Graduate Research Intern
About The Position
The Gautam Laboratory for Aerosol Optics and Microphysics at the Desert Research Institute (DRI) invites applications for a graduate-level research internship focused on the development of next generation optical instrumentation for particulate matter (PM) characterization. This internship is designed for highly motivated MS/PhD students interested in experimental optics, environmental sensing, and aerosol physics, with an emphasis on designing and building advanced light-scattering instruments for real-world applications in air quality, climate science, and remote sensing. Research Scope Interns will work on the development and testing of a wide-angle, polarization-resolved aerosol scattering instrument, including: 1. Design and implementation of multi-angle light scattering systems (forward, side, back scattering) 2. Optical system design (lenses, mirrors, beam shaping, detectors) 3. Integration of multi-channel detection systems 4. Real-time data acquisition and signal processing 5. Calibration and validation using laboratory-generated aerosols (Dust, Soot, PSL)
Requirements
- Current MS or PhD student in: Physics, Optical Engineering, Electrical/Mechanical Engineering, or Environmental Engineering
- Strong background in: Optics / Electromagnetics / Light scattering
- Strong background in experimental methods
Nice To Haves
- Hands-on experience with optical instrumentation or lab systems
- Familiarity with lasers, photodetectors, and optical alignment
- Familiarity with data acquisition systems (DAQ, electronics)
- Familiarity with programming (Python, MATLAB, LabVIEW, etc.)
- Experience in Sub-to-Super Micron Particle Characterization
- Experience in signal processing
- Ability to work independently on complex experimental systems
Responsibilities
- Contribute to instrument design, alignment, and optimization
- Develop and test optical measurement setups
- Work with lasers, detectors, and precision optical components
- Perform laboratory experiments and data acquisition
- Analyze scattering data and interpret results in terms of aerosol properties
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What This Job Offers
Job Type
Part-time
Career Level
Intern
Number of Employees
1,001-5,000 employees
