AI/ML Graduate Intern (Materials Science)

Job Description

What Your Job Will Be Like

Sandia National Laboratories is actively seeking a highly motivated year-round graduate intern to join our team. This role focuses on the development and application of cutting-edge AI/ML techniques for novel applications, specifically in areas such as automated information extraction, automated materials characterization, and accelerated materials modeling. The impact of your work could extend to critical applications like materials for the production, storage, and generation of hydrogen and other energy needs. A successful candidate will have a unique opportunity to make a tangible impact on materials discovery efforts at Sandia and contribute to academic publications.

On any given day, you may be called on to:

• Develop AI/ML models designed to automate the analysis of complex materials science datasets, aiming to understand synthesized materials’ composition and structure.
• Create AI/ML models capable of automating the extraction of legacy, document-centric materials data to build robust training databases or knowledge graphs for subsequent use.
• Efficiently utilize open-source tools and high-performance computing (HPC) resources for storing and accessing large volumes of data.
• Demonstrate familiarity with and efficiently leverage open-source materials and computer science libraries and databases, including but not limited to ase, pymatgen, Materials Project, and OpenCV.
• Conduct impactful research that necessitates extensive and effective collaboration and communication with diverse team members involved in modeling, material synthesis, and advanced characterization.

This position offers a flexible work arrangement, allowing for a combination of onsite and offsite work. However, the selected applicant must reside within a reasonable commuting distance to the assigned work location when onsite presence is required.

Salary Range

At Sandia, we recognize and value the significant contributions our interns make to National Security, and as such, we offer competitive pay rates. Our pay structure is meticulously determined by earned credit hours, classification, and degree level. Your specific pay rate will be finalized during the hiring process and clearly outlined in your official offer package. For a comprehensive overview of our intern pay rates, please refer to the Intern Pay Rate chart.

Qualifications We Require

To be eligible for this challenging and rewarding position, candidates must meet the following minimum requirements:

• Possess an earned bachelor’s degree.
• Currently attending and enrolled full-time in an accredited science, engineering, or math graduate program.
• Maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0/4.0.
• Ability to work up to 30 hours per week during the academic year and up to 40 hours per week during the summer.
• Applicants must be legally authorized to work in the United States of America. Sandia National Laboratories will not sponsor work authorization for this position.

Qualifications We Desire

The ideal candidate will also possess some or all of the following desired qualifications:

• Be enrolled in a post-undergraduate program (Master’s or Ph.D.).
• Extensive experience in software development, scientific computing in Python, and proficiency with standard machine learning tools (e.g., PyTorch, NumPy).
• Experience with High-Performance Computing (HPC) systems and the effective use of GPU clusters for AI/ML model training, validation, and inference.
• Some experience with hardware programming is considered a plus.
• Prior experience applying AI/ML techniques to materials science or chemistry-related problems.

Posting Duration

This posting will be open for application submissions for a minimum of three (3) calendar days, including the ‘posting date’. Sandia National Laboratories reserves the right to extend the posting date at any time.

About Our Team

The Materials Physics department is dedicated to conducting fundamental research on the structure and properties of materials. This research supports critical programs in energy research, device physics, materials reliability, and national security. Our specific activities encompass experimental and modeling studies of surface electronic structure, surface atomic structure, and dynamics of metals, oxides, low-dimensional semiconductors, and adsorbates. We also perform atomic-scale structure and composition analysis of metals, semiconductors, and composites; investigate electrical and optical properties of low-dimensional semiconductors and optoelectronic devices; and characterize the structural and electrochemical aspects of solid-state ionic materials. The Department proudly supports both internal and external sponsors and government agencies, working to deliver solutions to problems of fundamental scientific inquiry, energy sustainability, and national defense.

About Sandia

Sandia National Laboratories stands as the nation’s premier science and engineering lab for national security and technology innovation. Our teams of specialists are focused on cutting-edge work across a broad array of areas. Here are some of the main reasons our employees love their jobs:

• Engaging and challenging work with an amazing impact that contributes to global security, peace, and freedom.
• Collaboration with extraordinary co-workers.
• Access to some of the best tools, equipment, and research facilities in the world.
• Numerous career advancement and enrichment opportunities.
• Flexible work arrangements for many positions, including 9/80 (work 80 hours every two weeks, with every other Friday off) and 4/10 (work 4 ten-hour days each week) compressed workweeks, part-time work, and telecommuting (a mix of onsite work and working from home).
• Generous vacation, robust medical and other benefits, a competitive 401k plan, extensive learning opportunities, relocation assistance, and amenities designed to foster a solid work/life balance.*

World-changing technologies. Life-changing careers. Learn more about Sandia at: http://www.sandia.gov

*These benefits vary by job classification.

Security Clearance

This position does not currently require a Department of Energy (DOE) security clearance.

Sandia National Laboratories will conduct a pre-employment drug test and a comprehensive background review. This review includes checks of personal references, credit history, law enforcement records, and employment/education verifications. Furthermore, employees in New Mexico will need to pass a U.S. Air Force background screen to gain access to Kirtland Air Force Base. Substance abuse or illegal drug use, falsification of information, criminal activity, serious misconduct, or other indicators of untrustworthiness can lead to access being denied or terminated, resulting in the inability to perform assigned duties and subsequent termination of employment.

Under federal law, citizens and agents of the People’s Republic of China, the Islamic Republic of Iran, the Democratic People’s Republic of North Korea, and the Russian Federation are generally prohibited from accessing Sandia National Laboratories. Consequently, such individuals will not be considered for employment unless they also hold United States citizenship.

If hired without a clearance, and it subsequently becomes necessary to obtain and maintain one for the position, or if you apply for positions that require a clearance, a pre-processing background review may be conducted prior to a required federal background investigation. Applicants for a DOE security clearance must be U.S. citizens. If you hold more than one citizenship (e.g., of the U.S. and another country), your ability to obtain a security clearance may be impacted.

Members of the workforce (MOWs) hired at Sandia who require uncleared access for greater than 179 days during their employment are required to go through the Uncleared Personal Identity Verification (UPIV) process. Access includes physical and/or cyber (logical) access, as well as remote access to any NNSA information technology (IT) systems. UPIV requirements are not applicable to individuals who require a DOE personnel security clearance for the performance of their SNL employment or to foreign nationals. The UPIV process will involve the completion of a USAccess Enrollment, SF-85 (Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions), and OF-306 (Declaration for Federal Employment). An unfavorable UPIV determination will result in the immediate retrieval of the SNL issued badge, removal of cyber (logical) access, and/or removal from the SNL subcontract. All MOWs may appeal the unfavorable UPIV determination to DOE/NNSA immediately. If the appeal is unsuccessful, the MOW may re-attempt the UPIV process one year after the decision date.

EEO

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status and any other protected class under state or federal law.

NNSA Requirements For MedPEDs

If you have a Medical Portable Electronic Device (MedPED), such as a pacemaker, defibrillator, drug-releasing pump, hearing aids, or diagnostic equipment and other equipment for measuring, monitoring, and recording body functions such as heartbeat and brain waves, if employed by Sandia National Laboratories you may be required to comply with NNSA security requirements for MedPEDs.

If you have a MedPED and you are selected for an on-site interview at Sandia National Laboratories, there may be additional steps necessary to ensure compliance with NNSA security requirements prior to the interview date.

Job Details

• Job ID: 697236
• Job Family: 91
• Regular/Temporary Position: Temporary
• Full/Part-Time Status: Part-Time