PhD Intern - Reactor Materials

Pacific Northwest National Laboratory • Richland, WA

17h

About The Position

At PNNL, our core capabilities are divided among major departments that we refer to as Directorates within the Lab, focused on a specific area of scientific research or other function, with its own leadership team and dedicated budget.
Our Science & Technology directorates include National Security, Earth and Biological Sciences, Physical and Computational Sciences, and Energy and Environment. In addition, we have an Environmental Molecular Sciences Laboratory, a Department of Energy, Office of Science user facility housed on the PNNL campus.
The Energy and Environment Directorate delivers science and technology solutions for the nation’s biggest energy and environmental challenges. Our more than 1,700 staff support the Department of Energy (DOE), delivering on key DOE mission areas including: modernizing our nation’s power grid to maintain a reliable, affordable, secure, and resilient electricity delivery infrastructure; research, development, validation, and effective utilization of renewable energy and efficiency technologies that improve the affordability, reliability, resiliency, and security of the American energy system; and resolving complex issues in nuclear science, energy, and environmental management.
The Nuclear Sciences Division, part of the Energy and Environment Directorate, delivers science and technology innovations for the environment, energy, and national security. At a time when complex challenges are emerging on many fronts, we address some of the most challenging national and international nuclear issues. This includes providing technological solutions that protect the public health and safety around nuclear facilities, developing durable new materials for extreme nuclear environments, innovating new nuclear processes for the safety and security of the nation, and delivering new approaches for accelerating environmental cleanup of nuclear sites. The division’s capabilities and efforts are focused on environmental management of nuclear sites, nuclear regulatory processes, national nuclear security, and advancing nuclear energy.
The Reactor Materials Group is seeking a PhD student for a 10‑week summer internship on the Materials Dynamics Team to support research on advanced alloy systems for plasma-facing components in nuclear fusion reactors. The intern will focus on microstructural and compositional characterization of promising alloys using cutting-edge atomistic modeling techniques including density functional theory and molecular dynamics simulations with machine learning interatomic potentials. Working closely with staff scientists, the student will help design simulations and interpret results to understand the mechanical properties of the alloys under extreme conditions. The project will provide hands-on experience with high-performance computing facilities and data analysis workflows. The intern will be expected to perform high-quality research suitable for publication in peer‑reviewed journals. This position offers an opportunity to gain domain expertise in fusion materials and to work in a collaborative, multidisciplinary research environment.

Requirements

• Candidates must be currently enrolled/matriculated in a PhD program at an accredited college.
• Minimum GPA of 3.0 is required.
• Deep understanding of dislocation theory.
• Advanced skills in various atomistic simulation techniques, including machine learning potentials such as neural evolution potentials, molecular dynamics with LAMMPS, and density functional theory with VASP.
• Experience using high-performance computing clusters.
• Experience with OVITO.
• Experience with python is desired.
• Experience working on nuclear materials and radiation/helium effects is desired.
• Experience working with materials for plasma-facing components is desired.

Responsibilities

• The intern will focus on microstructural and compositional characterization of promising alloys using cutting-edge atomistic modeling techniques including density functional theory and molecular dynamics simulations with machine learning interatomic potentials.
• Working closely with staff scientists, the student will help design simulations and interpret results to understand the mechanical properties of the alloys under extreme conditions.
• The project will provide hands-on experience with high-performance computing facilities and data analysis workflows.
• The intern will be expected to perform high-quality research suitable for publication in peer‑reviewed journals.

Benefits

• Employees are offered an employee assistance program and business travel insurance.
• Employees are eligible for the company funded pension plan and 401k savings plan, once eligibility requirements are met.

What This Job Offers

• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: Ph.D. or professional degree