EEIP PhD Intern Nuclear Sciences

Responsibilities Are you interested in making the world a better place while gaining valuable research experience to launch your career? Pacific Northwest National Laboratory (PNNL) is seeking PhD students passionate about creating a sustainable energy future through science and engineering to join us for a 10 week paid summer internship as part of the Energy and Environment Internship Program (EEIP). Participants will begin in cohort sessions and must be available to start on May 26, 2026 or June 16, 2026 as part of the Summer 2026 cohort .

Within PNNL’s Nuclear Sciences Division, our scientists and engineers tackle some of the nation’s most complex challenges: advancing energy independence, remediating legacy nuclear waste, and strengthening national security. Our work blends experimentation, modeling, and engineering of nuclear materials and processes to deliver innovative solutions for the U.S. government and industry. If your background or interests align with chemistry, materials science, nuclear engineering, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering, or computer science , this internship places you at the center of high‑impact research.

Research Focus Areas Interns will contribute to projects within one of the following areas: Experimental and Computational Engineering Multiphase fluid dynamics, heat transport, structural and safety analysis, nuclear radiation modeling, reactive transport, and nuclear material storage and transportation Irradiation Sciences Irradiated materials characterization, dosimetry, and radiation effects Nuclear Chemistry and Engineering Radiochemical process engineering, separations, and conversion technologies Radiological Materials Waste‑form development, vitrification and immobilization, glass and materials science, cementitious materials, process development, and off‑gas capture and immobilization Reactor Materials and Mechanical Design Stress corrosion cracking, post‑irradiation and non‑destructive examination, advanced materials characterization, computational materials science and data analytics, and electro‑mechanical hardware design The Internship

Experience PNNL interns are fully integrated into research teams and supported through The Gold Experience, a summer‑long program that includes professional development, networking with scientists and engineers across the lab, and exposure to the full breadth of PNNL’s research mission. This internship is designed to accelerate your growth as a researcher and help you envision long‑term career paths in national laboratory science. Many students return for multiple summers, and a number successfully transition into full‑time roles at PNNL after graduation.

Why Apply? Gain hands‑on research experience in a national laboratory setting. Collaborate with top scientists and engineers in cutting‑edge research fields.

Build professional connections that can support future career opportunities. Positions are based in Richland, WA. Work is primarily on‑site, with remote arrangements considered only in rare circumstances and strictly based on business need.

If you’re motivated to apply your skills to real‑world problems and gain hands‑on research experience that can shape your career, we encourage you to apply. * 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 “Nuclear Sciences EEIP Cover Letter”. Cover letter should include: Statement of…