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.
We invite all interested candidates to apply for this opportunity. While we recognize that job seekers may hesitate if they don’t meet every requirement, we encourage dedicated individuals who meet all the basic and additional required qualifications of the role to submit an application. We value the opportunity to consider those who believe they have the necessary skills and ambition to succeed at NREL.
Job Description
A part-time internship position is available in the Thin Film and Manufacturing Science Group to conduct research on developing real-time, non-destructive inspection techniques for materials utilized in hydrogen fuel-cell and electrolyzer applications. Our team focuses on manufacturing research and development for quality control purposes. More information on our work can be found here.
Job duties may include:
- Developing real-time, non-destructive inspection techniques for fuel cell, electrolyzer, battery, and other related materials, using optical, hyperspectral, and infrared imaging.
- Techniques will be developed and validated using materials from industry partners or fabricated in-house. Understanding the effect of technique parameters, components, and configuration on detection of defects and variations of interest is a key aspect of the work.
- Activities will focus on designing, prototyping, building, executing, and troubleshooting in-line fast-rate characterization experiments for advance energy materials transported through a roll-to-roll systems.
- Spectroscopy and microscopy will be applied for initial analysis of materials and structures.
- The experimental work will be followed by data analysis, and results reporting. Basic principles of laboratory safety must be adhered to and specific procedures for safe operation of equipment must be followed.
Basic Qualifications
Minimum of a 3.0 cumulative grade point average.
Undergraduate: Must be enrolled as a full-time student in a bachelor’s degree program from an accredited institution.
Post Undergraduate: Earned a bachelor’s degree within the past 12 months. Eligible for an internship period of up to one year.
Graduate: Must be enrolled as a full-time student in a master’s degree program from an accredited institution.
Post Graduate: Earned a master’s degree within the past 12 months. Eligible for an internship period of up to one year.
Graduate + PhD: Completed master’s degree and enrolled as PhD student from an accredited institution.
Please Note: Applicants are responsible for uploading 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 successful candidate will either be enrolled or recently graduated in an undergraduate or graduate degree in materials science and engineering, mechanical engineering, physics, chemical engineering, or related field. Additional required qualifications include:
- Experience with materials characterization methods.
- Proficient experience using a coding language such as python, Mathematica, or similar language to design algorithms for automatic processing for large amount of imaging and experimental data.
- Effective in investigation of correlation between optical/infra-red response and material/structural properties.
Preferred Qualifications
- Work safely and independently in a laboratory setting, with a strong safety record.
- Develop research goals and tasks for established project directions.
- Collaborate productively with others both within and across disciplines.
- Communicate effectively, with the ability to present technical results to a broad audience including internal meetings.
- Display respect to peers and stewardship of shared laboratory space.
- Practical knowledge of application of ultraviolet, visible, or infrared single-point or imaging sensors.
Job Application Submission Window
The anticipated closing window for application submission is up to 30 days and may be extended as needed.
