EEIP PhD Intern – Nuclear Sciences

Austin Community College; Richland (WA); On-site; USD 16,740 - 27,900; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Professional development

Networking opportunities

Hands-on research experience

Job summary

A leading national laboratory in Richland, WA, seeks PhD students for a 10-week paid summer internship in energy and environment research. Interns will engage in high-impact research focusing on nuclear sciences, contributing to projects in various engineering disciplines. The ideal candidate is enrolled in a PhD program, has a minimum GPA of 3.0, and is motivated to explore a career in national laboratory science. Opportunities for networking and professional development are included.

Qualifications

• Candidates must have a minimum GPA of 3.0.
• Interest in science and engineering fields is crucial.

Responsibilities

• Interns will conduct research in nuclear sciences.
• Collaborate with scientists in various experimental and computational projects.
• Integrate into research teams and participate in professional development.

Skills

Research experience

Collaboration

Computer programming

Chemical engineering

Nuclear engineering

Education

Currently enrolled in a PhD program

Job description

Responsibilities

Are you interested in making the world a better place while gaining valuable research experience to launch your career?

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is seeking PhD students passionate about creating a sustainable energy future through science and engineering to join us for a 10 week paid summer internship as part of the Energy and Environment Internship Program (EEIP).

Participants will begin in cohort sessions and must be available to start on May 26, 2026 or June 16, 2026 as part of the Summer 2026 cohort.

Within PNNL’s Nuclear Sciences Division, our scientists and engineers tackle some of the nation’s most complex challenges: advancing energy independence, remediating legacy nuclear waste, and strengthening national security. Our work blends experimentation, modeling, and engineering of nuclear materials and processes to deliver innovative solutions for the U.S. government and industry.

If your background or interests align with chemistry, materials science, nuclear engineering, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, or computer science, this internship places you at the center of high‑impact research.

Research Focus Areas

Interns will contribute to projects within one of the following areas:

• Experimental and Computational Engineering
  Multiphase fluid dynamics, heat transport, structural and safety analysis, nuclear radiation modeling, reactive transport, and nuclear material storage and transportation
• Irradiation Sciences
  Irradiated materials characterization, dosimetry, and radiation effects
• Nuclear Chemistry and Engineering
  Radiochemical process engineering, separations, and conversion technologies
• Radiological Materials
  Waste‑form development, vitrification and immobilization, glass and materials science, cementitious materials, process development, and off‑gas capture and immobilization
• Reactor Materials and Mechanical Design
  Stress corrosion cracking, post‑irradiation and non‑destructive examination, advanced materials characterization, computational materials science and data analytics, and electro‑mechanical hardware design

The Internship Experience

PNNL interns are fully integrated into research teams and supported through The Gold Experience, a summer‑long program that includes professional development, networking with scientists and engineers across the lab, and exposure to the full breadth of PNNL’s research mission.

This internship is designed to accelerate your growth as a researcher and help you envision long‑term career paths in national laboratory science. Many students return for multiple summers, and a number successfully transition into full‑time roles at PNNL after graduation.

Why Apply?

• Gain hands‑on research experience in a national laboratory setting.
• Collaborate with top scientists and engineers in cutting‑edge research fields.
• Build professional connections that can support future career opportunities.

Positions are based in Richland, WA. Work is primarily on‑site, with remote arrangements considered only in rare circumstances and strictly based on business need.

If you’re motivated to apply your skills to real‑world problems and gain hands‑on research experience that can shape your career, we encourage you to apply.

****HOW TO APPLY****

To have a complete application package, the (2) listed items below are required and must be uploaded correctly per the steps below for consideration:

Step 1:

UploadResume or CVin “Resume” section only (note: If applying to multiple positions, the most recent resume uploaded will be used for all positions an applicant applies to).

Step 2:

Upload aCover Letterseparately in “Additional Documents” section of the application titled “Nuclear Sciences EEIP Cover Letter”.

• Cover letter should include: Statement of interest, reference relevant college courses, and relevant experience that may include extracurricular activities that have prepared you for this career.

If any of the components (resume and cover letter) are not uploaded per the instructions above, applications will be rejected and will no longer be considered. Electronic applications will be accepted until 4:00 p.m. (PST) on the posting close date.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Candidates must be currently enrolled/matriculated in a PhD program at an accredited college.
• Minimum GPA of 3.0 is required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Disciplines of interest: additive manufacturing, chemical engineering, chemistry, computational modeling, computer science, material science, mechanical engineering, nuclear engineering, software engineering, and systems engineering.