MSIPP-EM Undergrad Tech Intern - Experimental Geochemistry

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory • Richland, WA

2d • Onsite

About The Position

At PNNL, our core capabilities are divided among major departments that we refer to as Directorates within the Lab, focused on a specific area of scientific research or other function, with its own leadership team and dedicated budget. Our Science & Technology directorates include National Security, Earth and Biological Sciences, Physical and Computational Sciences, and Energy and Environment. In addition, we have an Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, a Department of Energy, Office of Science user facility housed on the PNNL campus. The Energy and Environment Directorate delivers science and technology solutions for the nation’s biggest energy and environmental challenges. Our more than 1,700 staff support the Department of Energy (DOE), delivering on key DOE mission areas including: modernizing our nation’s power grid to maintain a reliable, affordable, secure, and resilient electricity delivery infrastructure; research, development, validation, and effective utilization of renewable energy and efficiency technologies that improve the affordability, reliability, resiliency, and security of the American energy system; and resolving complex issues in nuclear science, energy, and environmental management. The Earth Systems Science Division, part of the Energy and Environment Directorate, provides leadership and solutions that advance Earth system opportunities for energy systems and national security. We are a multidisciplinary division connected by a shared commitment to innovate and collaborate towards solving complex problems in the dynamic Earth system. MSIPP is funded by the DOE Office of Environmental Management. The program focuses on research aligned with DOE-EM’s mission to clean up the environmental legacy left from U.S. nuclear weapons development and nuclear energy research. The ten-week internship provides hands-on experience addressing the cleanup of the Hanford Site, one of the Department of Energy’s most complex locations, where hazardous contaminants are heavily comingled. Selected candidates will gain invaluable knowledge and skills by working on this significant cleanup effort under the direct mentorship of leading scientists and industry professionals. We are seeking a dedicated and motivated individual to join our MSIPP-EM summer internship program. The intern will support the development and application of analytical methods to detect chromium species in groundwater at ultra-trace levels. Results from this work will help refine our understanding of background chromium levels at the Hanford site and will establish an analytical capability that can evaluate the effectiveness of chromium remediation technologies. Due to sponsor funding requirements outlined in the MSIPP-EM SOW, eligibility for this internship is limited to students enrolled at Minority Serving Institutions (MSIs). This internship will be in-person and located in Richland, WA.

Requirements

• Candidates must have a high school diploma /GED or higher
• Candidates must be degree-seeking undergraduate students enrolled at an accredited college or university
• Candidates must be taking at least 6 credit hours and have an overall cumulative GPA of 3.00

Nice To Haves

• Currently enrolled as a full-time undergraduate at an accredited Minority Serving Institution (MSIPP).
• Working towards a science, technology, or mathematics (STEM) degree.
• Experience with instrumental analysis (e.g., ICP-MS, ion chromatography, or other trace-metal analytical techniques).
• Familiarity with chromatographic separations and/or speciation analysis.
• Data analysis using tools such as Excel, Python, or MATLAB.
• Knowledge of quality assurance/quality control (QA/QC) practices in an analytical laboratory.
• Previous research in environmental remediation, groundwater chemistry, or geochemical processes.

Responsibilities

• Assist with planning work and processing groundwater samples.
• Perform ion chromatography (IC) coupled with inductively coupled plasma–mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) to separate and quantify Cr(III) and Cr(VI).
• Support method development and optimization for total chromium, Cr(III), and Cr(VI) to achieve lower detection limits than those typically obtained with standard analytical methods.
• Assist in method validation activities (e.g., calibration, quality control checks, blanks, standards, replicates, and detection limit studies).

Benefits

• Employees are offered an employee assistance program and business travel insurance.
• Employees are eligible for the company funded pension plan and 401k savings plan, once eligibility requirements are met.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: High school or GED
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees