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.
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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
The Grid Operation Planning group at NREL is seeking an innovative and enthusiastic researcher to join our cutting-edge research team to work on modeling and simulation of high renewable sharing power systems. The intern will be working with NREL engineers on addressing the distribution system cyber-physical vulnerability analysis and DERs capacity expansion challenges.
The ideal candidate will demonstrate power system expertise including proficiency with cyber-physical power system modeling and system vulnerability analysis; solid experience with system flexible load and demand response device modeling; and a thorough understanding of power systems capacity expansion and production cost models.
NREL has strong experience providing computing support, onboarding, web-based meetings and activities to enable a strong connection with the NREL and co-workers despite the virtual working environment.
Successful candidates will join the Grid Systems group in the Grid Planning and Analysis Center (GPAC) at NREL, a highly interdisciplinary and collaborative team of engineers, analysts, and software developers. Grid Operation Planning group works to develop and advance state-of-the art energy system modeling techniques, simulations, and analysis for breakthrough engineering and techno-economic analysis of the emerging future electric grid. GPAC supports the science and technology goals of the U.S. Department of Energy, NREL, and industry partners toward a sustainable energy future. We work with the electricity industry and broader research community to conduct high-impact research and development that provides practical solutions to grid design and integration challenges that enable sustainable energy systems. GPAC uniquely combines the most advanced research techniques with real-world experience for achieving sustainable electricity grids.
Job Duties and Responsibilities:
- Develop the distribution system as a multi-layer cyber-physical network and perform vulnerability analysis.
- Use OpenDSS to simulate system impacts resulting from cyber-physical attacks in the distribution system.
- Model selected e-Fuel technologies as flexible load/demand response device in the grid and perform DER capacity expansion for the technologies.
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.
* Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.
Additional Required Qualifications
- Current PhD student or PhD candidate in Electrical Engineering or related fields.
- Experience with power system modeling and simulation tools, e.g., OpenDSS, REopt, PLEXOS
- Experience with computer programming or software development
- Ability to process and analyze complex data.
Preferred Qualifications
- Experience with developing Reinforcement Learning algorithm
- Experience with graph theory and complex network analysis algorithm.
- Experience with flexible load and demand response modeling.
- Excellent writing and verbal communication skills.
Job Application Submission Window
The anticipated closing window for application submission is up to 30 days and may be extended as needed.
