Research Aide - ESIA - Obadiah, Emo - 3.10.26

Argonne National Laboratory • Lemont, IL

2d • $31 - $47

About The Position

Project Scope Co-processing bio-derived feedstocks in conventional petroleum refineries can diversify feedstock sources and enable production of drop-in fuels while leveraging existing refinery infrastructure. Robust life-cycle analysis (LCA) in this area requires careful definition of system boundaries, appropriate treatment of biogenic carbon, and consistent accounting of upstream and refinery-stage energy use and emissions. Previous Argonne co-processing LCAs relied on detailed linear-programming (LP) refinery modelling with process-level inputs/outputs. To avoid resource intensive modeling that depends on comprehensive refinery data, this project will focus on developing and validating streamlined approaches. This will support evaluation of a broader range of co-processing conditions, including different feedstocks, insertion points, refinery configurations, and product slates. Research Activities The research aide will work with Argonne staff to review prior analyses and relevant literature, building a foundation on co-processing concepts and LCA methodologies. The aide will help identify key factors that influence LCA results for co-processed fuels, including feedstock characteristics, refinery insertion points, refinery configuration and operating conditions, product slates, and methodological choices. Based on the reviewed methods, the research aide will conduct analyses to evaluate a broad range of co-processing pathway options. The aide will summarize findings in internal documents or memos and share progress through discussions and/or brief presentations with Argonne project team. Along with the analysis methods and results, outstanding issues and caveats will also be documented to help identify when simplified methods may be appropriate and where more detailed analysis is warranted.

Requirements

• The entirety of the appointment must be conducted within the United States.
• Applicants must be: ‒ Currently enrolled in undergraduate or graduate studies at an accredited institution. ‒ Graduated from an accredited institution within the past 3 months; or ‒ Actively enrolled in a graduate program at an accredited institution.
• Must be 18 years or older at the time the appointment begins.
• Must possess a cumulative GPA of 3.0 on a 4.0 scale.
• If accepting an offer, must pass a screening drug test
• Must complete a satisfactory background check

Responsibilities

• Work with Argonne staff to review prior analyses and relevant literature, building a foundation on co-processing concepts and LCA methodologies.
• Help identify key factors that influence LCA results for co-processed fuels, including feedstock characteristics, refinery insertion points, refinery configuration and operating conditions, product slates, and methodological choices.
• Conduct analyses to evaluate a broad range of co-processing pathway options.
• Summarize findings in internal documents or memos and share progress through discussions and/or brief presentations with Argonne project team.
• Document analysis methods and results, outstanding issues and caveats to help identify when simplified methods may be appropriate and where more detailed analysis is warranted.
• Weekly: Internal Teams meeting (progress updates and discussion; brief slides as needed).
• By end of August 2026: Interim presentation (PowerPoint) to the team summarizing task scope, analysis approach/direction, and preliminary results.
• By end of December 2026: Final write-up (Word memo/report) documenting methods, assumptions, results, implications, and key caveats; final analysis file(Excel) compiling all evaluated cases and res ults.

Benefits

• comprehensive benefits are part of the total rewards package.
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• As an equal employment opportunity employer, and in accordance with our core values of impact, safety, respect, integrity and teamwork, Argonne National Laboratory is committed to a safe and welcoming workplace that fosters collaborative scientific discovery and innovation.
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• Argonne employees, and certain guest researchers and contractors, are subject to particular restrictions related to participation in Foreign Government Sponsored or Affiliated Activities, as defined and detailed in United States Department of Energy Order 486.1A. You will be asked to disclose any such participation in the application phase for review by Argonne's Legal Department.
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• Failure to obtain or maintain such government access authorization could result in the withdrawal of a job offer or future termination of employment.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Intern
• Education Level: No Education Listed
• Number of Employees: 1,001-5,000 employees