Microwave Properties and Modeling

Organization

National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL)

National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL)

NETL-PIP-2026-Shekhawat

12/31/2026 11:59:00 PM Eastern Time Zone

The National Energy Technology Laboratory's (NETL's) record of success has been built on understanding the future of energy and the technologies required to make that future possible. We’ve long touted our success in developing the technologies that took on acid rain in the 1970s and mercury in the early 2000s.

The Professional Internship Program is designed to introduce undergraduate students and recent Bachelor's graduates to the challenges of conducting energy research, and enable graduate students and recent Master's graduates to further build off their studies and experience as they join the scientific community. Participants interact daily with assigned mentors who guide research and project activities during the internship, while they become integral members of project teams.

The program goals include providing the opportunity to participants to:

• Develop skills and knowledge in their field of study
• Engage with new areas of basic and applied research
• Transition classroom theory into hands‑on experience
• Network with world‑class scientists
• Exchange ideas and skills with the Laboratory community
• Use state‑of‑the‑art equipment
• Contribute to answers for today’s pressing scientific questions
• Collaborate with the broader scientific and technical communities

Through the Oak Ridge Institute for Science and Education (ORISE), this posting seeks a student researcher, recent Bachelor's graduate, or recent Master's graduate to engage in projects with the Research Innovation Center (RIC) at the National Energy Technology Laboratory (NETL) in the area of Coal Conversion & Products under the mentorship of Dushyant Shekhawat. This project will be hosted at the NETL Morgantown, WV campus.

The Center for Microwave Chemistry is developing state‑of‑the‑art microwave‑based processes for a wide range of chemical and process applications, including catalysis, hydrocarbon conversion, fuels and chemical synthesis, and critical mineral extraction. The development of accurate models for process design and scale‑up requires reliable characterization of material properties relevant to microwave heating. NETL is equipped with advanced materials characterization capabilities, and the participant will investigate microwave‑relevant properties of a diverse range of materials, including, but not limited to, catalysts, ceramics, semiconductors, ores, solvents, and newly synthesized materials.

The research will include measuring dielectric properties at elevated temperatures, thermal conductivity, specific heat capacity, density, porosity, and other relevant material properties. The participant will also analyze and interpret characterization data to identify trends, evaluate reproducibility and measurement reliability, and develop a fundamental understanding of material behavior under relevant conditions. An additional component of the research will be collaborating on the development and documentation of standard operating procedures (SOPs) for the various material characterization and measurement systems to ensure consistent, reliable, and reproducible measurements.

• Gain a fundamental understanding of microwave–material interactions and the principles governing microwave heating, providing a foundation for understanding the design and development of microwave‑assisted processes.
• The research is expected to generate opportunities for peer‑reviewed publications and presentations at national and international technical…