Graduate Intern – Advanced Building Equipment Research Group

NLR is located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado, and 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 foundational science to applied systems engineering and analysis, NLR focuses on solving complex challenges to deliver advanced, secure, reliable, and cost-effective energy solutions.

About the role

NLR's Advanced Building Equipment Research group has an immediate opening for a graduate intern position focusing on modeling and experimental heat and mass transfer applied to HVAC systems and buildings. The successful candidate will join team members on cutting-edge laboratory and analytical projects to research, develop, and evaluate heat and mass transfer components and systems, including conventional and non-conventional dehumidification and desiccant systems.

Responsibilities

• Improve and utilize existing numerical models of heat and mass exchangers.
• Design, develop, and analyze new HVAC processes and components.
• Perform laboratory experiments on fluid/thermal components.
• Publish papers in heat and mass transfer and energy journals.

Requirements

• 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.
• Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.
• Applicants are responsible for uploading official or unofficial school transcripts as part of the application process. If selected, a letter of recommendation will be required.

Qualifications

• Current graduate student with a strong academic and research record in relevant heat transfer, thermodynamics, and mass transfer field with emphasis on modeling and experimental research.
• Degree in mechanical engineering or relevant research in other engineering or science fields.
• Strong interpersonal communication skills (oral and written) and demonstrated ability to work independently.

Skills

Demonstrated Experience In Some Or All Of The Following:

• Heat and mass transfer fundamentals.
• HVAC fundamentals or refrigeration cycles (vapor compression and non-vapor compression).
• Numerical modeling techniques and computer programming.
• Familiarity with desiccants and absorption processes.
• Laboratory experiments and data acquisition systems.
• Experience programming in MATLAB (preferred), Engineering Equation Solver (EES), Python, or similar tools.

Optional but preferred:

• Familiarity with two-phase heat transfer phenomena (specifically condensation).
• Experience with CAD using SolidWorks.

Pay

Annual Salary Range: $44,500 - $71,200 (based on full-time 40 hours per week). 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.

Benefits

• Medical, dental, and vision insurance.
• 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match*.
• Sick leave (where required by law).
• Eligibility for 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.

Schedule

40 hours per week.

NLR is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All employees must 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.

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.