Undergraduate/Graduate (Year-Round) Internship – Biochemistry/Molecular Biology

Posting Title
Undergraduate/Graduate (Year-Round) Internship – Biochemistry/Molecular Biology
Location
CO - Golden
Position Type
Intern (Fixed Term)
Hours Per Week
40
COVID-19 Safety Protocols
Employment at NREL is contingent upon your compliance with all NREL and U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) safety protocols and mitigation efforts directed at the COVID-19 pandemic.
Working at NREL
The 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.
From day one at NREL, you’ll connect with coworkers driven by the same mission to save the planet. By joining an organization that values a supportive, inclusive, and flexible work environment, you’ll have the opportunity to engage through our eight employee resource groups, numerous employee-driven clubs, and learning and professional development classes.
NREL supports inclusive, diverse, and unbiased hiring practices that promote creativity and innovation. By collaborating with organizations that focus on diverse talent pools, reaching out to underrepresented demographics, and providing an inclusive application and interview process, our Talent Acquisition team aims to hear all voices equally. We strive to attract a highly diverse workforce and create a culture where every employee feels welcomed and respected and they can be their authentic selves.
Our planet needs us! Learn about NREL’s critical objectives, and see how NREL is focused on saving the planet.
Note: Research suggests that potential job seekers may self-select out of opportunities if they don't meet 100% of the job requirements. We encourage anyone who is interested in this opportunity to apply. We seek dedicated people who believe they have the skills and ambition to succeed at NREL to apply for this role.

This internship will primarily focus on conducting the set-up and execution of laboratory experiments such as protein expression, purification, characterization, and enzymatic assays. This includes preparing growth media, buffer stocks, DNA cloning and transformation, conducting gel electrophoresis, evaluating enzyme kinetics and preparing biomass samples for sugar release assays. The successful candidate will be assisting researchers working on biomass deconstruction and enzyme engineering towards the production of renewable biofuels and biochemicals. These tasks require the intern to effectively communicate with their mentor and other laboratory members about the expected work, progress toward completing that work, and any issues that arise. This internship will involve extensive time in a laboratory environment and it is essential for the intern to support a safe and efficient work environment.
Basic Qualifications
Must be enrolled as a full-time student in a Bachelor's, Master's or PhD degree program, or graduated in the past 12 months from an accredited institution. Internship period cannot exceed 12 months past graduation. Minimum of a 3.0 cumulative grade point average.
Please Note

• You will need to upload official or unofficial school transcripts as part of the application process.
• Must meet educational requirements prior to employment start date.
• If selected for position, a letter of recommendation will be required as part of the hiring process.

Additional Required Qualifications
Knowledge and/or experience with:

• Preparation of growth media and buffer stocks
• Enzyme kinetics
• Protein expression
• Protein purification
• Sugar release assays
• Gel electrophoresis/Western blotting
• DNA cloning and transformation

Preferred Qualifications
Minimum of a 3.5 cumulative grade point average.
Annual Salary Range (based on full-time 40 hours per week)
Job Profile: Undergraduate II / Annual Salary Range: $33,200 - $53,100
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 Summary
Benefits 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

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.
EEO Policy
NREL is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action 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, 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.
EEO is the Law | Pay Transparency Nondiscrimination | Reasonable Accommodations
E-Verify www.dhs.gov/E-Verify|For information about right to work, click here for English or here for Spanish.
E-Verify is a registered trademark of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. This business uses E-Verify in its hiring practices to achieve a lawful workforce.