Posting Title
Graduate Internship – Buildings and Thermal Energy Systems
Location
CO - Golden
Position Type
Intern (Fixed Term)
Hours Per Week
40
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.
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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 Building Thermal Energy Science Group of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is seeking a graduate intern. NREL is the nation's primary laboratory for research, development, and deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. This position will support research and development conducted at NREL. The candidate will join team members on cutting-edge research to model and analyze heat and mass transfer for thermal energy storage, HVAC systems, and buildings. The candidate should have a strong background and understanding of heat and mass transfer, including theory, numerical modeling, and experiments.
General Duties And Responsibilities
The successful candidate should have a strong background in thermodynamics and heat transfer, be able to independently work on experiments and modeling of thermal energy systems, and have experience in thermal system design and characterization using experimental as well as modeling tools. The candidate will contribute to the ongoing research in the area of thermal energy storage technologies for buildings. The candidate is expected to demonstrate good communication skills and the ability to document the research in the form of journal articles and presentations.
Specific Duties And Responsibilities
- Perform laboratory experiments on materials and fluid/thermal components at NREL’s laboratories
- Develop, design, and analyze new thermal components for buildings and HVAC
- Improve, develop, and use first-principles numerical modeling tools of thermal components and systems
- Assist in project management, including writing reports, journal articles, and presentations for program review or conferences
We do not expect a candidate to hold all the skills listed but the candidate should illustrate the eagerness to learn and potential for professional growth.
This internship will be onsite, through Fall 2024.
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
- Candidate should have a strong aptitude to learn and explore the field needed for development, to be motivated and dedicated, and to deliver research results on time and on budget.
- Excellent interpersonal, communication, documentation skills, oral and writing proficiency.
Preferred Qualifications
The candidate will get the opportunity to be involved in detailed thermal modeling and experimental research, along with system integration. A successful candidate will have:
- Strong background in thermal sciences (i.e. thermodynamics, heat and mass transfer, fluid mechanics) theory, heat-transfer experiments, and numerical modeling.
- Knowledge of thermal energy storage materials and/or components and systems.
- Knowledge of programming for heat transfer modeling and data analysis (i.e. MATLAB and Engineering Equation Solver (EES))
- Demonstrated research capability and creativity to solve challenging problems, as well as the ability to work well in a team.
Demonstrated Experience In Some Or All Of The Following
- Experimentation and numerical modeling of heat transfer and energy systems
- Sensible and latent thermal energy storage
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.
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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