USA Scholarships
DESD Scholarship 2027 - $2,000-$3,000 ANS
The Decommissioning and Environmental Science Division Scholarship is an American Nuclear Society award for students who want to clean up legacy nuclear sites, restore contaminated land, and manage radioactive waste responsibly. One winner is chosen each year: $2,000 at the undergraduate level or $3,000 for graduate study, based on merit. You need to be an ANS student member enrolled in engineering or science, show real interest in decommissioning, environmental restoration, or waste characterization, and write career objectives that fit the DES Division mission. The 2026-2027 application window already closed on cms.ans.org, so prepare for the next cycle opening 1 November 2026 with materials due 1 February 2027. Recipients join ANS, select DES as a professional division, and are invited to represent the division at an ANS meeting, with travel costs covered when division funds allow.
What is the Decommissioning and Environmental Science Division Scholarship?
The Decommissioning and Environmental Science Division Scholarship is one of the American Nuclear Society division awards for students who want careers cleaning up nuclear legacy sites, restoring contaminated environments, and managing radioactive waste safely. ANS has distributed more than $7 million in student scholarships since 1979, and DESD keeps a narrow focus within that portfolio. You are not applying for a generic nuclear stipend. You are making the case that your engineering or science training will advance decommissioning, decontamination, or waste characterization work.
DESD grew out of the Decommissioning Decontamination and Reutilization Division scholarship created in November 1998 and later merged with the Charles Tommy Thomas Memorial Scholarship. When ANS reorganized professional divisions in 2013, the fund moved into the new Decommissioning and Environmental Science Division, and the 2020 rules consolidated undergraduate and graduate recognition into a single merit-based pick each year.
If you are reading this in late 2026, the 2026-2027 ANS application cycle is already closed and committees are reviewing files. The next realistic window opens 1 November 2026 and ends 1 February 2027 on cms.ans.org. Use the months before November to strengthen lab or internship experience you can describe in the career objectives statement, because DES selection is as much about direction as GPA.
Winning comes with a modest cash award, $2,000 or $3,000 depending on level, plus a professional obligation that many applicants welcome. Recipients represent DES at an ANS meeting, which is a rare chance to sit with division leaders while you are still a student. Travel support is not guaranteed in unlimited amounts, but the official DESD page states the division will fund registration and reasonable travel when money is available. For students eyeing federal cleanup agencies, national laboratories, or waste contractors, that visibility can matter as much as the check itself.
Eligibility
-
✓ANS student membershipDivision scholarships run through the ANS student scholarship program, which requires active ANS student membership. Join before you submit so your profile matches the application rules on cms.ans.org.
-
✓Engineering or science enrollmentYou must be enrolled in an accredited engineering or science curriculum at a college or university in the United States or its territories. Nuclear engineering is a natural fit, but environmental, chemical, mechanical, and radiological science paths also qualify when your coursework supports DES themes.
-
✓Focus on decommissioning or environmental restorationThe selection committee looks for a strong demonstrated interest in at least one of these areas: restoration of the environment, decommissioning or decontamination of nuclear facilities, or management and characterization of radioactive waste. Course projects, internships, and research should connect to those topics.
-
✓Career objectives aligned with DES DivisionYou submit a brief description of your short- and long-term professional objectives. The essay should show how your plans advance the goals of the ANS Decommissioning and Environmental Science Division, not just generic STEM ambition.
-
✓Undergraduate or graduate standing by meritOne scholarship is awarded annually at either the undergraduate ($2,000) or graduate ($3,000) level, whichever applicant pool presents the strongest match to DES priorities. You apply through the same ANS portal; the committee assigns the tier based on your academic level and record.
-
✓Willingness to participate in division activitiesWinners are expected to join ANS if not already members, designate DES as one of their professional divisions, and attend either the annual or winter ANS meeting as a student representative at the DES Executive Committee session. The division may fund registration, travel, meals, and lodging subject to available budget.
Benefits
- Cash award $2,000
- Awards per year 1 nationwide recipient
- Disbursement timing Beginning of academic year after selection
- ANS meeting travel Division may fund registration, travel, meals, lodging
- Professional division access DES Division membership and meeting role
- Full tuition coverage Not included
- Automatic renewal Not renewable
- Cash award $3,000
- Awards per year 1 nationwide recipient
- Disbursement timing Beginning of academic year after selection
- ANS meeting travel Division may fund registration, travel, meals, lodging
- Student Conference announcement Winner announced at spring ANS Student Conference
- Living stipend or salary Not included
- Research grant funding Not included beyond the cash award
Document checklist
-
✓ANS general scholarship applicationComplete the online application at cms.ans.org/scholarships/applications/ when the cycle opens. Division awards, including DESD, are selected from that unified form rather than a separate DES-only portal.
-
✓Transcript and academic recordUpload current college transcripts showing your major, GPA, and progress in engineering or science coursework. Unofficial copies are typically accepted unless ANS requests an official version during verification.
-
✓Career objectives statementProvide the brief short- and long-term professional objectives required for the DESD Scholarship. Tie each goal to environmental restoration, decommissioning, decontamination, or radioactive waste management.
-
✓Resume or activity summaryList research, co-ops, internships, lab work, and student leadership that demonstrate your DES interest. Site visits, waste characterization projects, and environmental compliance experience all strengthen the file.
-
✓ReferencesANS scholarship evaluation weighs references along with academic excellence, leadership within the Society, career goals, and financial need. Choose advisors or supervisors who can speak to your technical work and commitment to cleanup science.
-
✓Evidence of ANS student membershipConfirm your membership status in ANS before the deadline. Incoming freshmen and new members may need to complete enrollment steps listed on ans.org/scholarships if this is your first ANS award.
How to apply
Deadline and timeline
FAQ
What is the Decommissioning and Environmental Science Division Scholarship?
It is an American Nuclear Society award administered by the Decommissioning and Environmental Science Division (DESD). One student wins each year, receiving $2,000 as an undergraduate or $3,000 as a graduate, for study in engineering or science tied to environmental restoration, nuclear facility decommissioning, or radioactive waste management. The program began in 1998 as the DD&R Nuclear Facility Restoration Scholarship and now represents the combined legacy of that fund and the Charles Tommy Thomas Memorial Scholarship.
How much is the ANS DESD Scholarship worth?
The published amount is $2,000 for the undergraduate-level award or $3,000 for the graduate-level award, with exactly one recipient annually. The money is partial funding meant to support tuition and related costs, not a full ride. ANS disperses awards after 20 August once selections are final.
When is the DESD Scholarship application deadline?
ANS sets 1 February as the deadline for division scholarships, using the same date as the general ANS student application. Applications open each 1 November. If you miss a cycle, ANS invites you to reapply when the next November window opens.
Do you need to be an ANS member to apply for the DESD Scholarship?
Yes. ANS undergraduate and graduate scholarships are open to ANS student members enrolled in nuclear-related study at accredited US institutions, and division awards are selected through that program. Join or renew student membership before you submit, and plan to designate DES as one of your professional divisions if you win.
What majors qualify for the Decommissioning and Environmental Science Division Scholarship?
You must be in an engineering or science curriculum. Nuclear, environmental, chemical, mechanical, health physics, and radiological engineering paths are common, but any science or engineering major works if you demonstrate interest in environmental restoration, decommissioning, decontamination, or radioactive waste characterization through coursework, research, or internships.
What do DESD Scholarship winners have to do after receiving the award?
Recipients join ANS, select the DES Division, and participate in division activities by attending an ANS annual or winter meeting and serving as a student representative at the DES Executive Committee meeting. The division may reimburse reasonable registration, transportation, food, and lodging costs when funding is available. The winner is announced at the spring ANS Student Conference.
How do you apply for the ANS DESD Scholarship?
Apply through the ANS scholarship application portal at cms.ans.org when the cycle is open. Include the required career objectives statement aligned with DES goals, transcripts, references, and evidence of student membership. Contact [email protected] if the portal or division criteria are unclear.
Is the DESD Scholarship the same as other ANS division scholarships?
ANS runs many division-administered awards with separate selection committees and criteria. DESD is specific to decommissioning and environmental science. You still file one general ANS application, but your essays and experience should match DES themes rather than fusion, robotics, or medical physics divisions unless those truly describe your path.
Scholarship Union
More in-depth scholarship guides curated by experts.
Related guides
Always verify scholarship details on the official source before applying. Information on this page may change.
Visit official website