About the role#
Kunin is looking for an intern to join our research team in Chattanooga for the summer of 2027. You will work on one of two tracks: metallurgy or chemistry. The metallurgy track focuses on flowsheet development, leach and precipitation experiments, and ion-exchange tests on candidate resources. The chemistry track involves organic synthesis of selective ligands, attaching them to media, and characterizing the results. You will contribute to a documented experimental campaign, providing either a flowsheet recommendation or a tested functional chemistry by the end of the summer.
What you'll do#
- Plan and run bench experiments, including leaching, solvent extraction, ion-exchange tests, or multi-step organic syntheses and media functionalization.
- Analyze samples using techniques such as ICP-OES, titration, NMR, and FTIR.
- Maintain complete and accurate laboratory records.
- Build mass balances and flowsheet options or characterize ligand loading and selectivity.
- Present your results weekly to the research team.
- Write a final technical report.
- Handle acids, oxidants, solvents, and air-sensitive reagents safely.
What you'll need#
- Current undergraduate or graduate student in metallurgical engineering, extractive metallurgy, chemistry, or chemical engineering.
- Expected graduation in 2027 or 2028.
- Fluency in wet-chemistry laboratory techniques.
- For the chemistry track: experience with organic synthesis, including Schlenk techniques, purification, and NMR interpretation.
- Comfort with mass balances, speciation, and solution chemistry.
- Ability to work with spreadsheets and laboratory data systems.
- A team-oriented mindset with a focus on laboratory safety, organization, and shared equipment maintenance.
- Exposure to hydrometallurgy is preferred for the metallurgy track.
Location & details#
- This is a full-time, on-site internship located in Chattanooga, Tennessee.
- The term is for the summer of 2027, lasting approximately 12 weeks.
- This position is paid.
- You may be required to work extended hours during critical project phases.
About Kunin
Kunin develops metal recovery projects for mines, smelters, and refineries. The company uses ion exchange systems to extract elements like copper, germanium, and gallium from process streams. It partners with resource operators to build byproduct circuits. Founded in 2024, the business is based in Chattanooga, Tennessee, and employs seven people.
How to get in at Kunin
Applying early to Kunin gives you a distinct advantage because recruiters review applications before the pile grows. Intern Insider sends an instant alert the moment a role matching your target is published, so you can submit your materials among the first. This timing often determines whether your resume makes the initial cut. You can improve your response rates by reaching out to the recruiters behind these roles directly to ask about the position or a referral. Intern Insider surfaces the specific people managing Kunin hiring, which allows you to bypass the general queue and connect with a human who understands the team needs.
