Job Description

What Your Job Will Be Like:

The Nuclear Waste Disposal Research and Analysis Department (8842) is seeking a graduate student intern to join our multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers who are passionate about their work. Department 8842 has ongoing research activities focused on repository design concepts in argillite and crystalline host rock types, as well as advancements in repository engineered barrier systems. Staff members in Department 8842 also work in other research activities such as fundamental understanding of tank waste chemistry, and extraction of critical materials (e.g., rare earth elements, REEs) from various sources.

Are you ready to put your knowledge, skills, and experience to work crafting creative solutions to challenging problems that impact the nation? You will join this upbeat team of engineers and embark on a rewarding career!

On any given day, you may be called on to:

• Assist PIs in performing experiments including solubility measurements and sorption experiments that are important to address the near-field and far-field geochemical conditions of geological repositories.
• Assist PIs in performing experiments that are important for extraction and separation of critical materials including REEs from various sources.
• Assist PIs in modeling the geochemical processes in the near-field and far-field of geological repositories.
• Assist PIs in performing experiments including solubility measurements and kinetic experiments that are important to address the fundamental understanding of tank waste.
• Coach and mentor others in design and execution of chemistry experiments.
• Demonstrate a willingness and desire to learn how to improve the quality of research results through self-evaluation and troubleshooting to improve methodologies and protocols.
• Present research findings at conferences, project meetings, and via peer-reviewed publications

Salary Range:

At Sandia, we value the important work done by our interns and its contribution to National Security. Because of this, our interns earn competitive pay rates. Our pay structure is based on earned credit hours, classification, and degree level. Your pay rate will be determined during the hire process and included in your offer package. You can view the Intern Pay Rate chart here (https://www.sandia.gov/app/uploads/sites/51/2024/01/Student-Rate-Sheet\_2024.pdf) .

Qualifications We Require:

You bring the confidence and skills to be eligible for the job by meeting these minimum requirements:

• Earned bachelor's degree
• Currently attending and enrolled full time in an accredited science, engineering, or math graduate program
• Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0/4.0
• Ability to work up to 30 hours per week during the academic year, and up to 40 hours per week during the summer
• U.S. citizenship

Qualifications We Desire:

• Training related to Chemical Engineering, Geochemistry/Geosciences, and Chemistry.
• Basic experimental skills in aqueous chemistry/geochemistry.
• Experience with Python scripting.
• Interest in problems related to geological disposal of high-level nuclear waste (HLW).
• Interest in problems related to extraction and separation of critical materials.
• Excellent interpersonal and communication skills and a demonstrated ability to develop technical ideas and results and present them in oral and written form.
• Demonstrated ability to integrate information, datasets, and methods from multiple disciplines such as geochemistry and mineralogy.
• Demonstrated ability to coordinate diverse tasks and parallel activities across a multidisciplinary research group.
• Demonstrated ability and soft skills required to participate in and perform in a team setting
• Ability to work onsite at the Sandia Albuquerque location.

Posting Duration:

This posting will be open for application submissions for a minimum of seven (7) calendar days, including the ‘posting date’. Sandia reserves the right to extend the posting date at any time.

About Our Team:

The Nuclear Waste Disposal Research and Analysis Department develops a wide range of environmental analyses and solutions for quantifying and constraining the radiological risk from US DOE legacy nuclear wastes and commercial spent nuclear fuel. Research and development for deep geologic disposal of high-level radioactive wastes in various host rock environments is conducted to develop tools aimed at evaluating the safety of repository concepts. This work includes performing experiments, analyzing results, and developing mechanistic process models for the performance of both the natural and engineered barrier systems in a repository. The advanced technical understanding derived from these analyses is integrated and implemented directly into system performance assessments of nuclear waste repository concepts. The staff in this department also participate in a range of other research activities that are important to national security.

About Sandia:

Sandia National Laboratories is the nation’s premier science and engineering lab for national security and technology innovation, with teams of specialists focused on cutting-edge work in a broad array of areas. Some of the main reasons we love our jobs:

• Challenging work with amazing impact that contributes to security, peace, and freedom worldwide
• Extraordinary co-workers
• Some of the best tools, equipment, and research facilities in the world
• Career advancement and enrichment opportunities
• Flexible work arrangements for many positions include 9/80 (work 80 hours every two weeks, with every other Friday off) and 4/10 (work 4 ten-hour days each week) compressed workweeks, part-time work, and telecommuting (a mix of onsite work and working from home)
• Generous vacations, strong medical and other benefits, competitive 401k, learning opportunities, relocation assistance and amenities aimed at creating a solid work/life balance*

World-changing technologies. Life-changing careers. Learn more about Sandia at: http://www.sandia.gov*These benefits vary by job classification.

Security Clearance:

Sandia is required by DOE to conduct a pre-employment drug test and background review that includes checks of personal references, credit, law enforcement records, and employment/education verifications. Applicants for employment need to be able to obtain and maintain a DOE L-level security clearance, which requires U.S. citizenship. If you hold more than one citizenship (i.e., of the U.S. and another country), your ability to obtain a security clearance may be impacted.

Applicants offered employment with Sandia are subject to a federal background investigation to meet the requirements for access to classified information or matter if the duties of the position require a DOE security clearance. Substance abuse or illegal drug use, falsification of information, criminal activity, serious misconduct or other indicators of untrustworthiness can cause a clearance to be denied or terminated by the DOE, resulting in the inability to perform the duties assigned and subsequent termination of employment.

EEO:

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status and any other protected class under state or federal law.

NNSA Requirements for MedPEDs:

If you have a Medical Portable Electronic Device (MedPED), such as a pacemaker, defibrillator, drug-releasing pump, hearing aids, or diagnostic equipment and other equipment for measuring, monitoring, and recording body functions such as heartbeat and brain waves, if employed by Sandia National Laboratories you may be required to comply with NNSA security requirements for MedPEDs.

If you have a MedPED and you are selected for an on-site interview at Sandia National Laboratories, there may be additional steps necessary to ensure compliance with NNSA security requirements prior to the interview date.

Job ID: 693996

Job Family: 91

Regular/Temporary Position: T

Full/Part-Time Status: P

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or veteran status.