Summer High School Research Intern - Multiscale Materials Research

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory • Richland, WA

6h • Onsite

About The Position

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is seeking a high school student for the Summer High School Research Internship (HSRI). This internship provides an opportunity for students interested in preparing for careers in Science, Technology, Engineering or Mathematics (STEM) to work during the Summer with a scientist/mentor in a specified research area. HSRI is a 10-week program, estimated based on start date; the anticipated start date for summer cohort will be June 16, 2026.
Due to the nature of this program, applicants must be currently enrolled in a local Tri-Cities, WA area high school. This internship is designed to be onsite and requires interns to work in person at our Richland, WA location to support hands-on learning and collaboration.
The student will work in a team using advanced materials characterization to understand how materials perform, degrade, and fail in harsh environments of advanced energy systems. The intern will collaborate with scientists to organize and analyze data from microscopy, mechanical testing, and simulations for reports and research papers. The ideal candidate has strong organizational skills and is interested in applying math, computer programming, or machine learning to scientific problems.

Requirements

• Applicants must be currently enrolled as a sophomore, junior or senior in a public or private high school at time of application
• Applicants must be 16 years of age by start date
• Applicants must have a cumulative GPA of 3.0 or higher (from beginning of 9th grade to current standing)

Nice To Haves

• AP Chemistry, AP Calculus
• MS Office, Python, Specialized Microscopy Software
• Organization, Time Management, Logical Reasoning, Mathematical Skills

Responsibilities

• Work in a team using advanced materials characterization to understand how materials perform, degrade, and fail in harsh environments of advanced energy systems.
• Collaborate with scientists to organize and analyze data from microscopy, mechanical testing, and simulations for reports and research papers.

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