Posting Title

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

Location

CO - Golden

Position Type

Intern (Fixed Term)

Hours Per Week

Working at NLR

NLR is located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado is the nation's primary laboratory for energy systems research and development.

Join the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR), where world-class scientists, engineers, and experts are accelerating energy innovation through breakthrough research and systems integration. From our mission to our collaborative culture, NLR stands out in the research community for its commitment to an affordable and secure energy future. Spanning foundational science to applied systems engineering and analysis, we focus on solving complex challenges to deliver advanced, secure, reliable, and cost-effective energy solutions. Our work helps strengthen U.S. industries, support job creation, and promote national economic growth.

At NLR, you'll find a mission-driven environment supported by state-of-the-art facilities, multidisciplinary research teams, and strong collaborations with industry, academia, and other national laboratories. We offer robust professional development opportunities, and a competitive benefits package designed to support your career and well-being.

Job Description

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.

The successful candidate will 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

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.

This is an excellent opportunity for a student invested in the NLR mission who desires relevant laboratory experience in preparation for graduate school or a career in the chemical industries.

Degree in Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Biological Systems Engineering, Polymer Chemistry, or related discipline.

Basic Qualifications

Minimum 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

Required Education, Experience, and Skills

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. Please Note: Before interview selection, you will need to provide unofficial transcripts to verify GPA and full time enrollment.

Preferred Qualifications

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)

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: $44,500 - $71,200

NLR 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 Summary

Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match*; and sick leave (where required by law). NLR 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 Requirement

NLR 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

NLR 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 NLR, 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 NLR 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.

Equal Opportunity 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.

Reasonable Accommodations

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