Careers
Graduate Internships

Graduate Internships

Learn about the many programs and opportunities available to graduate students.

Graduate students participating in the Hands-On PV Experience (HOPE) workshop work with NREL scientist Tim Silverman taking measurements and characterizations of 3-5 and crystalline silicon PV modules in the lab.

NREL's Research Participant Program

NREL's Research Participant Program provides graduate students with mentorship, hands-on experience, and professional development activities designed to strengthen technical and professional skills.

NREL researcher Emma Raszmann works in the Energy Storage Lab.

Office of Science Graduate Student Research

The Office of Science Graduate Student Research program prepares graduate students for science, technology, engineering, or mathematics (STEM) careers critically important to the U.S. Department of Energy's Office of Science mission, by providing graduate thesis research opportunities at national laboratories.

NREL researcher Felicia Bratti utilizes a Biolector to evaluate the performance of engineered P. putida in a mixture of substrates released by catalytic depolymerization of mixed plastics.

Mines/NREL Advanced Energy Systems Graduate Program

The Mines/NREL Advanced Energy Systems graduate program trains graduates to enter the workforce in roles supporting advanced energy innovation and energy systems integration in government, academia, nonprofits, and the private sector.

GEM Fellowship Program

The GEM organization recruits under-represented minorities (Black/Hispanic/Native American) in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM) who are in graduate school or interested in going to graduate school. GEM works with universities and employers to help fund up to 5 years of a doctorate or 2 years of a master's program and an internship at NREL.

Four people stand in front of a wall bearing a presentation slide; one speaks and gestures toward the slide.

Enabling Native Researchers and Other Minorities Through Graduate Engineering Internship Program

NREL's Enabling Native Researchers and Other Minorities Through Graduate Engineering summer internship program offers undergraduate and graduate students at minority-serving institutions hands-on experience in engineering disciplines of power, energy, and cybersecurity.

Compare Our Graduate Programs
	Term	Application Due	Deliverables	Apply and Contact
NREL's Research Participant Program	Year-round and summer	No deadline until position is filled	Poster presentation (optional)	Apply to NREL's Research Participant Program. Select Intern under Job Type. Contact: Diona Duvall
Office of Science Graduate Student Research	3–12 months	December March July	Project Plan, Technical Report	Apply to the Office of Science Graduate Student Research. Contact: Danelle Wilder
Mines/NREL Advanced Energy Systems Graduate Program	2–4 years	Priority application deadline – Dec. 15	Non-thesis master's degree or Ph.D. degree	Apply to the Mines/NREL Advanced Energy Systems Degree Program. Contact: The Mines/NREL Advanced Energy Systems team
GEM Fellowship Program	Minimum 10 weeks	November	Technical Presentation	Apply to the GEM Fellowship. Contact: Danelle Wilder
NREL's Enabling Native Researchers and Other Minorities Through Graduate Engineering Internship Program	Summer	End of January	Abstract(s), presentation(s), progress report(s), research report(s) (or similar product)	Applications will be posted on the NREL Careers site when they become available. Contact: Danish Saleem or Chelsea Quilling