Graduate PhD (Summer/Year Round) Intern – Modeling, Analysis, and Control of High-Power Grid-Connected Power Electronics Converters

The National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) is seeking a Graduate PhD Intern for summer/year-round work in modeling and control of high-power grid-connected power electronics converters. The role involves advancing converter design, developing control techniques, and collaborating with industry and research teams. This internship offers a mission-driven environment focused on renewable energy innovation and professional development opportunities, with a flexible location allowing remote work.
Posting TitleGraduate PhD (Summer/Year Round) Intern – Modeling, Analysis, and Control of High-Power Grid-Connected Power Electronics Converters

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LocationCO - Golden

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Position TypeIntern (Fixed Term)

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Hours Per Week40

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Working at NRELThe National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), located at the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Golden, Colorado is the nation's primary laboratory for research and development of renewable energy and energy efficiency technologies.

Join the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), where world-class scientists, engineers, and experts are accelerating energy innovation through breakthrough research and systems integration. From our mission to our collaborative culture, NREL 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 NREL, 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.

Learn about NREL’s critical objectives: NREL's Mission and Vision.

Job Description

NREL’s Power Systems Engineering Center (PSEC) works on all aspects of grid integration of advanced energy technologies. Within PSEC, the Integrated Devices and Systems group focuses on fast timescale challenges related to integration of high levels of inverter-based resources (IBRs), using techniques including power hardware-in-the-loop experimentation, power electronics, phasor-domain dynamic modeling, electromagnetic transient (EMT) modeling, grid integration standards, advanced protection, and advanced controls including grid-forming inverter controls, etc. We often lead research in NREL’s power labs including the Energy Systems Integration Facility and the Flatirons Campus. We work closely with industry partners and leading academic researchers to identify solutions for the rapidly evolving power system.

Job duties may include but are not limited to:
• Contribute to advancing grid-connected converter design and control technologies
• Develop control techniques for high-power converters in renewable energy applications, such as cascaded multilevel grid-connected converters (CHB-DAB and MMCs) and conventional two or three-level converters
• Analyze novel grid-forming control followed by software and hardware validation
• Develop module-level control and converter-level control, as well as plant-level control for grid supports and additional functionalities, such as droop control and grid-forming control
• Design grid-forming inverter controls for non-ideal operating conditions, such as unbalanced network/grid or fault conditions
• Collaborate with research team and industry stakeholders

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Basic QualificationsMinimum of a 3.0 cumulative grade point average.
Undergraduate: Must be enrolled as a full-time student in a bachelor’s degree program from an accredited institution.
Post Undergraduate: Earned a bachelor’s degree within the past 12 months. Eligible for an internship period of up to one year.
Graduate: Must be enrolled as a full-time student in a master’s degree program from an accredited institution.
Post Graduate: Earned a master’s degree within the past 12 months. Eligible for an internship period of up to one year.
Graduate + PhD: Completed master’s degree and enrolled as PhD student from an accredited institution.
Please Note:
• Applicants are responsible for uploading 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.
• Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.

Additional Required Qualifications
• Must be a Ph.D. Student in electrical engineering or related field
• Demonstrated knowledge or experience in Power Electronics Design and Control (research experience in microgrids, cascaded multilevel converters, or multiple inverter coordination is highly preferred)
• Software skills: MATLAB/Simulink SimPowerSystems, PLECS, PSIM, or other power electronics circuit software simulation tools
• Excellent writing and communications skills and ability to present technical results to wide audience

Preferred Qualifications
• Experience in power converter hardware prototyping and debugging
• Power electronics converter firmware development experience
• Texas Instruments DSP experience including Code Composer Studio and/or Code Generation Environment
• Experience in hardware-in-the-loop testing

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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: $50,200 - $80,300

NREL 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 SummaryBenefits include medical, dental, and vision insurance; 403(b) Employee Savings Plan with employer match*; and sick leave (where required by law). NREL 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 RequirementNREL 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

NREL 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 NREL, 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 NREL 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.

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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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