---
kind: "section"
citation: "42 U.S.C. § 2015b"
title: "42"
title_heading: "The Public Health and Welfare"
number: "2015b"
heading: "Scholarship and fellowship program"
release: "119-102"
date: "2026-07-12"
url: "https://uscodex.org/usc/42/2015b"
units:
  - "Chapter 23 — Development and Control of Atomic Energy"
  - "Division A — Atomic Energy"
  - "Subchapter I — General Provisions"
---

# §2015b. Scholarship and fellowship program

- (a) **Scholarship program—** To enable students to study, for at least 1 academic semester or equivalent term, science, engineering, or another field of study that the [Commission](/usc/42/2014.md?p=f) determines is in a critical skill area related to the regulatory mission of the [Commission](/usc/42/2014.md?p=f), the [Commission](/usc/42/2014.md?p=f) may carry out a program to—
  - (1) [^1] award scholarships to undergraduate students who—
    - (A) are [United States](/usc/42/2014.md?p=bb) citizens; and
    - (B) enter into an agreement under [subsection (c)](#c) to be employed by the [Commission](/usc/42/2014.md?p=f) in the area of study for which the scholarship is awarded.
- (b) **Fellowship program—** To enable students to pursue education in science, engineering, or another field of study that the [Commission](/usc/42/2014.md?p=f) determines is in a critical skill area related to its regulatory mission, in a graduate or professional degree program offered by an [institution of higher education](/usc/42/11851.md?p=7) in the [United States](/usc/42/2014.md?p=bb), the [Commission](/usc/42/2014.md?p=f) may carry out a program to—
  - (1) [^1] award fellowships to graduate students who—
    - (A) are [United States](/usc/42/2014.md?p=bb) citizens; and
    - (B) enter into an agreement under [subsection (c)](#c) to be employed by the [Commission](/usc/42/2014.md?p=f) in the area of study for which the fellowship is awarded.
- (c) **Requirements—**
  - (1) **In general—** As a condition of receiving a scholarship or fellowship under subsection [(a)](#a) or [(b)](#b), a recipient of the scholarship or fellowship shall enter into an agreement with the [Commission](/usc/42/2014.md?p=f) under which, in return for the assistance, the recipient shall—
    - (A) maintain satisfactory academic progress in the studies of the recipient, as determined by criteria established by the [Commission](/usc/42/2014.md?p=f);
    - (B) agree that failure to maintain satisfactory academic progress shall constitute grounds on which the [Commission](/usc/42/2014.md?p=f) may terminate the assistance;
    - (C) on completion of the academic course of study in connection with which the assistance was provided, and in accordance with criteria established by the [Commission](/usc/42/2014.md?p=f), engage in employment by the [Commission](/usc/42/2014.md?p=f) for a period specified by the [Commission](/usc/42/2014.md?p=f), that shall be not less than 1 time and not more than 3 times the period for which the assistance was provided; and
    - (D) if the recipient fails to meet the requirements of subparagraph [(A)](#c-1-A), [(B)](#c-1-B), or [(C)](#c-1-C), reimburse the [United States](/usc/42/2014.md?p=bb) Government for—
      - (i) the entire amount of the assistance provided the recipient under the scholarship or fellowship; and
      - (ii) interest at a rate determined by the [Commission](/usc/42/2014.md?p=f).
  - (2) **Waiver or suspension—** The [Commission](/usc/42/2014.md?p=f) may establish criteria for the partial or total waiver or suspension of any obligation of service or payment incurred by a recipient of a scholarship or fellowship under this section.
- (d) **Competitive process—** Recipients of scholarships or fellowships under this section shall be selected through a competitive process primarily on the basis of academic merit and such other criteria as the [Commission](/usc/42/2014.md?p=f) may establish, with consideration given to financial need and the goal of promoting the participation of individuals identified in section [1885a](/usc/42/1885a.md) or [1885b](/usc/42/1885b.md) of this title.
- (e) **Direct appointment—** The [Commission](/usc/42/2014.md?p=f) may appoint directly, with no further competition, public notice, or consideration of any other potential candidate, an individual who has—
  - (1) received a scholarship or fellowship awarded by the [Commission](/usc/42/2014.md?p=f) under this section; and
  - (2) completed the academic program for which the scholarship or fellowship was awarded.

## Footnotes

[^1]: So in original. No par. (2) has been enacted.

## Source credit

(Aug. 1, 1946, ch. 724, title I, § 243, as added Pub. L. 109–58, title VI, § 622(a), Aug. 8, 2005, 119 Stat. 782.)