2023 Energy Storage Summer Internships
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Energy storage technology holds the key to ushering in the electric vehicle transformation and in creating the grid of the future with integrated resiliency and flexibility. Today’s battery technology is not enough. Newer chemistries, battery designs, and manufacturing processes are needed to usher changes in energy storage that can fundamentally transform the world and lead to the birth of new industries.
The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) Energy Storage Internship Program offers 10-week, hands-on, practical internships at U.S. national laboratories. Participants will conduct research or other technical activities under the guidance of a mentor who is a technical staff scientist or engineer at a national laboratory.
Background
The strong university and national laboratory-led research and development (R&D) community in the U.S. coupled with a growing industrial community from material suppliers to cell makers, auto manufactures, and utilities supports an innovation ecosystem with the potential to ensure that new lab-based technologies move to industrial production. This community has thrived with multiple DOE Offices nurturing different parts of the ecosystem from fundamental science to application-driven science, to manufacturing science. However, much remains to be done to take full advantage of this core expertise.
The Advanced Materials and Manufacturing Technologies Office (AMMTO) and the Vehicle Technologies Office (VTO) within the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE), Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE) is dedicated to improving energy and material efficiency, productivity, and competitiveness of manufacturers across the industrial sector. AMMTO and VTO bring together manufacturers, not-for-profit entities, research organizations, and institutions of higher education to identify challenges; catalyze innovations; and develop innovative materials, processes, and information technologies needed for an efficient and competitive domestic manufacturing sector.
The Vehicles Technology Office has been supporting research on electric batteries but there is an interest in exploring other aspects of energy storage. Learn more at: https://www.energy.gov/eere/vehicles/batteries-charging-and-electric-vehicles.
Why should I apply?
As a participant in the EERE Energy Storage Internship Program, you will gain a competitive edge as you apply your education, talent, and skills to the research and development of projects focused on energy storage. You will also be able to establish connections with DOE scientists and subject matter experts that promote long-term relationships between yourself, researchers, and DOE.
What will I do?
Internship activities will vary based on the assigned research project and hosting facility. You can choose the project you are most interested in for the summer! As part of your application, you will identify your top 3 research projects from the 2023 Energy Storage Project Catalog. You can review the catalog at ***https://orise.orau.gov/AMsummer/energy-storage/default.html*** by scrolling to the bottom of the webpage. While your preferences will be taken into consideration during the final selection process, it is not guaranteed that you will be offered one of the projects listed.
Benefits
- Stipend: A stipend will be provided based on academic level at the start of your internship appointment.
- Bachelor’s and post-bachelor’s students receive $700 per week
- Master’s and post-master’s students receive $900 per week
- Doctoral and postdoctoral students receive $1000 per week
- Housing: A housing allowance of $150/week will be provided if eligible. Additional housing stipend may be provided to offset high cost of living in certain locations.
- Training/Research: Up to $250 to offset relevant costs, such as fees for submitting research for publication, access to relevant training, etc.
- Travel: Travel reimbursement for inbound and outbound expenses up to $2,000 for participants who live more than fifty miles, one-way, from the assigned hosting laboratory.
Appointment Details
- Appointments will be for 10 consecutive weeks during the months of May – September 2023. Factors such as class schedules, housing availability, and laboratory schedules may be taken into consideration when determining appointment start and end dates.
- An appointment involves a full-time commitment at the host laboratory with the intern in residence on-site at the specified location.
- Interns are required to have health insurance coverage during the appointment period and to provide proof of this coverage prior to the start of the appointment.
In response to the evolving situation related to the COVID-19 pandemic, hosting sites may modify their operation schedule and access to facilities to ensure the health and safety of their entire workforce while maintaining operational effectiveness. Hence, the appointment date and location are subject to change contingent on hosting site guidelines and may result in a virtual placement.
Review and Selection Process
- Applications will undergo an eligibility and compliance check by ORISE.
- Hosting sites will review applications based on educational background, experience, interests, skills, career goals, and fit for projects.
- Hosting laboratories will submit their recommended candidates to ORISE.
- Final selection will be made by a federal official from EERE.
- EERE will notify ORISE of final selections and ORISE will notify selected candidates and hosting laboratories.
Nature of Appointment
Participants will not enter an employee/employer relationship with ORISE, ORAU, DOE, or hosting laboratory. Instead, participants will be affiliated with ORISE for the administration of the appointment through the ORISE Letter of Appointment and Terms of Appointment.
For more information, contact us at AM.Internships@orise.orau.gov.
The EERE Energy Storage Internship Program is open to students and recent graduates who meet the following qualifications:
- Be a U.S. citizen.
- Be at least 18 years old by May 1, 2023.
- Meet one of the following conditions:
- Undergraduate Student: Enrolled as a full-time student as a junior or senior at a U.S. accredited college or university during Winter/Spring 2023 and pursuing a degree in a discipline related to energy storage.
- Graduate Student: Enrolled as a full-time graduate student at a U.S. accredited college or university during Winter/Spring 2023 and pursuing a degree in a discipline related to energy storage.
- Recent graduate: Have earned an undergraduate or graduate degree in the past two years in a discipline related to energy storage.
NOTE: Eligible disciplines can be found in the list below.
A complete application submitted by Friday, February 10, 2023; 5:00 PM Eastern Time Zone consists of:
- A completed Zintellect profile.
- Essay Questions: The application includes questions specific to the opportunity.
- Academic Records: For this opportunity, an unofficial transcript or copy of the student academic records showing full-time enrollment for Winter/Spring 2023 or showing a degree was awarded within the last two years provided by the applicant or by academic advisors from internal institution systems may be submitted. Academic records must include the name, logo or other identification of the academic institution, name of the student, completed coursework, and grades.
- A current Curriculum Vitae/Resume.
- One (1) Recommendation: Applicants are required to provide contact information for one recommendation in order to complete the application. You are encouraged to request a recommendation from a professional who can speak to your abilities and potential for success as well as your scientific capabilities and personal characteristics.
- Recommendation requests must be sent through the Zintellect application system.
- Recommenders will be asked to complete a recommendation in Zintellect. Letters of recommendation submitted via email will not be accepted.
- Recommendations must be received in the Zintellect system by Friday, February 10, 2023; 5:00 PM EST.
Submitted documents must have all social security numbers, student identification numbers, and/or dates of birth removed (blanked out, blackened out, made illegible, etc.) prior to uploading into the application system. All documents must be submitted via Zintellect. All application components must be received in the system to be considered.
For additional information or questions, feel free to contact us at AM.Internships@orise.orau.gov. Please list the reference code [EERE-EnergyStorage-2023] for this opportunity in the subject line of your email.
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- Citizenship: U.S. Citizen Only
- Degree: Bachelor's Degree, Master's Degree, or Doctoral Degree received within the last 24 months or currently pursuing.
- Discipline(s):
- Age: Must be 18 years old by 5/1/2023
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