Material Sciences Intern
Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory
Material Sciences Intern
Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory
Not-for-profit UARC delivering national security research
Are you interested in developing and characterizing advanced materials to solve challenging scientific and engineering problems?
Are you curious, creative, and excited to work alongside researchers developing the next generation of materials and manufacturing technologies?
If you're pursuing a degree in Materials Science and Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, or a related discipline and want to gain hands-on experience in materials research, we'd love to have you join our team!
We are seeking summer interns to help us discover, develop, and evaluate advanced materials for critical national security applications. You will join a multidisciplinary team of scientists and engineers conducting research across materials discovery, advanced manufacturing, materials characterization, and performance in extreme environments. Our work combines fundamental materials science with innovative experimental techniques, computational tools, and emerging approaches in artificial intelligence and machine learning. We are passionate about solving challenging problems, exploring new ideas, and translating scientific discoveries into real-world impact. We strive to foster a collaborative environment that encourages curiosity, creativity, and technical growth.
Conduct hands-on research supporting the synthesis, processing, characterization, and testing of advanced materials, including metals, ceramics, and composites.
Work alongside experienced researchers to design experiments, analyze data, and investigate relationships between materials processing, microstructure, and properties.
Gain experience with advanced laboratory techniques and equipment, potentially including additive manufacturing, microscopy, diffraction, mechanical testing, and computational materials science.
Explore innovative approaches to materials research, including high-throughput experimentation, data analytics, and machine-learning-assisted materials discovery.
Communicate your research findings through technical discussions, presentations, and written summaries.
Are pursuing a Bachelor's or Master's degree in Materials Science and Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, Chemical Engineering, Physics, Chemistry, or a closely related discipline.
Have a passion for scientific discovery, experimental research, and solving challenging technical problems.
Have strong analytical and problem-solving skills and an interest in working collaboratively with scientists and engineers.
Have a minimum 3.0 GPA on a 4.0 scale.Are a US citizen or permanent resident. To access APL’s facilities and networks, US Citizenship or permanent resident status is required, subject to applicable laws.Are a US citizen or permanent resident. To access APL’s facilities and networks, US Citizenship or permanent resident status is required, subject to applicable laws.
Are a US citizen or permanent resident. To access APL’s facilities and networks, US Citizenship or permanent resident status is required, subject to applicable laws.
Have previous research or laboratory experience in materials science, engineering, or a related field.
Have experience with materials characterization techniques such as microscopy, X-ray diffraction, mechanical testing, or metallography.
Have familiarity with materials processing techniques such as additive manufacturing, heat treatment, or alloy development.
Have experience with scientific programming or data analysis tools such as Python or MATLAB.
Have an interest in computational materials science, artificial intelligence, or machine learning.
Are intellectually curious, self-motivated, and eager to explore new research ideas.
Why Work at APL?
The Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) brings world-class expertise to our nation’s most critical defense, security, space and science challenges. While we are dedicated to solving complex challenges and pioneering new technologies, what makes us truly outstanding is our culture. We offer a vibrant, welcoming atmosphere where you can bring your authentic self to work, continue to grow, and build strong connections with inspiring teammates.
At APL, we celebrate our differences of perspectives and encourage creativity and bold, new ideas. Our employees enjoy generous benefits, including a robust education assistance program, unparalleled retirement contributions, and a healthy work/life balance. APL’s campus is located in the Baltimore-Washington metro area. Learn more about our career opportunities at https://www.jhuapl.edu/careers.
All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, creed, color, religion, sex, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, national origin, age, physical or mental disability, genetic information, veteran status, occupation, marital or familial status, political opinion, personal appearance, or any other characteristic protected by applicable law. APL is committed to providing reasonable accommodation to individuals of all abilities, including those with disabilities. If you require a reasonable accommodation to participate in any part of the hiring process, please contact [email protected].
The referenced pay range is based on JHU APL’s good faith belief at the time of posting. Actual compensation may vary based on factors such as geographic location, work experience, market conditions, education/training and skill level with consideration for internal parity. For salaried employees scheduled to work less than 40 hours per week, annual salary will be prorated based on the number of hours worked. APL may offer bonuses or other forms of compensation per internal policy and/or contractual designation. Additional compensation may be provided in the form of a sign-on bonus, relocation benefits, locality allowance or discretionary payments for exceptional performance. APL provides eligible staff with a comprehensive benefits package including retirement plans, paid time off, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, short-term disability, long-term disability, flexible spending accounts, education assistance, and training and development. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Not-for-profit UARC delivering national security research
Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Laboratory (APL) is a not-for-profit university-affiliated research center that provides solutions to complex national security and scientific challenges through technical expertise, prototyping, research and development, and analysis. It uses engineering, simulations, and studies to design prototypes and deliver analyses that support government and partner organizations. Unlike many commercial firms, APL operates as a non-profit affiliated with Johns Hopkins and focuses on mission-oriented research rather than selling finished products. Its goal is to provide practical, thoroughly tested solutions to public-sector customers by performing research, developing prototypes, and offering expert analysis.
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