NSIP PhD Intern - Nuclear, Chemistry & Biological Technology

Overview

Protecting U.S. residents and visitors is among our nation’s highest priorities. As adversaries gain access to sophisticated technologies and materials, the threats grow more dynamic and complex—from cyber and nuclear to chemical and biological weapons of mass effect and other forms of terrorism. The PNNL national security mission employs our researchers, tools, and technologies to play a key role in advancing the ability to identify and secure nuclear materials, detect weapons of mass effect, manage nonproliferation treaties, secure our nation's borders, and protect critical infrastructures.  PNNL’s scientific discovery and capabilities—rooted in innovative theory, methods, algorithms, and tools—are enabling stronger, more resilient technologies and systems to safeguard national security. Coupled with decades of radiological and nuclear materials expertise, advanced computing and threat analysis capabilities, and a broad fundamental science base, we are identifying and countering emerging threats that have significant impact at home and around the globe.

Responsibilities

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is seeking highly qualified students for assignments within the National Security Internship Program (NSIP).
Do you want to be challenged with hard problems in national security, energy, and science and apply cutting-edge research to make our nation safer and stronger? Do you want to perform research and development critical to prevent and counter terrorism and proliferation of weapons of mass destruction? Are you interested in chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosives measurement and materials characterization?

If you answered yes, please apply to this internship in the Nuclear, Chemistry and Biological Technologies Division.

Positions are available in Richland, WA and Seattle, WA, based on business need. Positions may also be performed remotely or on campus at PNNL based on business need.

Participants will be starting in cohort sessions and must be available to start in May or June 2025 [Summer cohort].

Your internship will land you in one of seven focus areas:

1. Applied Radiation Detection: We discover and measure radiological signatures by integrating nuclear science, novel sensor development, and data science to support interdiction, emergency response, and international treaty support.
2. Analytical Chemistry & Instrumentation: We conduct fundamental and applied research in instrument development and chemical separation and analysis method development research for trace element and radionuclide detection, environmental assessment and remediation, treaty verification, and proliferation detection and prevention. Much of the analytical services work that is performed requires measuring radionuclides at trace levels using developing and applying a variety of advanced mass spectrometry techniques.
3. Chemical and Biological Signatures: We develop integrated experimental and data analytics techniques spanning chemistry and biology to overcome threat detection challenges with solutions that can be operationalized.
4. Nuclear Material Processing Group: We conduct research, development, and analysis on nuclear materials, processes, and technologies while integrating analysts and experimentalists across nuclear and radiochemistry, material science and engineering, and nuclear engineering.
5. Nuclear Engineering: We possess a longstanding capability in nuclear engineering as well as the development and production of nuclear materials to support our nuclear deterrent and to counter proliferation of nuclear weapons. Another major focus of the group is the design, analysis, and development of advanced nuclear reactors and nuclear systems. The group also leads significant efforts in nuclear safety analysis for reactor systems and transportation packages.
6. Radiochemistry: We conduct fundamental and applied research resulting in new capabilities in trace element and radionuclide detection, environmental assessment and remediation, treaty verification, and proliferation detection and prevention. The group applies a broad range of instrument and method development knowledge, specialized chemical separation methods, and advanced spectrometric technologies in support of national security clients.
7. Nuclear Signatures: We represent PNNL’s radionuclide monitoring technical expertise where we have developed some of the world’s most sensitive radiation detection systems for radioactive gas measurements. We drive detection solutions that span fundamental physics to treaty verification by integrating modeling, experimentation, data science, and national/international relationships.

****HOW TO APPLY****

To have a complete application package, the (2) listed items below are required and must be uploaded correctly per the steps below for consideration:

Step 1: Upload Resume or CV in “Resume” section only (note: If applying to multiple positions, the most recent resume uploaded will be used for all positions an applicant applies to).

Step 2: Upload a Cover Letter separately in “Additional Documents” section of the application titled “NCBT - Summer 2025 NSIP Cover Letter”.

• Cover letter should include: Statement of interest, reference relevant college courses, and relevant experience that may include extracurricular activities that have prepared you for this career.

If any of the components (resume and cover letter) are not uploaded per the instructions above, applications will be rejected and will no longer be considered. Electronic applications will be accepted until 5:00 p.m. (PST) on the posting close date.

Qualifications

Minimum Qualifications:

• Candidates must be currently enrolled/matriculated in a PhD program at an accredited college.
• Minimum GPA of 3.3 is required.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Disciplines of interest: acoustics, analytical chemistry, biochemistry, bioinformatics, chemistry, chemical engineering, computational chemistry, computer science, criminal justice, criminal network detection, electrical engineering, electromagnetics, forensic analysis, geospatial analysis, illicit trafficking, intelligence & security studies, inorganic chemistry, law enforcement, material science, mathematical and statistical methods & modeling, mechanical engineering, metallurgy, microbiology, molecular biology, nuclear engineering, nuclear nonproliferation, nuclear physics, nuclear science, nuclear security and risk analysis, optical engineering, optics, particle physics, physical chemistry, physics, radiochemistry, radiography, security studies, software engineering, technology assessment, data analytics, and terrorism.