Posting TitlePost Undergraduate/Graduate (Year-Round) Intern - JISEA Technology and Societal Systems - Research Innovations and Partnerships Team

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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 NREL

From day one at NREL, you’ll connect with coworkers driven by the same mission to save the planet. By joining an organization that values a supportive, inclusive, and flexible work environment, you’ll have the opportunity to engage through our ten employee resource groups, numerous employee-driven clubs, and learning and professional development classes.

NREL supports inclusive, diverse, and unbiased hiring practices that promote creativity and innovation. By collaborating with organizations that focus on diverse talent pools, reaching out to underrepresented demographics, and providing an inclusive application and interview process, our Talent Acquisition team aims to hear all voices equally. We strive to attract a highly diverse workforce and create a culture where every employee feels welcomed and respected and they can be their authentic selves.

Our planet needs us! Learn about NREL’s critical objectives, and see how NREL is focused on saving the planet.

We invite all interested candidates to apply for this opportunity. While we recognize that job seekers may hesitate if they don’t meet every requirement, we encourage dedicated individuals who meet all the basic and additional required qualifications of the role to submit an application. We value the opportunity to consider those who believe they have the necessary skills and ambition to succeed at NREL.

Job Description

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) in Golden, Colorado, is a leading center for renewable energy and energy efficiency research. Within NREL, the Joint Institute for Strategic Energy Analysis (JISEA) conducts impactful research to guide global energy investment, policy decisions, and educational initiatives. Focusing on the intersection of energy, finance, and society, JISEA drives transformation in the energy sector. To Learn more about our team, check out these links: 

https://www.jisea.org/ 

https://www.nrel.gov/news/program/2024/2024-jisea-annual-meeting-convenes-diverse-clean-energy-voices-to-address-emerging-challenges.html 

https://www.jisea.org/our-work/catalyzer 

 

Position Overview 

JISEA is seeking motivated student or recently graduated researchers to support initiatives addressing climate change, clean energy, and societal challenges as a Research Program Participant (RPP). RPP Interns will collaborate with NREL researchers to advance clean energy solutions, with a primary focus on developing actionable insights and supporting groundbreaking projects. 

  

Job Duties May include 

Needs Assessment: Conducting needs assessments to identify critical challenges in clean energy transformation. 

Technical Workshop Facilitation: Assist in organizing multi-party meetings and workshops that bring together stakeholders to drive progress on project goals. Responsible for documenting key points and action items to ensure alignment across project teams.  

Data Synthesis: Translate multi-stakeholder discussions into actionable insights and create comprehensive datasets. 

Publishing and Networking: Contribute to JISEA publications and participate in conferences to expand professional networks. Develop high-quality outputs, including white papers, technical reports, presentations, and videos to communicate research findings effectively.  

Presentations: Present research findings to colleagues and the US Department of Energy (DOE). 

Collaborative Research: Partner with NREL researchers to frame concept notes and foster relationships that address evolving energy challenges. 

  

Types of Projects  

The selected intern will be assigned to a primary project/area of focus but may support multiple projects. Projects may include:  

Community Power Accelerator: Support efforts to connect community solar initiatives with financial backers and developers to accelerate renewable energy projects. 

Innovative Siting of Energy Infrastructure: Support projects investigating how energy infrastructure (e.g., solar farms, transmission lines) can be developed in new places and areas. 

Catalyzers: collaborating with colleagues to elevate, broaden, and deepen research capabilities to address emerging challenges in the clean energy transition by leveraging energy analysis, projects, data, and tools within specific research areas. 

DOE Voucher Program Support: Assist in connecting small businesses with DOE voucher programs, enabling them to access technologies that can accelerate their growth. The DOE aims to increase technology utilization by emerging businesses, helping them overcome financial constraints. 

America Made Prize Challenge: Participate in reviewing feedback for this initiative, which supports American innovation in clean energy. 

 

  

Work Schedule – Full Time 

30 hours per week for actively enrolled graduate students during semester, 40 hours during the summer.

Candidates that have graduated and are not enrolled in an academic program may work 40 hours per week throughout the year.  

  

Work Location: Work may be remote or onsite, with mentorship provided for a comprehensive experience. 

  

Start Date: As soon as able and interested, however candidates are preferred to begin by March 2025.

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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 Qualifications

The successful candidate will have recently completed an undergraduate or graduate degree, or be currently enrolled in a graduate program in: engineering, social science, business, finance, MBA, public policy, MPA, or related field 

Education based knowledge of at least one method of research impact: community engagement, qualitative research methods, quantitative research methods. 

Writing up syntheses of multiple inputs toward a collaborative output. 

All applicants must provide a writing sample, ideally consisting of no more than 5 pages. The sample should come from work that the applicant has done before, whether from coursework or internship/work experience.

Preferred Qualifications

Undergraduate degree plus progress or admittance to a graduate degree in business or science management, social sciences, engineering. 

A track record of identifying challenges and taking action to make change in the target system. 

An understanding of the complexity of making progress at the intersection of technology and society. 

Candidates willing and able to work from the National Renewable Energy Laboratory’s South Table Mountain campus at least three days per week.  

 

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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: $42,700 - $68,300

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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