Graduate; Power System Stability Analysis Intern

Graduate (6-12 months) Power System Stability Analysis Intern –

Location:

Golden, CO

The National Laboratory of the Rockies (NLR) is located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado. It is the nation's primary laboratory for energy systems research and development. The laboratory conducts foundational science and applied systems engineering focused on delivering advanced, secure, reliable, and cost‑effective energy solutions.

You will work on a cutting‑edge project focused on the stability analysis of power systems with a high penetration of inverter‑based resources (IBRs). Your work will involve analyzing real‑time data from more than 100 Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs) to identify grid disturbances, detect oscillations, and assess system strength.

• Analyze PMU data from over 100 PMUs to monitor power system stability and detect grid disturbances.
• Create visualizations of grid strength and stability based on PMU data, such as heat maps of grid inertia, voltage profile, and equivalent short‑circuit ratio.
• Develop techniques to improve resilience and reliability of future power grids dominated by IBRs.
• Produce detailed reports on oscillation detection, system strength assessment, and grid stability findings.
• Provide recommendations for mitigating potential stability risks.
• Collaborate with power system engineers, control experts, and software developers to refine system models, improve analysis techniques, and support operational decision‑making.
• Contribute to technical documentation and the generation of research papers.

• Minimum GPA of 3.0 cumulative.
• Undergraduate:
  Must be enrolled full‑time in a bachelor’s degree program at an accredited institution.
• Post‑undergraduate:
  Must have earned a bachelor’s degree within the past 12 months and be eligible for an internship period up to one year.
• Graduate:
  Must be enrolled full‑time in a master’s degree program at an accredited institution.
• Post‑graduate:
  Must have earned a master’s degree within the past 12 months and be eligible for an internship period up to one year.
• Graduate + PhD:
  Must have completed a master’s degree and be enrolled as a PhD student at an accredited institution.

• Completed a bachelor’s degree and either be enrolled in or recently graduated from a master’s program, or be enrolled in a PhD program in electrical engineering with power‑systems stability focus.
• Demonstrated experience in power system stability analysis, particularly in I ‑dominant grids.
• Proven experience in PMU data analysis, including oscillation detection, system stability analysis, and event identification.
• Knowledge of power system stability metrics such as Equivalent Short‑Circuit Ratio (ESCR), system inertia estimation, and oscillation mode identification.
• Experience in signal processing such as time‑domain filtering and noise reduction, as well as frequency‑domain techniques like fast‑Fourier transformation and mode analysis.
• Proficiency in Python or another major programming language.
• Experience with power system simulation software (e.g., MATLAB/Simulink/PSCAD).
• Strong analytical and problem‑solving abilities and the capacity to work with large datasets to derive actionable insights.

• Current PhD student in electrical engineering with a power‑systems focus.
• Knowledge or experience in frequency‑domain and time‑domain analysis for power systems.

Annual salary range (full‑time 40 hours per week): $51,200 – $81,900. Benefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match; and sick leave as required by law. Interns working fewer than 20 hours per week are not eligible for medical, dental, or vision benefits.

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to 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.

Applicants must be authorized to work in the United States. All employees must be able to obtain and maintain a federal Personal Identity Verification (PIV) card as required by Homeland Security Presidential Directive 12 (HSPD‑12), and must pass a pre‑employment drug test in accordance with federal law. Drug‑free workplace required.