R&D Undergraduate Intern, Materials Chemistry

What Your Job Will Be Like

We are seeking a year-round R&D Undergraduate Intern to join our team in the Materials Chemistry Department at Sandia National Laboratories. This role involves contributing to critical research and development efforts within a collaborative environment.

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

• Work on the design, synthesis, and characterization of chelating molecules for critical material capture.
• Contribute to the development of luminescent materials for radiation detection.
• Participate in research focused on biofuel production.
• Interact with other experimentalists in the department to maintain a collaborative environment.
• Document your work in the form of a report, manuscript, or internal presentation.

Due to the nature of the work, the selected applicant must be able to work onsite.

Salary Range

At Sandia National Laboratories, we value the important work done by our interns and its contribution to National Security. Because of this, our interns earn competitive pay rates. Our pay structure is based on earned credit hours, classification, and degree level. Your pay rate will be determined during the hire process and included in your offer package. The Intern Pay Rate chart provides further details.

Qualifications We Require

You bring the confidence and skills to be eligible for the R&D Undergraduate Intern, Materials Chemistry job by meeting these minimum requirements:

• Currently attending and enrolled full-time in an accredited undergraduate program.
• Pursuing a science, engineering, or math major.
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0/4.0.
• Ability to work up to 25 hours per week during the academic year, and up to 40 hours per week during the summer.
• Must be a U.S. citizen, legal permanent resident, asylee, or refugee in the U.S.

Note: If you have not earned a HS diploma or equivalent, please apply to a high school intern position.

Qualifications We Desire

Candidates with the following qualifications will be highly regarded:

• Pursuing a chemistry or chemical engineering major.
• Experience with common synthetic laboratory techniques, including but not limited to: inert manipulation of chemical reactions, chromatographic purification, vacuum distillation, and analytical techniques (TLC, NMR, GC-MS, FT-IR).
• Experience in chemical catalysis.
• Good communication skills as evidenced by a record of publication of results in peer-reviewed journals and external presentations at scientific conferences.
• Familiarity with office software and graphic presentation of data.
• Self-motivated and able to follow direction and work independently.

About Our Team

The Materials Chemistry Department is a group of Chemists, Material Scientists, and Chemical Engineers who actively supports the nation's nuclear weapons stockpile by providing materials expertise to SNL's non-nuclear components. We use our understanding of chemical properties to design, evaluate, and exploit monomers, polymers, and functional materials. Our core competencies span foams, composites, adhesives, plastics, surface finishing, and electrochemical deposition. We have the facilities for materials characterization, design prototyping, and WR processing.

About Sandia National Laboratories

Sandia National Laboratories is the nation’s premier science and engineering lab for national security and technology innovation, with teams of specialists focused on cutting-edge work in a broad array of areas. Some of the main reasons we love our jobs:

• Challenging work with amazing impact that contributes to security, peace, and freedom worldwide.
• Extraordinary co-workers.
• Some of the best tools, equipment, and research facilities in the world.
• Career advancement and enrichment opportunities.
• Flexible work arrangements for many positions include 9/80 and 4/10 compressed workweeks, part-time work, and telecommuting (a mix of onsite work and working from home).
• Generous vacation, strong medical and other benefits, competitive 401k, learning opportunities, relocation assistance, and amenities aimed at creating a solid work/life balance.

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

Security Clearance

This position does not currently require a Department of Energy (DOE) security clearance. Sandia will conduct a pre-employment drug test and background review that includes checks of personal references, credit, law enforcement records, and employment/education verifications. Employees in New Mexico need to pass a U.S. Air Force background screen for 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 cause access to be denied or terminated, resulting in the inability to perform the duties assigned and subsequent termination of employment. Under federal law, citizens and agents of certain countries are generally prohibited from accessing Sandia National Laboratories. Accordingly, such individuals will not be considered for employment unless they are also a citizen of the United States.

EEO Statement

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 or defibrillator, you may be required to comply with NNSA security requirements. If selected for an on-site interview, additional steps may be necessary to ensure compliance prior to your interview date.

Key skills/competency

• Materials Chemistry
• Chemical Synthesis
• Spectroscopy (NMR, GC-MS, FT-IR)
• Chromatography
• Catalysis
• Inert Atmosphere Techniques
• Research Documentation
• Data Analysis
• Problem Solving
• Collaboration