Post-Undergraduate/Graduate Intern – Biomass Upcycling for Building Materials Development

NREL • Golden, CO

27d • Onsite

About The Position

The Building Thermal Energy Science group of the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) is seeking an intern to support research and development for bio-based, building materials and their relation to waste products. We are developing and synthesizing these materials and determining mechanical properties and methods for manufacture. The candidate will contribute to new research in lignin-based building materials that are an effective alternative to cement/concrete and wood products. The intern will get the opportunity to be involved in detailed experimental research and linking knowledge to several other aspects of systems engineering. Moreover, the candidate will be able to learn different techniques and measurement equipment utilized for thermal, mass transfer, mechanical, and chemical measurements.

Requirements

• 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.
• Must have completed a bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, civil engineering, chemical engineering, materials science, chemistry, or related fields (candidates may also be enrolled in or recently graduated from a master’s program, or enrolled in a PhD program in these fields)
• Demonstrated experience conducting mechanical characterizations of polymers
• Demonstrated knowledge or experience with polymer synthesis
• Demonstrated knowledge or experience in heat and mass transfer
• Must be able to work onsite at NLR’s South Table Mountain campus for a minimum of 3 months (Availability beyond 3 months is preferred)

Nice To Haves

• Experience in experimental work synthesizing lignin and/or polymer networks and completing their characterization
• Knowledge or experience with lignin chemistry
• Experience with cement/concrete characterization tools (e.g. freeze-thaw chambers, rheometers)
• Experience with engineered wood products (synthesis/characterization)

Responsibilities

• Performing chemical modifications and characterization of lignin to form high-strength materials
• Characterizing chemical and thermal properties of materials using tools like nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR), differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermo-gravimetric analysis (TGA), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR)
• Characterizing mechanical properties of materials using tools like dynamic mechanical analysis (DMA), tensile testing, 3-point bending testing, freeze-thaw testing, accelerated UV/heat/moisture aging tests, and compression strength testing
• Scaling up synthesis and troubleshoot manufacturing issues
• Assisting in project management, including writing reports, journal articles, and presentations for program review or conferences

Benefits

• Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match
• sick leave (where required by law)
• NLR 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.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Intern
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees