Education
An Academic Organization with a Mandate
for High-Quality Education
The best and the brightest high school, undergraduate, and graduate students come to LLE to learn from our top-notch mentors on a wide range of fields including inertial confinement fusion, high-energy-density physics, laser–plasma interaction, laser and optics sciences, laser technology, operations, and more.
Since the Laboratory’s founding in 1970, over 800 students have received training at LLE. Our graduates make significant contributions, not only as scientists, innovators, and mentors at some of the most prestigious research, industrial, and academic institutions in the country, but also as our next generation of leaders in science, striving to positively shape and impact the world around us.
Pick Your Program
Graduate Program & Horton Fellowship
Immerse yourself in transformational research alongside world-leading scientists in inertial confinement fusion, high-energy-density physics, engineering, and laser and optical sciences.
Undergraduate Program
Apply for a fall, spring, or summer internship and engage in mission-critical science and engineering.
Summer High School Research Program
Are you a rising junior in the Greater Rochester region? Spend your summer conducting research on world-leading laser systems and technologies under the mentorships of an LLE scientist or engineer.
Broad Exposure to Science & Technology (BEST)
Are you a student or teacher in the Rochester City School District? The BEST program helps students explore the possibilities of a STEM career by learning about laser systems, optics, electronics, holography, and more.
University of Rochester & LLE: A World-Class Scientific Network
LLE’s educational programs are powered by cross-campus collaboration with the University of Rochester. Faculty and academic partners work side-by-side with LLE scientists and engineers to train and mentor students. This creates the world’s largest, most diverse university-based community in high-energy-density science—expanding your research network and mentorship opportunities at every stage of your education.
Where Education Meets Innovation
For over 50 years, LLE has collaborated with universities, national labs, and private industry to build the next generation of scientists, engineers, operators, and technicians.
Learn More
BEST Program Celebrates Five Years of Inspiring STEM Futures
LLE Celebrates its 36th Annual Summer High School Research Program
Kaan Aytekin Receives APS Outstanding Student Poster Award
A Summer of Science for Rochester-Area High School Students
Pittsford Sutherland Graduate Eddy Wu Receives ISEF Award
Hunter Markland Awarded 2024 Susumu Okubo Prize
New Diagnostic Platform for OMEGA EP Established by Team of Undergraduate Students
Chemical Engineering Undergraduate Julia Kubes Inducted into Tau Beta Pi Honor Society
Declan Walden Selected for CLEO 2024 Post-Deadline Session
Inaugural National Lab Trip for Students in LLE’s Undergraduate Education Program
Paper by LLE Summer High School Research Program Student Published in Optical Engineering
2024 Summer High School Research Program
LLE’s 34th Summer High School Research Program
LLE’s 2023 Broad Exposure to Science and Technology Research Program
LLE Graduate, Alison Christopherson, Elected National Academy of Sciences Kavli Fellow
LLE Undergraduate Program Attends Research Expo
LLE Graduate Student Dillon Ramsey Awarded the Edward Peck Curtis Award for Excellence in Teaching by a Graduate Student
LLE High School Program Alums Continue to Excel
UR/LLE’s Broad Exposure to Science and Technology (BEST) Research Program
Outstanding APS Undergraduate Poster Award to Brittany Callin
LLE’s 33rd Summer High School Research Program
BEST High School Program
Matthew Cufari has won a 2022 Goldwater Scholarship