Posting Title

Post-Graduate (Year-Round) Intern - Agricultural Energy

Location

CO - Golden

Position Type

Intern (Fixed Term)

Hours Per Week

Working at NLR

NLR is located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado is the nation's primary laboratory for energy systems research and development.

Join the National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR), where world-class scientists, engineers, and experts are accelerating energy innovation through breakthrough research and systems integration. From our mission to our collaborative culture, NLR stands out in the research community for its commitment to an affordable and secure energy future. Spanning foundational science to applied systems engineering and analysis, we focus on solving complex challenges to deliver advanced, secure, reliable, and cost-effective energy solutions. Our work helps strengthen U.S. industries, support job creation, and promote national economic growth.

At NLR, you'll find a mission-driven environment supported by state-of-the-art facilities, multidisciplinary research teams, and strong collaborations with industry, academia, and other national laboratories. We offer robust professional development opportunities, and a competitive benefits package designed to support your career and well-being.

Job Description

This intern will assist the Innovative Solar Practices Integrated with Rural economies and Ecosystems (InSPIRE) team with stakeholder engagement and educational material development for the InSPIRE Agrivoltaics Technical Assistance Program and perform on-site crop data collection at the Bifacial Agrivoltaics Research at NLR (BARN) site to study the impact of agrivoltaic production on crop yield and phenology, soil health, water stress, and more.

Preference will be given to candidates working toward a degree on agrivoltaic-relevant topics, with consideration towards how the work of this project could contribute toward their academic goals. The team at NLR has in-depth knowledge and experience in energy-water-food nexus analysis that will provide a philosophical if not tactical framing for this project. The applicant should be able to work independently within a team environment.

Specific Job Duties may include:

Geospatial and technical potential analysis of on-farm energy opportunities
On-farm energy data collection, including agrivoltaics field research
On-farm energy technical assistance for interested stakeholders
Literature review and data catalog of on-farm energy opportunities

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

Demonstrated skill and experience with analyses of agriculture, energy, and water data sets
Excellent oral and written communication as well as recordkeeping
The ability to work independently within a team environment.

Preferred Qualifications

Familiarity with federal and state agriculture, energy, and water data sets is preferred for this position.
Knowledge of statistical methods, agricultural practices, solar energy development, economic assessment, ecosystem services, and GIS capabilities are desirable but not required.
Proven abilities to develop informative papers and presentations and to manage work to meet deadlines.
Preference will be given to candidates working toward their degree on agrivoltaic topics, with consideration towards how the work of this project could contribute toward their academics or dissertation.
Previous experience with agricultural policy, energy policy, water policy, and energy development
A strong publication record compared to peers at similar levels of education and career experience.

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: $51,200 - $81,900

NLR 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). NLR 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

NLR 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

NLR 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 NLR, 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 NLR 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.

Equal Opportunity 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.

Reasonable Accommodations

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