Graduate PhD (Summer) Intern – Battery Health/Life Estimation Algorithms

Posting TitleGraduate PhD (Summer) Intern – Battery Health/Life Estimation Algorithms

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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 NREL

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 ten 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.

We invite all interested candidates to apply for this opportunity. While we recognize that job seekers may hesitate if they don’t meet every requirement, we encourage dedicated individuals who meet all the basic and additional required qualifications of the role to submit an application. We value the opportunity to consider those who believe they have the necessary skills and ambition to succeed at NREL.

Job Description

NREL’s Electrochemical Energy Storage Group (EESG) works to accelerate the development of emerging battery energy storage technologies into new applications. The group is a recognized leader in diagnostics, characterization and modeling of batteries. Active research projects in the group include battery recycling process development, manufacturing, development/evaluation of novel chemistries (silicon, solid-state electrolytes, Li-sulfur, Na-ion), safety research on novel chemistries and solutions, extreme fast charge, and heavy-duty truck and mining electrification.  

In support of the U.S. Dept. of Energy Office of Electricity’s Rapid Operational Validation Initiative, NREL and national lab partners are developing methods to accurately predict 15- to 20-year battery lifetime using less than 1 year of data. Techniques employ a combination of physics models, laboratory/field experiments, data science, and control/estimation algorithms. We are seeking a PhD student intern to help advance this research. The successful candidate will be exposed to NREL researchers developing battery software tools including: 

• The Battery Lifetime Analysis and Simulation Tool (BLAST), a Matlab/Python tool suite that assesses the performance and lifespan of battery cells and systems.  

• The AI-Batt tool, which uses machine learning and expert insight to identify accurate models for battery life prediction 

• Multi-physics models for battery computer-aided engineering, electrode microstructure diagnostics and design, and safety 

 

Job duties will include but are not limited to: 

• Run computer simulations testing Kalman-Filter estimation algorithms to diagnose battery state of health (SOH) and prognose remaining useful lifetime (RUL). 

• Assess the accuracy of the algorithms against accelerated battery aging test data 

• Analyze new data from independent validation experiments, presently underway, quantifying degradation under complex, dynamic aging scenarios.  

• Evaluate the SOH/RUL estimation algorithm’s accuracy against the new data 

• Document results in written reports and support the team in writing a journal article. 

• Propose future work ideas to adapt the algorithms to other electrochemical energy-storage chemistries including Li-ion iron phosphate and Na-ion.  

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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

• Completed an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, data science, or similar discipline relevant to real-time estimation, prognostics, and health management 

• Be enrolled in PhD program in similar relevant discipline and competed at least one year in same program, with focus on battery research 

• Experience or coursework in real-time estimation algorithms including Kalman Filters (linear, unscented, extended variants) or Particle Filters 

• MATLAB and Python programming. Github code repositories

Preferred Qualifications

• Experience with online estimation and optimization algorithms 

• Experience formulating, programming, tuning, and validating models of battery performance and aging, including both empirical and physics-based/electrochemical models  

• Experience with charge/discharge testing of batteries to measure capacity, AC/DC resistance, thermal response, and age the battery under dynamic application profiles 

• Knowledge of battery physics including transport/reaction processes governing performance, as well as main degradation mechanisms 

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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: $42,700 - $68,300

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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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, 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.

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