Summer 2026 Research Intern - Materials Discovery Research Institute

UL Research Institutes • Skokie, IL

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About The Position

Underwriters Laboratories Research Institutes (ULRI) Materials Discovery Research Institute (MDRI) is seeking a motivated and dedicated Research Intern to join our team for Summer 2026. This summer internship provides a unique opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a non-profit research environment, contribute to meaningful projects, and develop valuable skills in research and analysis. UL Research Institutes expands the boundaries of safety science to create a more secure and sustainable world. For over a century, ULRI has studied the unintended consequences of innovation, designed solutions to mitigate risk, and shared findings with academia, scientists, manufacturers, and policymakers across industries. The Materials Discovery Research Institute works to develop and deploy new materials with the potential to address current global safety challenges, harnessing the power of advanced computing and high-throughput experimental methods to create innovative materials that will produce resilience for a sustainable future and protect individual and societal health. Research priorities include materials for carbon capture and energy storage to reduce the adverse impacts of fossil fuel reliance and enable a transition to renewable energy sources.

Requirements

• Currently enrolled in a bachelor's or master's program in a related field (e.g., engineering, chemistry, materials science, etc.).
• Strong interest in the non-profit sector and research related to safety, social or environmental issues.
• Excellent communication and writing skills.
• Proficiency in data analysis software (e.g., Excel, Python, LabView) and research tools.
• Detail-oriented with strong organizational skills.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.
• An eagerness to learn, adapt, and take on new challenges.

Responsibilities

• Assist in conducting research projects related to Materials Discovery mission and goals, including literature reviews, data collection, data analysis, and synthesizing information.
• Assist in the discovery of new materials for the extraction and separation of critical minerals to support technologies such as direct lithium extraction.
• Assist in data collection from discovery to bench-scale experiments.
• Help analyze data to draw meaningful insights and trends.
• Support in creating reports, presentations, and visualizations summarizing research findings.
• Prepare materials for internal and/or external presentations.
• Work closely with the research and engineering teams to gather information, share insights, and contribute to a collaborative and innovative research environment.
• Stay current with relevant literature, trends, and developments in the field to contribute valuable insights to ongoing projects.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 5,001-10,000 employees