Undergraduate/Graduate Intern (year-round) –Chemical Engineering/Biomass conversion/Catalytic upgrading/Organic Chemistry

National Laboratory of the Rockies • Golden, CO

52d • $44,500 - $71,200 • Onsite

About The Position

National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) bridges research with real-world applications to advance new energy materials and technologies that lower costs, boost the economy, strengthen security, and deliver abundant and reliable energy. The Integrated Carbon Conversion Processes Group within NLR’s Catalytic Carbon Transformation and Scale-Up Center is seeking an Intern to provide researchers within our group the support necessary to achieve their cutting-edge research safely. Our group’s mission is to de-risk and accelerate the scale-up of technologies for producing chemicals, fertilizers, and critical minerals from domestic biomass resources and waste resources. Our multidisciplinary team integrates expertise in process engineering, process science, catalysis, and computational modeling of integrated processes to translate laboratory discoveries into technically and economically viable processes suitable for pilot-scale demonstration and eventual commercialization. The directorate’s research encompasses multiple areas including analysis & characterization, biochemical processes, downstream processing, bioenergetics, and thermochemical processes. Our research group is focused on developing chemicals, critical minerals, fertilizers, and materials from terrestrial and algal biomass. Our team brings together a wide range of technical expertise and global experience unified by a passionate drive to increase the technoeconomic feasibility and global adoption of biorefineries. Interdisciplinary collaboration and a relentless pursuit of advancing understanding at the intersection of fundamental science and industrial application is paramount to every member of our team.

Requirements

• Must be enrolled as a full-time student in a degree granting program, or graduated in the past 12 months from an accredited institution. Internship period cannot exceed 12 months past graduation.
• Minimum of a 3.0 cumulative grade point average.
• Degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Biological Systems Engineering, Polymer Chemistry, or related discipline.
• The ability to conduct laboratory experiments and follow written procedures, with minimal supervision and with the utmost regard to safety is required.
• Self-motivation, adaptability and an aptitude for learning are critical for this role.

Nice To Haves

• Hands on experience in wet chemistry, catalytic conversion, process scale-up, polymer synthesis and characterization, experience on advanced analytic chemistry (FTIR, NMR, GC-MS, etc)

Responsibilities

• Perform hands-on tasks and experimentation in a laboratory setting including the following:
• Batch and flow reactor operation for algal pretreatment, conversion, chemical production and polymer synthesis
• Develop renewable polyurethane materials for a broad range of applications.
• Benchtop wet chemistry, including sample preparation and derivatization,
• Operation and maintenance of analytical instrumentation, (e.g. FTIR, NMR, TGA, DSC, GC-MS, etc.)
• Separations, including liquid-liquid and solid-liquid extractions.
• Bioprocessing scale-up

Benefits

• medical, dental, and vision insurance
• 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match
• sick leave (where required by law)
• performance-, merit-, and achievement- based awards that include a monetary component
• relocation expense reimbursement

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Intern