Posting TitleGraduate PhD (Summer/Year-Round) Internship – Buildings and Thermal Energy Systems

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LocationCO - Golden

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Position TypeIntern (Fixed Term)

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Hours Per Week40

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Working at NRELThe National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado is the nation's primary laboratory for research and development of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.

Join a team of world-class scientists, engineers, and visionaries dedicated to shaping the world’s energy future through cutting-edge research and innovation. From our vision to our NREL community, we are unique in the research community. We are focused on impact. From our work in basic sciences to systems engineering, analysis, demonstration, and deployment, we are focused on solving market-relevant problems that result in advanced, secure, reliable, and affordable energy systems. We are trusted clean energy leaders, developing cost-saving solutions that make U.S. industries more competitive, and support job creation and economic growth across rural and urban communities.

At NREL, we offer a unique, mission-driven work environment with cutting-edge facilities and multidisciplinary research teams. NREL's environment offers strong partnerships with industry, academia, and other national laboratories, as well as professional development opportunities and a competitive benefits package for employees.

Learn about NREL’s critical objectives: NREL's Mission and Vision.

Job Description

The Building Thermal Energy Science Group of the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is seeking a graduate intern. NREL is the nation's primary laboratory for research, development, and deployment of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies. This position will support research and development conducted at NREL. The candidate will join team members on cutting-edge research to model and analyze heat and mass transfer for thermal energy storage, HVAC systems, and buildings. The candidate should have a strong background and understanding of heat and mass transfer, including theory, numerical modeling, and experiments.

General Duties and Responsibilities:

The successful candidate should have a strong background in thermodynamics and heat transfer, be able to independently work on experiments and modeling of thermal energy systems and have experience in thermal system design and characterization using experimental as well as modeling tools. The candidate will contribute to the ongoing research in the area of thermal energy storage technologies for buildings. The candidate is expected to demonstrate good communication skills and the ability to document the research in the form of journal articles and presentations.

Specific Duties and Responsibilities:

Improve, develop, and use first-principles numerical modeling tools of thermal components and systemsDevelop, design, and analyze new thermal components for buildings and HVACPerform laboratory experiments on materials and fluid/thermal components at NREL’s laboratoriesAssist in project management, including writing reports, journal articles, and presentations for program review or conferences

Desired Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities:

The candidate will get the opportunity to be involved in detailed thermal modeling and experimental research, along with system integration.  A successful candidate will have:

Strong background in thermal sciences (i.e. thermodynamics, heat and mass transfer, psychrometrics, fluid mechanics) theory, heat-transfer experiments, and numerical modeling.Knowledge of thermal energy storage materials and/or components and systems.Knowledge of programming for heat transfer modeling and data analysis (Fluency in MATLAB and Engineering Equation Solver (EES)).Demonstrated research capability and creativity to solve challenging problems, as well as the ability to work well in a team.We do not require candidates to hold all the skills listed above but applicants should illustrate an eagerness to learn and grow professionally.

The hiring team prefers an internship that occurs over summer and fall 2025. However, a summer 2025 position is also acceptable for an outstanding candidate.

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Basic QualificationsMinimum 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.

Additional Required QualificationsCandidate should have a strong aptitude to learn and explore the field needed for development, should be motivated and dedicated, and will be expected to deliver research results on time and on budget.Excellent interpersonal, communication, documentation skills, oral and writing proficiency in English.

Preferred Qualifications

Demonstrated experience in some or all of the following:

Numerical modeling and experimentation of heat transfer and energy systemsSensible and latent thermal energy storageHeat and mass transfer, including psychrometrics

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Job Application Submission Window

The anticipated closing window for application submission is up to 30 days and may be extended as needed.

Annual Salary Range (based on full-time 40 hours per week)Job Profile: / Annual Salary Range: $43,700 - $69,900

NREL takes into consideration a candidate’s education, training, and experience, expected quality and quantity of work, required travel (if any), external market and internal value, including seniority and merit systems, and internal pay alignment when determining the salary level for potential new employees. In compliance with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, a potential new employee’s salary history will not be used in compensation decisions.

Benefits SummaryBenefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match*; and sick leave (where required by law). NREL 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. Internships projected to be less than 20 hours per week are not eligible for medical, dental, or vision benefits.

* Based on eligibility rules

Badging RequirementNREL is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All employees must also be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card as required by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12), which includes a favorable background investigation. Intern assignments extending beyond six months will be subject to this requirement.

Drug Free Workplace

NREL is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace in accordance with the federal Drug-Free Workplace Act and complies with federal laws prohibiting the possession and use of illegal drugs. Under federal law, marijuana remains an illegal drug.

If you are offered employment at NREL, you must pass a pre-employment drug test prior to commencing employment. Unless prohibited by state or local law, the pre-employment drug test will include marijuana. If you test positive on the pre-employment drug test, your offer of employment may be withdrawn.

Submission Guidelines

Please note that in order to be considered an applicant for any position at NREL you must submit an application form for each position for which you believe you are qualified. Applications are not kept on file for future positions. Please include a cover letter and resume with each position application.

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EEO Policy

NREL is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard basis of age (40 and over), color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic partner status, military or veteran status, national origin/ancestry, race, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding), sexual orientation, and any other applicable status protected by federal, state, or local laws.

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