Metallurgical Engineering Intern — Lab & Data Analyst

Engineering Intern (Metallurgical / Mineral Processing / Chemical) - Multiple Openings

• Location:
  
  State College, PA (on-site)
• Pay: $25-$35/hr, commensurate with education and experience
• Type:
  Part-time during academic terms and full-time temporary positions available; hourly, non-exempt
• Terms:
  
  Summer 2026 and/or Fall 2026; start and end dates flexible
• Work authorization:
  No visa sponsorship is available for this position. CPT/OPT-eligible students are encouraged to apply for this part-time, off-campus position; the company actively assists CPT/OPT-eligible students in meeting their program requirements.

Position Summary

Intel-E-Waste is hiring engineering interns to support the experimental program at the core of our process development work. This is a hands-on laboratory role in a small, funded, patent-backed startup: interns prepare and characterize samples, operate equipment, and collect and analyze data that feeds directly into decisions about what the company builds next. Interns work alongside, and report directly to, the Process Development Engineer and Managing Director.

Undergraduate and graduate students are welcome. M.S. and Ph.D. students whose research involves materials processing, separation, characterization, or related areas are especially encouraged to apply; the role is designed to be workable alongside a graduate program, with scheduling flexibility coordinated with the team.

About Intel-E-Waste

E-waste is the fastest-growing waste stream on the planet and is expected to more than double by 2050. Every discarded phone, laptop, and solar panel contains copper, gold, silver, lithium, and other critical materials essential to the clean energy economy, and today, most of it is lost to landfill.

Intel-E-Waste was founded by a research team with deep expertise in mineral processing and extractive metallurgy. Backed by federal funding and years of laboratory research, the team developed and patented a low-cost, heat-free, zero-waste process that selectively separates multiple critical materials from e-waste, adaptable to existing recycling facilities or deployable at collection sites that currently perform no material recovery. Technology is validated;

the work now is turning proven processes into scalable, deployable physical systems. Interns contribute directly to the experimental program driving that transition. Intel-E-Waste operates from its offices and laboratory in State College, PA, in Happy Valley, home to Penn State University.

What You'll Do

• Laboratory Experiment Support and Sample Preparation (~40% of time | Daily): Assist in the execution of laboratory experiments, including sample preparation, characterization, and physical and chemical separation tasks. Support equipment operation under the direction of the Process Development Engineer. Follow established experimental protocols accurately and consistently. Assist with setup, adjustment, and teardown of experiments, and contribute to general lab organization.
• Data Analysis and Reporting Support (~30% of time | Daily / Weekly):Collect, organize, and analyze experimental data using Excel and other relevant tools. Assist in preparing figures, tables, charts, and written summaries for internal reports, funding deliverables, and external communications. Ensure data is accurately recorded, clearly organized, and traceable to its source.
• Research and Documentation (~20% of time | Weekly):Conduct focused literature reviews supporting technical and process development work, and summarize findings for the engineering team. Support documentation of experimental procedures, protocols, and results in accordance with established lab standards.
• Lab Organization and General Support (~10% of time | As Needed): Contribute to the organization, cleanliness, and operational readiness of the laboratory. Support inventory awareness of lab supplies and materials, and assist with ad hoc tasks supporting the experimental program.

Required Qualifications

• Currently pursuing an undergraduate or graduate degree in chemical engineering, materials science, mineral or metallurgical engineering, environmental engineering, chemistry, or a closely related technical discipline.
• Demonstrated academic engagement with materials processing, sustainability, or related technical areas, evidenced through coursework, research involvement, or extracurricular technical activity.
• Basic proficiency in data analysis using Excel: the ability to organize, calculate, and present experimental data clearly and…