Posting Title
Graduate Intern (6-Month) – Mechanical Engineering - Cold Underground Thermal Energy Storage
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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
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
NREL is seeking graduate interns to contribute to research conducted by the Thermal Energy Systems group within the Energy Conversion & Storage Systems Center (ECaSS) at the laboratory. Our research staff contribute to an exciting portfolio of renewable thermal technologies and energy research & analysis. Renewable thermal energy technologies include geothermal, solar thermal, thermal energy storage and relevant hybrid energy systems. To learn more about our research on a broader scale, check out this link here: https://www.nrel.gov/research/mechanical-thermal.html!
The Thermal Energy Systems group is looking for two graduate interns to assist with an upcoming project on data center cooling. NREL, partnering with Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, University of Chicago, and Princeton University, is leading a research project into the role of Cold Underground Thermal Energy Storage (Cold UTES) for managing data center cooling loads. As part of this project, graduate interns will have the opportunity to work on various research topics and collaborate with internal and external experts. Responsibilities under this position include conducting research work on modeling, testing, reporting, and publications. Work includes:
- Developing technical and cost models of individual components, such as chillers, heat exchangers, data centers, heat rejection units, Cold UTES, Borehole Thermal Energy Storage
- Contributing to system-level models to assess value proposition of Cold UTES
- Developing dispatch strategies for managing data center cooling loads with available cooling resource and cold storage
- Perform sensitivity analysis on key assumptions and develop roadmaps to future deployment
- Write technical reports and contribute to project review meetings
- Publish research results in peer-reviewed conferences and high-impact scientific journals
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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.
* Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.
Additional Required Qualifications
- Completed a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, physics, computer science or related field.
- Demonstrated knowledge or experience in thermodynamics and heat transfer
- Demonstrated knowledge or experience of renewable energy systems and energy storage, such as geothermal systems, thermal energy storage
- Demonstrated experience programming with Python and MATLAB
- Demonstrated ability to effectively communicate technical results to team members
- Demonstrated experience creating and presenting research reports or papers
Preferred Qualifications
- Knowledge or experience developing techno economic models
- Knowledge or experience with heat transfer in thermal energy storage
- Currently enrolled or recently graduated from a master's program in mechanical engineering, physics, computer science, or related field or current enrollment in a PhD program in these fields.
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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: / Annual Salary Range: $42,700 - $68,300
NREL takes into consideration a candidate’s education, training, and experience, expected quality and quantity of work, required travel (if any), external market and internal value, including seniority and merit systems, and internal pay alignment when determining the salary level for potential new employees. In compliance with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, a potential new employee’s salary history will not be used in compensation decisions.
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
Badging Requirement
NREL is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All employees must also be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card as required by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12), which includes a favorable background investigation. Intern assignments extending beyond six months will be subject to this requirement.
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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