Intern - Radiation Detection Technology and Materials Development, R&D Graduate Summer

Arrays ( FPGAs) for onboard processing of detection system data

• Use specialized software to simulate special nuclear material sources and resultant detector responses

• Perform supervised synthetic chemistry reactions and purifications using standard wet chemistry methods

• Engage in analytical and photophysical characterization of materials (e.g., NMR, fluorimetry, GC-MS DSC/TGA)

• Fabricate specimens using thermo-mechanical processing methods (e.g., melt casting, injection molding)

• Document findings and experimental results in notebook entries

• Collaborate with an interdisciplinary team of chemists, material scientists, and physicists

  Students will be expected to work full time onsite for the duration of their internship.

Qualifications We Require:

You bring the confidence and skills to be eligible for the job by meeting these minimum requirements:

• Earned bachelor's degree

• Currently attending and enrolled full time in the spring term immediately preceding the internship (or scheduled to graduate in the spring) in an accredited science, engineering, or math graduate program

• Minimum cumulative GPA of 3.0/4.0

• Ability to work up to 40 hours per week during the summer

• U.S. citizen, asylee, refugee, or lawful permanent resident of the U.S.

Note: If you have not yet started your graduate program, please apply to an undergraduate intern position.

Qualifications We Desire:

• Experience in laboratory research

• Experience in operating radiation detection hardware

• Experience with experimental planning in radiation or nuclear environments

• Experience in codes used for simulating radiation sources and detector responses, e.g., MCNP, GEANT4

• Experience using FPGAs and hardware description languages such as VHDL

• Familiarity with data analysis tools and techniques

Posting Duration:

This posting will be open for application submissions for a minimum of seven (7) calendar days, including the 'posting date'. Sandia reserves the right to extend the posting date at any time.

About Our Team:

The Nuclear Deterrence Materials and Radiation Effects department provides expertise in materials and radiation sciences to support Sandia's missions in nuclear deterrence, proliferation detection and energy. We steward radiography capabilities and exercise them to image and analyze the structure of materials and components. We develop and characterize organic and inorganic materials used as scintillators in radiation detection technologies. We perform detailed modeling, simulation, and experiments to characterize and analyze the effects of ionizing radiation on materials and components used in our engineered systems. All of this is accomplished by bringing to bear our advanced capabilities and the team's expertise in materials science, chemistry, physics, computation, and engineering.

The Radiation and Nuclear Detection Systems department undertakes research and development of ionizing radiation and rare signature detection systems to address broad nuclear security needs in support of various US Government programs. Through internal and external collaborations our department targets applications in nuclear proliferation detection, nuclear non-proliferation, international safeguards, arms control treaty verification, radiological emergency response, and other national security objectives. We specialize in designing detection systems for the anticipated radiation signature and background for specific applications starting at Technology Readiness Level 1 (basic research) all the way up to 5 (field experiments). Areas of significant experience and expertise include: fission-energy neutron detection and imaging, gamma spectroscopy, weak source detection techniques, and high-channel-count systems. Radiation transport modeling and simulation is used extensively to understand and verify experimental results and optimize detector design. Data analysis and algorithm development for particle identification and discrimination is conducted.

About Sandia:

Sandia National Laboratories is the nation's premier science and engineering lab for national security and technology innovation, with teams of specialists focused on cutting-edge work in a broad array of areas. Some of the main reasons we love our jobs:

• Challenging work with amazing impact that contributes to security, peace, and freedom worldwide

• Extraordinary co-workers

• Some of the best tools, equipment, and research facilities in the world

• Career advancement and enrichment opportunities

• Flexible work arrangements for many positions include 9/80 (work 80 hours every two weeks, with every other Friday off) and 4/10 (work 4 ten-hour days each week) compressed workweeks, part-time work, and telecommuting (a mix of onsite work and working from home)

• Generous vacations, strong medical and other benefits, competitive 401k, learning opportunities, relocation assistance and amenities aimed at creating a solid work/life balance*

World-changing technologies. Life-changing careers. Learn more about Sandia at: http://https://www.sandia.gov*These benefits vary by job classification.

Security Clearance:

This position does not currently require a Department of Energy (DOE) security clearance.

Sandia will conduct a pre-employment drug test and background review that includes checks of personal references, credit, law enforcement records, and employment/education verifications. Furthermore, employees in New Mexico need to pass a U.S. Air Force background screen for access to Kirtland Air Force Base. Substance abuse or illegal drug use, falsification of information, criminal activity, serious misconduct or other indicators of untrustworthiness can cause access to be denied or terminated, resulting in the inability to perform the duties assigned and subsequent termination of employment.

If hired without a clearance and it subsequently becomes necessary to obtain and maintain one for the position, or you bid on positions that require a clearance, a pre-processing background review may be conducted prior to a required federal background investigation. Applicants for a DOE security clearance need to be U.S. citizens. If you hold more than one citizenship (i.e., of the U.S. and another country), your ability to obtain a security clearance may be impacted.

Members of the workforce (MOWs) hired at Sandia who require uncleared access for greater than 179 days during their employment, are required to go through the Uncleared Personal Identity Verification (UPIV) process. Access includes physical and/or cyber (logical) access, as well as remote access to any NNSA information technology (IT) systems. UPIV requirements are not applicable to individuals who require a DOE personnel security clearance for the performance of their SNL employment or to foreign nationals. The UPIV process will include the completion of a USAccess Enrollment, SF-85 (Questionnaire for Non-Sensitive Positions) and OF-306 (Declaration of for Federal Employment). An unfavorable UPIV determination will result in immediate retrieval of the SNL issued badge, removal of cyber (logical) access and/or removal from SNL subcontract. All MOWs may appeal the unfavorable UPIV determination to DOE/NNSA immediately. If the appeal is unsuccessful, the MOW may try to go through the UPIV process one year after the decision date.

EEO:

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, age, disability, or veteran status and any other protected class under state or federal law.

NNSA Requirements for MedPEDs:

If you have a Medical Portable Electronic Device (MedPED), such as a pacemaker, defibrillator, drug-releasing pump, hearing aids, or diagnostic equipment and other equipment for measuring, monitoring, and recording body functions such as heartbeat and brain waves, if employed by Sandia National Laboratories you may be required to comply with NNSA security requirements for MedPEDs.

If you have a MedPED and you are selected for an on-site interview at Sandia National Laboratories, there may be additional steps necessary to ensure compliance with NNSA security requirements prior to the interview date.

Job ID: 692099