PhD Intern - Detection Physics at Pacific Northwest National Laboratory

Wayne State University; Richland, Northern (WA, KY); Hybrid; USD 33,000 - 50,000; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Employee assistance program

401k savings plan

Travel insurance

Job summary

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) invites graduate-level interns with a background in software analysis to support a broad R&D program. The role blends hands-on development with deep technical evaluation in areas like data science, machine intelligence, and autonomous learning for cyber-physical systems.

Expect collaboration, publication potential, and weekly meetings. Ideal candidates are pursuing a PhD with strong skills in disassembly, AI/ML, and Python, and comfortable with

Qualifications

• Currently enrolled in a PhD program and maintaining a minimum 3.0 GPA.
• Experience with disassembly tools and assembly languages is preferred.
• Strong background in static/dynamic analysis and reverse engineering.

Responsibilities

• Contribute to research on data science, AI/ML, and cyber-physical systems.
• Develop and test Python library extensions for multi-domain content types.
• Prepare datasets and contribute to project deliverables and reports.

Skills

Disassemblers

Assembly languages

C/C++

Python

Static analysis

Dynamic analysis

Reverse engineering

QEMU

CTFs

Hardware enumeration

Technical writing

Education

PhD program enrollment

Tools

IDA

Binary Ninja

Ghidra

QEMU

GDB

LLVM

Docker

VMware

Proxmox

Job description

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At PNNL,our core capabilities are dividedamongmajor departmentsthat werefer to as Directorates within the Lab,focused on a specific area of scientific research orother function, with its own leadership teamand dedicated budget.

Our Science & TechnologydirectoratesincludeNational Security,Earthand Biological Sciences, Physical and Computational Sciences, andEnergy andEnvironment. In addition, we have an Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory,a Department of Energy, Office of Science user facilityhoused on the PNNL campus.

The National Security Directorate (NSD) drives science-based, mission-focused solutions to take on complex,real-worldthreats to our nation and the world.

TheNuclear, Chemical, and Biological Technologies Division, within the National Security Directorate, works across fundamental science, research and development, and operations to counter emerging national security threats. We focus on discovering signatures and understanding threats by creating materials, methods, and technologies to detect and analyze them. Our researchers deliver the solutions necessary for addressing complex mission challenges, such as explosives detection, biological threat detection, chemical and nuclear forensics, and special nuclear materials.

Responsibilities

PNNL is seeking graduate level interns with a background in software analysis to support a primarily R&D focused program spanning large-scale simulation, device emulation, software analysis, and remediation. This role blends hands-on development with deep technical evaluation and offers the opportunity to contribute to technical writing and publication.

Seeking an intern to support scientific research in the broad area of data science, machine intelligence and autonomous learning and reasoning. A successful candidate should have expertise in one or more of the following technical areas: optimization and optimization-based decision making, artificial intelligence and machine learning, and data analytics applied to modeling, diagnostics and control of cyber-physical systems, uncertainty quantification, system identification and model reduction, dynamical systems modeling and simulation, model predictive control, reinforcement learning algorithms, autonomous control and decision systems, and multi-agent systems.

Specific research is required to expand library capability across other domains and content types (including text, video and audio content) including collaborative research in the continued development of the Python library.

Example tasks include:

• Research to expand library capability across other domains and content types (including text, video and audio content) Collaborative research in the continued development of the Python library
• Prepare data sets for model training
• Test deep learning models to obtain accuracy Research deep learning topics

Intern will be asked to contribute to project deliverables including contributing to monthly reports using the standard report template and to participate in weekly teleconferences as scheduled by the PNNL PM/PI.

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

• Experience with one or more disassemblers (IDA, Binary Ninja, Ghidra)
• Experience with one or more assembly languages (x86, ARM, RISCV, etc)
• Comfortable with software development in compiled and scripting languages (C, C++, Rust, Python, etc)
• Experience with object files, compilers, linkers, and loaders (ELF, DWARF, GDB, LLVM)
• Experience with both static and dynamic program analysis techniques
• Experience with reverse engineering firmware and/or embedded systems
• Experience with emulation frameworks such as QEMU
• Experience with software exploitation techniques and mitigations
• Experience with attack surface mapping across systems and system-of-systems
• Experience with networking protocols and analysis thereof
• Experience with automation of vulnerability detection
• Experience with utilizing emerging artificial intelligence technologies for vulnerability detection or automation thereof
• Comfortable utilizing hypervisors and containers (VMware, Proxmox, Docker, etc)
• Experience with CTFs including challenge development
• Hardware Device Enumeration
• Prior research experience, including technical writing, reports, or peer-reviewed publication

Hazardous Working Conditions/Environment

Not applicable.

Additional Information

This position involves access to sensitive systems and information.U.S. Citizenship is required. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is subject to the Department of Energy Unclassified Foreign Visits & Assignments Programsite, information, technologies, and equipment access requirements.

Testing Designated Position

This is not a Testing Designated Position (TDP).

About PNNL

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is a world-class research institution powered by a highly educated, diverse workforce committed to the values of Integrity, Creativity, Collaboration, Impact, and Courage. Every year, scores of dynamic, driven people come to PNNL to work with renowned researchers on meaningful science, innovations and outcomes for the U.S. Department of Energy and other sponsors; here is your chance to be one of them!

At PNNL, you will find an exciting research environment and excellent benefits including health insurance, and flexible work schedules. PNNL is located in eastern Washington State—the dry side of Washington known for its stellar outdoor recreation and affordable cost of living. The Lab’s campus is only a 45-minute flight (or ~3 hour drive) from Seattle or Portland, and is serviced by the convenient PSC airport, connected to 8 major hubs.

Commitment to Excellence and Equal Employment Opportunity

Our laboratory is committed to fostering a work environment where all individuals are treated with fairness and respect while solving critical challenges in fundamental sciences, national security, and energy resiliency. We are an Equal Employment Opportunity employer.

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is an Equal Opportunity Employer. PNNL considers all applicants for employment without regard to race, religion, color, sex, national origin, age, disability, genetic information (including family medical history), protected veteran status, and any other status or characteristic protected by federal, state, and/or local laws.

We are committed to providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities and disabled veterans in our job application procedures and in employment. If you need assistance or an accommodation due to a disability, contact us [e-mail] .

Drug Free Workplace

PNNL is committed to a drug-free workplace supported by Workplace Substance Abuse Program (WSAP) and complies with federal laws prohibiting the possession and use of illegal drugs.

Security, Credentialing, and Eligibility Requirements

As a national laboratory, PNNL is responsible for adhering to the Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12) and Department of Energy (DOE) Order 473.1A, which require new employees to obtain and maintain a HSPD-12 Personal Identify Verification (PIV) Credential. To obtain this credential, new employees must successfully complete the applicable tier of federal background investigation post hire and receive a favorable federal adjudication. The tier of federal background investigation will be determined by job duties and national security or public trust responsibilities associated with the job. All tiers of investigation include a declaration of illegal drug activities, including use, supply, possession, or manufacture within the last 1 to 7 years (depending on the applicable tier of investigation). Illegal drug activities include marijuana and cannabis derivatives, which are still considered illegal under federal law, regardless of state laws.

For foreign national candidates:

If you have not resided in the U.S. for three consecutive years, you are not eligible for the PIV credential and instead will need to obtain a favorable Local Site Specific Only (LSSO) Federal risk determination to maintain employment. Once you meet the three-year residency requirement thereafter, you will be required to obtain a PIV credential to maintain employment. The tier of federal background investigation required to obtain the PIV credential will be determined by job duties at the time you become eligible for the PIV credential.

Mandatory Requirements

Please be aware that the Department of Energy (DOE) prohibits DOE employees and contractors from having any affiliation with the foreign government of a country DOE has identified as a “country of risk” without explicit approval by DOE and Battelle. If you are offered a position at PNNL and currently have any affiliation with the government of one of these countries, you will be required to disclose this information and recuse yourself of that affiliation or receive approval from DOE and Battelle prior to your first of employment.

Rockstar Rewards

• Regular Hourly: Employees are offered an employee assistance program and business travel insurance. Employees are eligible for the company funded pension plan and 401k savings plan, once eligibility requirements are met.
• Temporary Hourly: Employees are offered an employee assistance program and business travel insurance.

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Notice to Applicants

PNNL lists the full pay range for the position in the job posting. Starting pay is calculated from the minimum of the pay range and actual placement in the range is determined based on an individual’s relevant job-related skills, qualifications, and experience. This approach is applicable to all positions, with the exception of positions governed by collective bargaining agreements and certain limited-term positions which have specific pay rules.

As part of our commitment to fair compensation practices, we do not ask for or consider current or past salaries in making compensation offers at hire. Instead, our compensation offers are determined by the specific requirements of the position, prevailing market trends, applicable collective bargaining agreements, pay equity for the position type, and individual qualifications and skills relevant to the performance of the position.

Minimum Salary

USD $24.04/Hr.

Maximum Salary

USD $36.06/Hr.