About the role#
This internship offers hands-on experience in nuclear fuel development, materials characterization, and irradiation experiment assembly at the Materials and Fuels Complex. You will work alongside engineers, scientists, and technicians on multidisciplinary projects. This position is a paid, part-time opportunity for Summer 2027.
What you'll do#
- Support research and engineering activities related to advanced nuclear fuels and materials.
- Perform metallurgical processing, including alloying, casting, and heat treating of uranium alloys.
- Develop powder metallurgy processes for ceramic, metallic, and composite fuels.
- Apply advanced manufacturing methods such as spark plasma sintering and additive manufacturing.
- Conduct materials testing and characterization using optical microscopy, SEM, XRD, and surface-area analysis.
- Support the assembly and qualification of irradiation experiments, including welding, test-rig assembly, and nondestructive examinations.
- Design equipment, tooling, and experiment hardware using CAD software.
- Analyze experimental data and prepare technical reports, presentations, and procedures.
What you'll need#
- Current enrollment in an undergraduate or graduate degree program in Mechanical, Chemical, or Nuclear Engineering, Materials Science, Aerospace Engineering, Chemistry, or Physics.
- A minimum 3.0 overall GPA.
- Must be a US Citizen or US Green Card holder due to export control restrictions.
- Coursework or project experience in materials science, metallurgy, thermodynamics, or solid mechanics.
- Familiarity with manufacturing processes such as casting, heat treatment, or welding.
- Experience with CAD software and exposure to materials characterization techniques.
- Understanding of nuclear reactor concepts, radiation effects, or nuclear fuel cycles.
- Prior research, internship, or co-op experience in a laboratory or engineering setting.
- Ability to provide a resume, unofficial transcripts, and current class schedule.
Location & details#
- Location: Idaho Falls, ID (On-site at the Materials and Fuels Complex).
- Schedule: 4x10 work schedule.
- Note: This is a testing designated position requiring a pre-employment drug screen and periodic drug testing. Travel reimbursement may be available for eligible interns.
About Idaho National Laboratory
Idaho National Laboratory is a science-based, applied engineering national laboratory founded in 1949. It supports the United States Department of Energy through research in nuclear science, energy, and national defense. The laboratory operates from an 890-square-mile site and employs over 4,000 people. Its research spans robotics, wind power, biofuels, and critical infrastructure protection.
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