Graduate (Year-Round) Intern – Buildings and Thermal Engineering

Posting TitleGraduate (Year-Round) Intern – Buildings and Thermal Engineering.LocationCO - Golden.Position TypeIntern (Fixed Term).Hours Per Week40.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.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 eight 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.Note: Research suggests that potential job seekers may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage anyone who is interested in this opportunity to apply. We seek dedicated people who believe they have the skills and ambition to succeed at NREL to apply for this role.Job DescriptionThe 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. The candidate will join team members on cutting-edge research to investigate the performance of thermal switches and switchable insulation and their impact on heat and moisture transfer through building envelopes.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, heat transfer and be able to independently work on modeling and experiments related to thermal switches and switchable insulation. The candidate will contribute to ongoing research in the area of thermal storage and dynamic envelopes 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:

Perform laboratory experiments on materials and thermal components

Examine and validate the experimental results using analytical and numerical models

Develop, design, and analyze new thermal components for dynamic building envelope and thermal energy storage

Assist 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 analysis. A successful candidate will have:

Strong background in thermal sciences (i.e., thermodynamics and heat and mass transfer) theory, numerical modeling, and basic understanding of heat and moisture transfer experiments.

Knowledge of thermal switches, dynamic insulations, phase change materials, and thermal energy storage systems.

Experience in experiments related to building envelopes, heat flow meter, and/or environmental chambers is strong plus.

Knowledge of programming for heat transfer modeling and data analysis (i.e., MATLAB and Engineering Equation Solver (EES) or similar programs)

Demonstrated research capability and creativity to solve challenging problems, as well as the ability to work well in a team.

The ideal candidate will be a late-stage PhD student who has completed their coursework and is working on their dissertation. At minimum, the candidate should have completed a masters degreeBasic QualificationsMust be enrolled as a full-time student in a Bachelor's, Master's or PhD degree program, or graduated in the past 12 months from an accredited institution. Candidates who have earned a degree may work for a period not to exceed 12 months. Must have a minimum of a 3.0 cumulative grade point average.Please Note:You will need to upload 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.Additional Required QualificationsDemonstrated experience in some or all of the following:

Thermal engineering, design, and fabrication

Numerical modeling of heat transfer and energy systems

Experiments on thermal components

Candidate should have a strong aptitude to learn and explore the field needed for development, to be motivated and dedicated, and to deliver research results on time and on budget. In addition, the candidate should have excellent interpersonal, communication, documentation skills, oral and writing proficiency in English.We do not expect a candidate to hold all the skills listed above, but the candidate should illustrate the eagerness to learn and potential for professional growth.Preferred Qualifications

Graduate-level heat transfer coursework or laboratory experience.

Product design experience.

Conduction or phase-change material experience.

Experience with heat flow meters and environmental chambers.

.Annual Salary Range (based on full-time 40 hours per week)Job Profile: Graduate I / Annual Salary Range: $41,600 - $66,600NREL 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 rulesDrug Free WorkplaceNREL 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 GuidelinesPlease 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 applicationEEO PolicyNREL 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.EEO is the Law (http://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/ofccpost.htm) | Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination (https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/pdf/pay-transpEnglishunformattedESQA508c.pdf) | Reasonable Accommodations (http://www.nrel.gov/careers/employment-policies.html)E -Verify www.dhs.gov/E-Verify For information about right to work, click here (http://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/crt/legacy/2013/08/13/FinalOSCPosterEN08012013.pdf) for English or here (http://www.justice.gov/crt/file/813271/download) for Spanish.E-Verify is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This business uses E-Verify in its hiring practices to achieve a lawful workforce.The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is a leader in the U.S. Department of Energy’s effort to secure an environmentally and economically sustainable energy future. With locations in Golden and Boulder, Colorado, and a satellite office in Washington, D.C., NREL is the primary laboratory for research, development, and deployment of renewable energy technologies in the United States.NREL is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All candidates must be authorized to access the facility per DOE rules and guidance within a reasonable time frame for the specified position in order to be considered for an interview. DOE rules for site access during the interview process are the same regardless of whether the candidate is interviewed on-site, off-site, or via telephone or videoconference. Additionally, DOE contractor employees are prohibited from participating in certain Foreign Government Talent Recruitment Programs (FGTRPs). If a candidate is currently participating in an FGTRP, they will be required to disclose their participation after receiving an offer of employment and may be required to disengage from participation in the FGTRP prior to commencing employment. Any offer of employment is conditional on the ability to obtain work authorization and to be granted access to NREL by the Department of Energy (DOE).Drug Free WorkplaceNREL 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.Please review the information on our Hiring Process (https://www.nrel.gov/careers/hiring-process.html) website before you create an account and apply for a job. We also hope you will learn more about NREL (https://www.nrel.gov/about/) , visit our Careers site (https://www.nrel.gov/careers/) , and continue to search for job opportunities (https://nrel.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/NREL) at the lab.