The course will be held June 2-6, 2025 at MIIS. All nationalities may attend. Limited stipend support may be available (see “Applications” below). Attendees receive a certificate of completion.

This course will be facilitated by senior nonproliferation policy analysts from the Middlebury Institute’s James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies with presentations by experts from Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory and other leading nonproliferation and safeguards specialists.

Topics Covered

  • The role of the IAEA and international safeguards in the nuclear nonproliferation regime
  • Concepts, objectives, evolution and history of international nuclear safeguards
  • State-level safeguards analysis
  • Case-study analyses of safeguards challenges
  • Introduction to safeguards inspection, nuclear material accounting, containment and surveillance
  • Open-source information collection and analysis
  • Effectiveness and limitations of safeguards
  • Future development of safeguards

↓ Read “Applications & Contacts” below for more information.

↑ Back to top

Internships (at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory)

The course is a prerequisite for internships. Internships are only available to US citizens.

The Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey (MIIS) and Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), in support of the US Department of Energy National Nuclear Security Administration’s Next Generation Safeguards Initiative, are pleased to announce the availability of up to two paid summer internships at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in Livermore, California.

Eligible students for this outstanding, competitive internship opportunity should demonstrate an interest in:

  • Pursuing a professional career in nuclear nonproliferation and nuclear safeguards
  • Acquiring practical experience on nuclear nonproliferation, safeguards and security policy issues as they are addressed at US national laboratories
  • Contributing to the capability of the national laboratories to perform and complete tasks and analyses related to nuclear safeguards

Dates and Duration

The prerequisite course will be held from June 2-6, 2025.
Ten-week internships will be scheduled during the period from June 9-August 15, 2025.

Stipend

Interns will be provided with a $7,000 stipend paid in two monthly installments to cover basic expenses (e.g. accommodation, meals, and incidentals).

Duties and Opportunities

  • Draft and present an original research paper on an international safeguards policy topic
  • Receive individual mentoring by LLNL staff
  • Have the chance to interact with LLNL staff working in various technical fields related to international safeguards and nonproliferation
  • Participate in regular video teleconferences with interns and professionals from other sites within the DOE laboratory complex to continue furthering their education in international safeguards policies, procedures, and technologies.

↑ Back to top

Applications Procedure and Contacts

Applications for the course and internships share the same form, deadlines, and contacts.

Eligibility and Selection for the Course

Applicants must be currently enrolled graduate students or young professionals in the nuclear nonproliferation field. We are especially interested in applicants who demonstrate how a deeper understanding of international safeguards policy will aid their professional pursuits.

Selection for the course will be on a competitive basis and based on the merit of the candidate. All applicants will be evaluated by a selection committee (MIIS/CNS faculty and representatives from LLNL and/or DOE).

Paid Internships at LLNL

To be eligible for LLNL internships, applicants must be US citizens.

Up to two paid internships will be available for course attendees. These 10-week internships immediately follow the course. (For the specific dates, see above Internships and the flyer.)

APPLICATION PROCEDURE

Deadline: Friday, March 14, 2025 at 5:00 p.m. (Pacific Daylight Time)

Submissions required for application:

    1. Complete the Application Form.
    2. Submit the following documents to Mr. Jean du Preez at [email protected]
      1. Academic transcript
      2. Current resumé
      3. One letter of recommendation
      4. A 500-word statement of purpose. The statement should explain past experience in nonproliferation and the relevance of the internship and/or course to professional goals.
      5. Stipend requests: Prospective students should submit a statement of needs if stipend support is requested.

Contact Information

Mr. Jean du Preez
James Martin Center for Nonproliferation Studies
460 Pierce Street
Monterey, CA 93940, USA
Tel. (831) 647-6575
E-mail: [email protected]