**Posting Title** Graduate (Summer) Internship – Life Cycle Inventory Modeling at Scale . **Location** CO - Golden . **Position Type** Intern (Fixed Term) . **Hours Per Week** 40 . **Working at NREL** Join a team of world-class scientists, engineers, and visionaries dedicated to shaping the world’s energy future through cutting-edge research and innovation. From our vision to our NREL community, we are unique in the research community. We are focused on impact. From our work in basic sciences to systems engineering, analysis, demonstration, and deployment, we are focused on solving market-relevant problems that result in advanced, secure, reliable, and affordable energy systems. We are trusted clean energy leaders, developing cost-saving solutions that make U.S. industries more competitive, and support job creation and economic growth across rural and urban communities. At NREL, we offer a unique, mission-driven work environment with cutting-edge facilities and multidisciplinary research teams. NREL's environment offers strong partnerships with industry, academia, and other national laboratories, as well as professional development opportunities and a competitive benefits package for employees. **Learn about NREL’s critical objectives:** NREL's Mission and Vision (https://vimeo.com/1046971396/33d4425db1?share=copy) . **Job Description** The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is seeking a highly motivated PhD student intern to support the development of next-generation, open-source life cycle inventories and integration with lifecycle analysis (LCA) software. This internship is part of a multi-year collaboration with experts in data integration, python, and life cycle assessment. The focus will be on developing capabilities for code based LCA tools and working with open-source life cycle inventory (LCI) data. We are looking for candidates with a PhD (or near completion) in Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Industrial Ecology, or a closely related discipline. Applicants must have experience with advanced LCA tools and energy systems models. Familiarity with NREL’s publicly available databases and tools (such as USLCI, Federal LCA Commons, OpenLCA) and Brightway2 is a must. The ideal candidate should have strong programming skills in Python, be self-motivated, and work independently. The candidate will join NREL’s Complex Decision Analysis (CODA) group within the Strategic Energy Analysis Center (SEAC) and collaborate with analysts and researchers on environmental sustainability and economic assessments of various industrial sectors from a systems perspective. For more information about SEAC, visit www.nrel.gov/analysis . The internship is expected to start in Summer 2025. **Internship Responsibilities:** The intern will contribute to a project aimed at developing next-generation, open-source life cycle inventories and integrating these databases into code based LCA tools. Key responsibilities include integrating LCA and energy system models, developing life cycle inventory datasets, and assisting with regional and national decision-support frameworks. Specific tasks include: + Supporting the development and addition of capabilities of a code-based life cycle assessment framework. + Integration of the USLCI open-source life cycle inventory with the Brightway2 LCA software. + Writing code to support model and method development. + Applying quantitative and qualitative research methods to assess and visualize results. + Collaborating with colleagues within and outside of NREL, particularly within the CODA group. . **Basic Qualifications** Must be enrolled as a full-time student in a Bachelor's, Master's or PhD degree program, or graduated in the past 12 months from an accredited institution. Candidates who have earned a degree may work for a period not to exceed 12 months. Must have a minimum of a 3.0 cumulative grade point average. Please Note: •You will need to upload official or unofficial school transcripts as part of the application process. •If selected for position, a letter of recommendation will be required as part of the hiring process. *** Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.** **Additional Required Qualifications** + Enrolled in a masters or PhD in Environmental Science, Environmental Engineering, Industrial Ecology, or a closely related field (completed or nearing completion). Recent graduates from a related masters program are also acceptable. + Expertise in life cycle inventories and familiarity with LCA software (e.g., GaBi, SimaPro, ActivityBrowser, or Brightway). + Strong programming skills in Python. + Self-motivated, quick learner with a proven ability to grasp new concepts and develop skills as needed. + Ability to work independently and as part of a team. + Availability to start before September 2025 and ideally before May 2025. **Preferred Qualifications** + Familiarity with NREL’s databases and tools such as USLCI, Federal LCA Commons, OpenLCA, and USLCI. + Knowledge in multiple disciplines, including engineering, software development, sustainability, or renewable energy. + Interdisciplinary curiosity and a desire to broaden technical skills. + Experience using GitHub or other code-sharing platforms. + Strong analytical skills with a demonstrated ability to apply theoretical concepts to real-world scenarios. . **Job Application Submission Window** The anticipated closing window for application submission is up to 30 days and may be extended as needed. **Annual Salary Range (based on full-time 40 hours per week)** Job Profile: / Annual Salary Range: $50,200 - $80,300 NREL takes into consideration a candidate’s education, training, and experience, expected quality and quantity of work, required travel (if any), external market and internal value, including seniority and merit systems, and internal pay alignment when determining the salary level for potential new employees. In compliance with the Colorado Equal Pay for Equal Work Act, a potential new employee’s salary history will not be used in compensation decisions. **Benefits Summary** Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match*; and sick leave (where required by law). NREL employees may be eligible for, but are not guaranteed, performance-, merit-, and achievement- based awards that include a monetary component. Some positions may be eligible for relocation expense reimbursement. Internships projected to be less than 20 hours per week are not eligible for medical, dental, or vision benefits. ***** Based on eligibility rules **Badging Requirement** NREL is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All employees must also be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card as required by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12), which includes a favorable background investigation. Intern assignments extending beyond six months will be subject to this requirement. **Drug Free Workplace** NREL is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace in accordance with the federal Drug-Free Workplace Act and complies with federal laws prohibiting the possession and use of illegal drugs. Under federal law, marijuana remains an illegal drug. If you are offered employment at NREL, you must pass a pre-employment drug test prior to commencing employment. Unless prohibited by state or local law, the pre-employment drug test will include marijuana. If you test positive on the pre-employment drug test, your offer of employment may be withdrawn. **Submission Guidelines** Please note that in order to be considered an applicant for any position at NREL you must submit an application form for each position for which you believe you are qualified. Applications are not kept on file for future positions. Please include a cover letter and resume with each position application. . **EEO Policy** NREL is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard basis of age (40 and over), color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic partner status, military or veteran status, national origin/ancestry, race, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy, childbirth, breastfeeding), sexual orientation, and any other applicable status protected by federal, state, or local laws. EEO is the Law (http://www.dol.gov/ofccp/regs/compliance/posters/ofccpost.htm) | Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination (https://www.dol.gov/ofccp/pdf/pay-transp\_English\_unformattedESQA508c.pdf) | **Reasonable Accommodations (http://www.nrel.gov/careers/employment-policies.html)** **E** **-Verify** **www.dhs.gov/E-Verify** **For information about right to work, click here (http://www.justice.gov/sites/default/files/crt/legacy/2013/08/13/FinalOSCPosterEN08\_01\_2013.pdf) for English or** **here (http://www.justice.gov/crt/file/813271/download) for Spanish.** E-Verify is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This business uses E-Verify in its hiring practices to achieve a lawful workforce. The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is a leader in the U.S. Department of Energy’s effort to secure an environmentally and economically sustainable energy future. With locations in Golden and Boulder, Colorado, and a satellite office in Washington, D.C., NREL is the primary laboratory for research, development, and deployment of renewable energy technologies in the United States. NREL is subject to Department of Energy (DOE) access restrictions. All candidates must be authorized to access the facility per DOE rules and guidance within a reasonable time frame for the specified position in order to be considered for an interview and for hiring. DOE rules for site access during the interview process depend on whether the candidate is interviewed on-site, off-site, or via telephone or videoconference. All employees must also be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card as required by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD-12), which includes a favorable background investigation. Additionally, DOE contractor employees are prohibited from participating in certain Foreign Government Talent Recruitment Programs (FGTRPs). If a candidate is currently participating in an FGTRP, they will be required to disclose their participation after receiving an offer of employment and may be required to disengage from participation in the FGTRP prior to commencing employment. Any offer of employment is conditional on the ability to obtain work authorization and to be granted access to NREL by the Department of Energy (DOE). **Drug Free Workplace** NREL is committed to maintaining a drug-free workplace in accordance with the federal Drug-Free Workplace Act and complies with federal laws prohibiting the possession and use of illegal drugs. Under federal law, marijuana remains an illegal drug. If you are offered employment at NREL, you must pass a pre-employment drug test prior to commencing employment. Unless prohibited by state or local law, the pre-employment drug test will include marijuana. If you test positive on the pre-employment drug test, your offer of employment may be withdrawn. Please review the information on our Hiring Process (https://www.nrel.gov/careers/hiring-process.html) website before you create an account and apply for a job. We also hope you will learn more about NREL (https://www.nrel.gov/about/) , visit our Careers site (https://www.nrel.gov/careers/) , and continue to search for job opportunities (https://nrel.wd5.myworkdayjobs.com/NREL) at the lab.