Graduate (3-month) Intern - Explainable AI for Knowledge Discovery

Posting TitleGraduate (3-month) Intern - Explainable AI for Knowledge Discovery

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LocationCO - Golden

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Position TypeIntern (Fixed Term)

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Hours Per Week20

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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 energy systems research and development.

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

The Complex Systems Simulation and Optimization Group in the NREL Computational Science Center has an opening for a graduate student researcher in Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) with special emphasis on using XAI’s capacity to interpret the predictions of deep learning models to unveil novel scientific insights. The researcher will work on utilizing data from degradation processes of clean energy materials, such solar panels and batteries, to design deep learning models and apply cutting edge XAI techniques to uncover new knowledge. This position requires developing models that utilize multi-modal data sets, composed of images, time-series, tabular data, and other forms of low- and high-dimensional materials characterization data.

We are looking for a dynamic, motivated researcher with a strong technical background and an interest in the mission of NREL. The successful candidate will:

• Collaborate with NREL domain scientists and use multi-modal materials degradation data to design performant machine learning models
• Apply state-of-the art XAI techniques on the developed black-box machine learning models to illuminate the connections between input variables and predicted outcomes
• Analyze XAI techniques’ output to uncover new scientific knowledge
• Author, present, and assist in the preparation of technical papers, reports and conference proceedings on topics related to AI and XAI in material degradation in new energy technologies

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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

• Current enrollment or recent graduation from a program in computer science, data science, computer engineering, or related fields
• Demonstrated experience developing and implementing deep learning models
• Demonstrated experience in using XAI methods
• Strong experience in machine learning libraries such as PyTorch and/or TensorFlow
• Experience with high performance computing (HPC)

Preferred Qualifications

• Strong background in convolutional neural networks
• Strong background in feature-based and concept clustering XAI techniques
• Experience with existing XAI libraries
• Experience working with high-performance computing (HPC) systems and training models on GPUs
• Experience with materials science, photovoltaic systems, or batteries

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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: $43,700 - $69,900

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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