Posting Title
Graduate Summer Intern – Operations and Maintenance Cost Forecasting for Concentrating Solar Power Systems
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Location
CO - Golden
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Position Type
Intern (Fixed Term)
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Hours Per Week
40
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Working at NREL
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado is the nation's primary laboratory for research and development of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.
From day one at NREL, you’ll connect with coworkers driven by the same mission to save the planet. By joining an organization that values a supportive, inclusive, and flexible work environment, you’ll have the opportunity to engage through our ten employee resource groups, numerous employee-driven clubs, and learning and professional development classes.
NREL supports inclusive, diverse, and unbiased hiring practices that promote creativity and innovation. By collaborating with organizations that focus on diverse talent pools, reaching out to underrepresented demographics, and providing an inclusive application and interview process, our Talent Acquisition team aims to hear all voices equally. We strive to attract a highly diverse workforce and create a culture where every employee feels welcomed and respected and they can be their authentic selves.
Our planet needs us! Learn about NREL’s critical objectives, and see how NREL is focused on saving the planet.
Job Description
The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), the world’s leading research and development laboratory for renewable energy technologies, is seeking to hire a Graduate Intern to participate in various projects to develop thermal energy storage technology. They are supported by the U.S. Department of Energy ARPA-E and EERE. The candidate will work with other engineers and scientists in the Thermal Systems R&D Group, within the Energy Conversion and Storage Systems Center (ECaSS) Center.
The candidate will support multiple tasks related to analysis of operations and maintenance and performance forecasting in concentrating solar power (CSP) systems. Responsibilities under this position include leading research work on modeling, testing, reporting, and publications. Work includes:
Perform data collection and statistical analysis of CSP and other steam-generating power plant production data.
Develop O&M and forecasting models for system performance, incorporating uncertainty in exogenous factors (such as irradiance) and decision-dependent factors (such as component reliability).
Perform sensitivity analysis on key assumptions for the model to understand the impact of key design parameters on solar field performance and profitability.
Write technical reports and contribute to project review meetings.
Publish research results in peer-reviewed conferences and high-impact scientific journals.
The candidate will work collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary team, should possess excellent engineering analytical and modeling skills, and have strong interpersonal and communication abilities and independent-working attitude towards achieving research goals.
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Basic Qualifications
Must be enrolled as a full-time student in a Bachelor's, Master's or PhD degree program, or graduated in the past 12 months from an accredited institution. Candidates who have earned a degree may work for a period not to exceed 12 months. Must have a minimum of a 3.0 cumulative grade point average.
Please Note:
•You will need to upload official or unofficial school transcripts as part of the application process.
•If selected for position, a letter of recommendation will be required as part of the hiring process.
* Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.
Additional Required Qualifications
The candidate must have a strong background in probability and statistics and familiarity with object-oriented programming.
Preferred Qualifications
The candidate will work collaboratively within a multi-disciplinary team, should possess excellent engineering analytical and modeling skills, and have strong interpersonal and communication abilities and independent-working attitude towards achieving research goals.
Experience programming in Python is preferred.
Familiarity with thermal energy systems, particularly CSP, is preferred.
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Job Application Submission Window
The anticipated closing window for application submission is up to 30 days and may be extended as needed.
Annual Salary Range (based on full-time 40 hours per week)
Job Profile: Graduate I / Annual Salary Range: $42,700 - $68,300
Benefits Summary
Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match*; and sick leave (where required by law). NREL employees may be eligible for, but are not guaranteed, performance-, merit-, and achievement- based awards that include a monetary component. Some positions may be eligible for relocation expense reimbursement. Internships projected to be less than 20 hours per week are not eligible for medical, dental, or vision benefits.
* Based on eligibility rules
Drug Free Workplace
NREL is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace in accordance with the federal Drug-Free Workplace Act and complies with federal laws prohibiting the possession and use of illegal drugs. Under federal law, marijuana remains an illegal drug.
If you are offered employment at NREL, you must pass a pre-employment drug test prior to commencing employment. Unless prohibited by state or local law, the pre-employment drug test will include marijuana. If you test positive on the pre-employment drug test, your offer of employment may be withdrawn.
Submission Guidelines
Please note that in order to be considered an applicant for any position at NREL you must submit an application form for each position for which you believe you are qualified. Applications are not kept on file for future positions. Please include a cover letter and resume with each position application.
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EEO Policy
NREL is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard basis of age (40 and over), color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic partner status, military or veteran status, national origin/ancestry, race, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding), sexual orientation, and any other applicable status protected by federal, state, or local laws.
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