ESPAÑOLA, NM – The LANL Foundation is excited to announce the launch of the National Security Workforce Graduate Scholarship, a new graduate-level award designed to expand pathways into high-demand national security careers at Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL).
The scholarship is made possible through the National Nuclear Security Administration as part of an initiative to support plutonium workforce development. The New Mexico Consortium and the Los Alamos National Laboratory are key partners in supporting this initiative and partnering with the LANL Foundation to establish a new level of funding for scholarships.
Beginning in Spring 2026, the scholarship will provide up to eight awards each year—totaling $10,000 per student, distributed over two years—to graduate students pursuing advanced degrees at New Mexico colleges and universities. Funding is guaranteed through 2028.
Strengthening Regional Talent and National Security
The National Security Workforce Scholarship is designed to:
- Address an unmet need for graduate-level financial support in Northern New Mexico
- Encourage local students to remain in-state for advanced study
- Build stronger, more direct pathways into key workforce areas at Los Alamos National Laboratory
- Position the Foundation to attract future philanthropic investment in graduate education
“For the first time, in collaboration with these fantastic partners, the LANL Foundation is offering scholarships to support graduate students,” said Mike Ammerman, LANL Foundation Scholarship Program Director. “This new scholarship fills a critical gap in Northern New Mexico, expanding educational opportunities for students at every stage of their academic journey and helping local students pursue careers close to home.”
Scholarship Eligibility & Focus Areas
To qualify, applicants must meet all LANL Foundation scholarship requirements and be enrolled—or planning to enroll—in a New Mexico institution to pursue an advanced degree in one of the following fields:
- Nuclear Materials Science and Engineering (includes radiophysics, radiochemistry, electrochemistry, pyrochemistry, pyrometallurgy etc.); this can include Mechanical Engineering, Metallurgical Engineering, Nuclear Engineering or other associated science and engineering majors with a focus upon Nuclear Materials
- Materials Characterization (includes all tools and techniques) research; this can include chemistry, metallurgy, engineering, and related science majors
- Project and Contract Management (includes supply chain management, etc.) and Business Administration (including accounting and related degrees, including master’s in business administration, etc.)
- Precision Instrumentation and Measurement
Applicants may receive the award up to two times, though priority will be given to first-time recipients.
Applicants may apply now through March 1, 2026.
About the Plutonium Workforce Development Initiative (PWDI)
The PWDI is funded under direction through NNSA’s NA-191 and jointly administered through Los Alamos National Laboratory and the New Mexico Consortium. The program invests in education and workforce development efforts that prepare students for critical technical roles in support of national security.
About the LANL Foundation
Since 1997, the LANL Foundation has been investing in education, learning, and human potential in Northern New Mexico. Through diverse programming and collaboration with key partners, the LANL Foundation works to ensure that all New Mexicans have the skills and confidence they need to be self-sufficient lifelong learners who are engaged in their communities. LANL Foundation is dedicated to the enhancement of students’ access to academic and technical opportunities, leading to quality jobs by supporting college and career readiness in schools, districts, communities, Pueblos, Tribes, and Nations. For more information visit lanlfoundation.org.
