Graduate Student Intern – Solar Thermal Technologies

Job Description

Graduate Student Intern – Solar Thermal Technologies | Sandia National Laboratories

The Tone:
This is an internship at Sandia National Laboratories, located in Albuquerque, NM, requiring onsite work. Sandia is the nation’s premier science and engineering lab for national security and technology innovation. This role is crucial for assisting R&D staff with technology advancements and performance improvements, contributing to challenging work with significant impact on national security, peace, and freedom worldwide.

The TL;DR
• Role: Internship
• Type: Temporary, Part-time (academic year), Full-time (summer)
• Location: Albuquerque, NM (In-person)

• Team: Solar Thermal Technologies Department, part of Integrated Solar & Thermal Energy Systems
• Mission: To assist R&D staff with technology advancements, performance improvements, test design and data collection, modeling studies, and technoeconomic analyses at the National Solar Thermal Test Facility (NSTTF).
• Tech Stack: LabView, Python, MS Office, DAQ/control software, Computer Aided Design, finite element analysis software.

What You’ll Actually Do
• R&D Support: Assist R&D staff with technology advancements, performance improvements, test design, data collection, modeling studies, and technoeconomic analyses for various solar thermal projects.
• Project Participation: Conduct R&D activities or projects under the leadership of senior staff, often collaborating in teams with partners from other institutions.
• Funding Development: Assist in the development of proposals to seek funding from sponsors and customers for new or ongoing R&D projects in Concentrating Solar Power (CSP).
• Dissemination of Outcomes: Assist in the analysis of data and contribute to the written dissemination of R&D outcomes to internal and external stakeholders.
• External Representation: Potentially represent Sandia and the department in national or international conferences and publications, sharing research findings and project progress.

The Must-Haves
• Background: Currently attending and enrolled full time in an accredited science, engineering, or math graduate program, having earned a bachelor’s degree. Must be a U.S. citizen, legal permanent resident, asylee, or refugee in the U.S.
• Experience: Hands-on experience working with pressure systems, flow diagrams, assembly of laboratory test stands for sCO2 heat exchangers, or chemical laboratory experience for Solar Thermal Chemical projects. Experience with mechanical and electronic systems.
• Skills: 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. Demonstrated excellent written and oral communication skills, and experience using MS Office.
• Bonus: Pursuing a graduate degree in mechanical, systems, computer, electrical, or chemical engineering, computer science, or materials science. Familiarity with Concentrating Solar Thermal technology and alternative energy. Experience using LabView or any other DAQ/control software, coding in Python, test operation and design, networking infrastructure, Computer Aided Design, and performing finite element analysis using software.