8 LEVERAGING RELATIONSHIPS University Partnerships continued to work closely with the universities associated with the Nuclear University Consortium (NUC) and Center for Advanced Energy Studies (CAES) throughout 2017. The NUC is a partnership between INL and five prominent research universities: Massachusetts Institute of Technology, North Carolina State University,The Ohio State University, Oregon State University and University of New Mexico.Together, we strive to enhance the scientific research and education, and expand the capabilities of all partners. NUC engages in collaborative research to strengthen the portfolios of INL and the universities with the goal of furthering the nation’s strategic nuclear energy objectives, clean energy initiatives, and critical infrastructure security goals. CAES is a research and education consortium among Boise State Uni- versity, Idaho National Laboratory, Idaho State University, University of Idaho and University of Wyoming. The concept for CAES dates back to 2004, when the Department of En- ergy was bidding the contract to run INL. Part of its strategic outline in- cluded creating a partnership between the lab and the state’s three research universities to promote collaboration. University of Wyoming joined CAES in October 2014 and became the first member outside of Idaho.The collab- oration between CAES universities and INL continues to thrive today. The CAES consortium expands the competitiveness and impact of member research and enhances energy-related educational opportunities. The two consortia supplied a significant number of interns. 2017 TotalNUC Affiliated MIT NorthCarolina StateUniversity TheOhioState University OregonState University Universityof NewMexico AcademicVisitors 0 0 0 0 0 0 EmployeeEducationProgram 1 0 0 0 1 0 INLGraduateFellowships 6 0 2 2 2 0 Interns 37 4 16 4 7 6 JointAppointments 4 1 1 1 1 0 Postdocs 3 0 0 1 1 1 2017 TotalCAES Affiliated BoiseState University IdahoState University Universityof Idaho Universityof Wyoming AcademicVisitors 1 1 0 0 0 EmployeeEducationProgram 184 1 72 111 0 INLGraduateFellowships 5 2 1 2 0 Interns 81 6 43 29 3 JointAppointments 12 3 6 2 1 Postdocs 4 1 1 2 0