NSIP PhD Intern - Phys Detect Systems & Deploy

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory•Richland, WA

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 National Security Directorate (NSD) drives science-based, mission-focused solutions to take on complex, real-world threats to our nation and the world. The Physical Detection Systems and Deployment Division, part of the National Security Directorate, delivers policy-informed technology solutions by removing barriers to real-world implementation. We strive to understand end-user environments to transition technology from the developmental stage to deployment. Our diverse expertise in operational systems provides tools, technologies, and approaches for combating a range of threats, both at home and in more than 100 countries around the globe. Protecting U.S. residents and visitors is among our nation’s highest priorities. As adversaries gain access to sophisticated technologies and materials, the threats grow more dynamic and complex—from cyber and nuclear to chemical and biological weapons of mass effect and other forms of terrorism. The PNNL national security mission employs our researchers, tools, and technologies to play a key role in advancing the ability to identify and secure nuclear materials, detect weapons of mass effect, manage nonproliferation treaties, secure our nation's borders, and protect critical infrastructures. PNNL’s scientific discovery and capabilities—rooted in innovative theory, methods, algorithms, and tools—are enabling stronger, more resilient technologies and systems to safeguard national security. Coupled with decades of radiological and nuclear materials expertise, advanced computing and threat analysis capabilities, and a broad fundamental science base, we are identifying and countering emerging threats that have significant impact at home and around the globe. NOTE: Several documents are strictly required to submit with the application to be eligible for this position. Please read the entire job posting for detailed instructions.

Requirements

Candidates must be currently enrolled/matriculated in a PhD program at an accredited college.
Minimum GPA of 3.3 is required.
U.S. Citizenship is required.

Nice To Haves

Disciplines of interest: additive manufacturing, computational modeling, eLearning design and development, electrical engineering, electromagnetics, embedded systems, instructional design, law enforcement, material science, mechanical engineering, nuclear engineering, nuclear proliferation, nuclear security and risk analysis, project coordination, project management, physics, quantum information systems, radio frequency engineering, software engineering, systems engineering, training program management, and usability testing.

Responsibilities

PNNL’s Physical Detection Systems and Deployment Division is focused on discovering, developing and deploying physical detection systems.
We are seeking Ph.D. students for assignments within the National Security Internship Program (NSIP).
Participants will be starting in cohort sessions and must be available to start in May or June 2026 [Summer cohort].
Your internship will land you in one of the following focus areas: Advanced Engineered Systems We are a group of passionate makers who have a long history of building and deploying embedded sensor systems for a wide variety of sponsors and applications. We are 50+ electronics engineers, software engineers, mechanical engineers, physicists, etc.; all sharing the DNA and desire to deploy solutions for our sponsors that help the mission of national security. We focus on emerging technologies by integrating capability across electromagnetics, systems modeling, communications, analytics development, and systems design to serve as a flywheel for feeding technology advancements across the division and laboratory. Projects within the group range from mission focused, highly applied projects in support of national security to fundamental science projects. Detection Physics We represent PNNL’s ultra-low background capability and develop some of the world’s most sensitive radiation detection systems; driving solutions that span fundamental physics to treaty verification by integrating modeling, experimentation, data science, and support staff. Disruptive Technology We focus on the development of detection systems and data analysis techniques for a variety of missions ranging from fundamental physics to national security. Projects within the research group range from highly applied projects to fundamental science projects in the areas of nuclear/particle physics, electromagnetics, and novel sensor technology development. Engineered Materials We work on the design, synthesis, implementation, characterization, and monitoring of functional materials for national security missions leveraging chemistry, computations and models, data science, characterization tools, and non-destructive evaluation methods. Operational Readiness We steward capabilities associated with the mission assurance and operations and maintenance stage of the systems engineering lifecycle. Operational sustainment is achieved and transitioned through instructional systems, credibility assessment, logistics innovation, reliability and field engineering, and complex supply chain and interdependency analysis. Systems and Technology Integration We lead the Lab in bringing the most technology aligned, diverse, talented, and skilled project management and systems engineering staff who will do what it takes to expertly deliver on the national security detection requirements of our sponsors.

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.

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