Graduate; Year-Round Internship – Digital Twin Development Biorefinery Processes

Graduate (Year‑Round) Internship – Digital Twin Development for Biorefinery Processes

Location: Golden, Colorado (CO)

Position Type: Intern (Fixed Term)

Hours Per Week: 40

The Integrated Carbon Conversion Processes (ICCP) Group within NREL’s Catalytic Carbon Transformation and Scale‑Up (CCTS) Center invites applicants to support senior process engineers, modelers, and data scientists. The role focuses on developing a digital twin for an experimental biological and thermocatalytic conversion platform, enabling real‑time monitoring, dynamic simulation, and predictive analytics for biomass and waste conversion to produce biofuels and bioproducts.

• Design and implement process models for biomass conversion, upgrading, and separation units.
• Integrate sensor data and historical process data into the digital twin architecture.
• Develop simulation tools and dashboards for visualization, control, and scenario analysis.
• Validate models using pilot‑scale data and participate in experimental feedback loops.
• Document assumptions, system architecture, and modeling workflows for reproducibility.
• Participate in team meetings and present regular progress updates.

Minimum 3.0 cumulative GPA. Eligibility varies by educational level:

• Undergraduate:
  Full‑time bachelor’s student.
• Post‑undergraduate:
  Bachelor’s degree earned within past 12 months.
• Graduate:
  Full‑time master’s student.
• Post‑graduate:
  Master’s degree earned within past 12 months.
• Graduate + PhD:
  Master’s completed and currently enrolled as PhD student.

• Currently pursuing or recently completed a master’s degree; or enrolled in a PhD program in computational sciences, computational engineering, mechanical engineering, chemical engineering, biological engineering, chemistry, biology, or a related field.
• Experience programming in Python and/or C++.
• Experience modeling chemical reactors (e.g., using Cantera) and integrating with CFD frameworks.

• Experience building techno‑economic models (e.g., Aspen Plus).
• Exposure to AI/ML methods for process optimization or anomaly detection.
• Experience with digital twin platforms (Any Logic, TwinCAT, Siemens Xcelerator, etc.).
• Interest in bioprocessing, energy systems, or sustainable technology development.
• Strong problem‑solving, communication, and collaboration skills.

Medical, dental, and vision insurance; 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match; sick leave (where required by law). For interns less than 20 hours per week, benefits are not available.

Annual range: $44,500 – $71,200 (based on 40 hours per week).

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to age, color, disability, gender identity, genetic information, marital status, domestic partner status, military or veteran status, national origin/ancestry, race, religion, creed, sex (including pregnancy), sexual orientation, or any other protected status under federal, state, or local law.